Arts Directory

About

Artist Bio

Roger Day is a 1985 magna cum laude graduate of Washington & Lee University in Virginia, and he currently lives in Franklin, Tennessee. He has devoted his life to making sure that future generations sing loud, jump high, and, most importantly, dream big. His signature wit, whimsy, and wordplay have helped put smiles on the faces of kids from one to ninety-two. Roger believes that to “Build a Better World” we must start with children. Using the gift of music and laughter, he is doing his part to, as his signature song states, “make sure hope never ends.”

Roger started out by performing community service children’s shows at Head Start programs in college towns. For this effort, the National Association of Campus Activities recognized him with the HARRY CHAPIN AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO HUMANITY, its highest public service award.

In 1998, Roger released his first CD, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Rodeo” followed by “Ready to Fly” in 2001. In 2003 he released a family concert DVD “Roger Day LIVE!, for which he won a Parents’ Choice® Award and The Film Advisory Board Award for Outstanding Family Video.

In 2007, Roger released his CD “Dream Big!”. Radio Disney played the title song, “I Like Yaks” went to number 1 on Sirius XM’s Kid’s Place Live, and Roger won his first Parents’ Choice® GOLD Award. He won his second Parents’ Choice® GOLD Award with the 2010 release “Why Does Gray Matter?” Described as “Schoolhouse Rock for the 21st Century” it made innovative use of “the brain” as a theme for every song and was featured on the KidsHealth.org website.

In 2009, Roger was invited by Georgia Sea Grant to visit the University of Georgia Marine Institute on Sapelo Island, GA. He shadowed the scientists, helped them with their research, and wrote 14 songs about the fascinating plants and animals that live in and around the saltwater marshes and beaches of barrier islands and how each one plays an important role in a healthy ecosystem. The Savannah Music Festival was so excited that they invited a thousand students to the Trustees Theater in Savannah and filmed Roger’s new show “Marsh Mud Madness” with his band “The Mosquito Burrito Brothers”. The live concert DVD and CD were released in 2013 and earned Roger his 4th Parents’ Choice® Award, and prompted the Christian Science Monitor to say, “The science is sneakily good, the songs are fun, and the rhythms are downright infectious.”

Roger brings his teaching programs to local schools and libraries, performing arts centers, theaters and festivals nationwide. He has also performed at The International Children’s Festival in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

• A four-time Parents’ Choice® Award Winner; TWO Parents’ Choice® Golds
• National Association of Parenting Publications® Gold Award
• Dove Family Foundation Winner
• NACA Harry Chapin Award for Contributions to Humanity
• #1 Song on XM/Sirius Kids Place Live “I Like Yaks”

Artist Statement

I believe in the power of imagination to “solve the problem and save the day.” It’s the original – and still undefeated – superpower. Throughout my thirty-year career as a visiting artist and educator, that has been my north star when working with students and teachers alike. It informs my approach to both songwriting and presenting, whether that presentation occurs in a large assembly with hundreds of students, or a single classroom during a writing workshop.
I also believe that children everywhere, regardless of background or circumstances can and should be encouraged to use their critical thinking and creativity to “Dream Big!” I always strive to set that example by a true love and passion for my craft of writing songs for kids.
I have a deep respect for the natural curiosity, the genuine wonder, and the boundless creativity of young children. I believe that the visiting artist’s job is to give students a real-life glimpse of how far those tools can take them. Indeed, children already have everything they need in their brains with their imagination and their hearts, and with their determination, to be “Invincible!” In my INVINCIBLE! program I endeavor to encourage critical thinking and creativity and to encourage students to “solve the problem and save the day” letting their imagination come alive in the pages of a book. Programs like INVINCIBLE! and DREAM BIG! focus on creativity, self-awareness, empowerment and encouragement as well as literacy and language arts. Other programs like ZOOKEEPER’S IN THE HOUSE, MARSH MUD MADNESS and GET YOUR BRAIN IN GEAR! focus on the curriculum area of science but are still delivered with witty and catchy songs and focus on building vocabulary while emphasizing creativity, empowerment, and critical thinking. Songs like “Build a Better World” emphasize collaboration, community, social awareness, and responsible decision-making: “If we put our heads together, we can find the answers one by one, you and I, we’ll make each other smarter and then we’ll leave a brighter future when we’re done. Oh, we’ll build a better world.”
In my songwriting workshops, my goal is to inspire students’ creativity and critical thinking as they collaborate to write a classroom song.