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Kiddie music. Tot rock. Junior jams. A genre is born.
As I write this intro, I sit in the dark of my daughter’s room (since either my husband or I have to stay with her until she falls asleep—but that’s a whole other issue) listening to Beatles music done kiddie-style. “Octopus’s Garden,” Ringo, royalties—these things I think as I type. When I lived in Manhattan, my friends and I would frequent a place every Sunday called The Park. I recall a funny-looking hipster dude serenading the ironically dressed sons and daughters of the famouses and the fabulouses with a rockin’ set list of totally cool, fun tunes, like a modern-day pied piper, to the delight of the parents who sat back at their tables, sipping cocktails, guzzling cappuccinos and attempting to recover from a Saturday night come and gone. I thought it was the smartest idea I had seen in a long time—but not for me. I was a “real” rocker at the time. And, beyond the courtyard of The Park, who the heck was interested in that kind of music, anyway? Like really—where is that career going? Gee, he must need some extra money for rent or something.
Dan Zanes, it was, by the way. Kiddo rock god, uber-successful, name-is-synonymous-with-the-industry Dan Zanes. Yup.
And now, several years back to the future, just-cool-enough-for-school music is exploding, with none more major, perhaps, than the Imagination Movers. With an arsenal of songs that you’ll dig, too; a hit Disney Channel show debuting its second season on September 5; and scores of devoted fans with a musical palette more developed that most of us had in high school, the Movers have most certainly found their groove.
Here, Rich, Scott, Dave and Smitty, rockers, rollers and dads, take time from their busy schedules to rap with me about life, liberty and the pursuit of cool music and big ideas for all.
TFG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JILLIAN SWARTZ: You guys rock! Who are your biggest influences in music?
IMAGINATION MOVERS: All four Movers are huge music fans, and we all have lots of different favorites, but the commonalities are rock, new wave and hip-hop from the ’80s, ’90s and today. We’re heavily influenced by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Police, De La Soul, Run DMC, U2, Big Country and all these groups we heard when we were teenagers, but we’re also tuned in to new music by everybody from the All-American Rejects to Jay-Z. Now, we listen to music along with our kids, so Rich hears a whole lot of Taylor Swift. Scott and his gang have Mute Math on their playlist. Most of all, we love great songs and don’t limit ourselves to any genre or particular artist. There’s great stuff in all categories…except possibly speed metal, which we collectively don’t understand.
JS: Let’s talk New Orleans, your hometown. What role did its rich musical tapestry, ethos and energy play in the creation of the band?
IM: We wouldn’t exist without New Orleans. This city supports and embraces the creativity of its citizens, and we incubated our project with the support of the entire community. Everybody in this town loves music—and lots of people play music, so we’re very inspired by this spirit, if not by the specific sound that is associated with the city. We’re proud to bring our TV and music production to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. It’s a very positive development after everybody has been through so much bad stuff.
JS: What makes good kiddie rock?
IM: Good songs are good songs no matter what the genre. Choo Choo Soul, Dan Zanes, David Chicken and Laurie Berkner are some other family acts that make great stuff. We’re very proud of our ever-expanding catalog of tunes—and we only really regret about four or five of them (wink!). You always wish you could take another crack at some of them.
JS: What do you say about the current explosion of hipped-up kids’ music?
IM: We are obviously pleased with the current kids’ music explosion, because our success is directly connected to it! We started the Movers because there were not many artists out there making music or TV that had much of an edge. We were hoping to create something that would push the envelope a little bit and appeal to the entire family, something that was completely appropriate for the little ones but musically appealing to more sophisticated ears. As we have grown, the “hipped-up” children’s genre has followed suit and there are now some really great choices out there. The only downside of it is that it makes it harder to discern what music is truly appropriate for a younger audience. You sometimes hear pop songs that have been reworked for kids that, though not lyrically “offensive,” are also not necessarily suited for kids’ ears. We would equate it to candy cigarettes. They won’t hurt you, but they are still probably not a great choice.
TFG: You stand at the precipice of major fame. What’s the view look like?
IM: It’s hard to say, really. We are on Disney Channel in 55 countries, have CDs and DVDs on the shelves of major retailers, and are about to embark on a 40-city tour. But at the same time, each day we get into our minivans and sedans, drive a few miles to our nondescript sound stage and then drive home at night. On the weekends, we are at home with the wives and kids doing normal family stuff. We get recognized on the street more, but the fans have been very respectful. We’re sure it will get more chaotic, but so far, so good. We are having fun. Having gone through school, marriage, kids, Katrina, etc., we have a pretty good idea of who we are. It makes it 
easier to handle, and enjoy, the changes that are coming our way.
JS: How do you balance being dads with being Imagination Movers?
IM: It is difficult at times. Our kids have grown up with the Movers, so they are actually pretty accustomed to it. The most difficult part is the schedule. Filming a season of the show takes six months of 14-hour days five days a week, and then we tour in between seasons. We miss our share of plays, games, recitals, parties, etc. But…when we are home, we are in full dad/husband mode. If we are not filming or on the road, we are cooking breakfasts, taking the kids to school, doing homework together, going to the pool, throwing the football and anything else we might miss when we are away. And sometimes we are “off” for months, so we are able to make up for lost time. We started this project because of our kids, and it would be hypocritical to let it become something that compromises us as fathers.
JS: What does it mean to be a dad?
IM: It sounds cliché, but being a dad is the most important job we have. We all have a ton of respect for our fathers (and mothers!) and feel compelled to pass on the knowledge, values and lessons that were passed down to us. As a dad, you get to help shape a little person…change the future for the better. What an incredible opportunity. And being a dad is also a kick in the pants. You have these little people to hang out with, laugh with and play with. Not to mention having an excuse to play with toys, video games, etc.
JS: Give us a word to the wise to the dads of America.
IM: It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: LOVE your kids. Be patient and consistent with them, and when you are with them, BE with them. Sounds strange but too often we feel—as dads—that while our kids might be in our presence, our thoughts could be a million miles away, on a million other things. So make an extra effort to listen, to look them in the eyes when you’re talking, to hug them—let them know that you care about them in action and words.
JS: Where are the Imagination Movers in 10 years?
IM: Wow, 10 years? Hopefully, people will still delight in the body of music and television show we created, but more importantly, we would hope we would have the wisdom to appreciate the many people we’ve met, the places we’ve traveled and to keep in perspective the incredible experience we were allowed to participate in. Likewise, that our own children and children everywhere are living aloud our motto of reaching high, thinking big, working hard and having fun.
Don't miss their hit TV show every Saturday at 10 ET/PT on the Disney Channel.
For more from the Movers, go to www.imaginationmovers.com.
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