The Okee Dokee Brothers
The Okee Dokee Brothers | |
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Background information | |
Born | Denver, Colorado, United States |
Origin | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States |
Genres | Children's, independent, bluegrass, folk |
Instrument(s) | Singing, acoustic guitar, banjo |
Labels | Okee Dokee Music (ASCAP) |
Website | www |
The Okee Dokee Brothers are an independent American bluegrass and American roots children's music duo from Minneapolis. Their 2012 CD/DVD release Can You Canoe? won a GRAMMY for Best Children's Album in the 55th GRAMMY Awards.[1] They released a new CD/DVD called Through the Woods in May 2014, with music and videos created during a 2013 trek down the Appalachian Trail.
History
Bandmates and childhood best friends, Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing, grew up in Denver, Colorado and toured the midwest with their bluegrass band before settling in Minneapolis and starting their family music band, The Okee Dokee Brothers.
In 2011, Joe and Justin began a canoe trip at the headwaters of the Mississippi River, and ended at the St. Louis Gateway Arch. During their month long journey on the Mississippi, they camped, canoed, filmed and composed the songs that make up their album Can You Canoe? This CD-DVD is the first release in their Adventure Album Series. Produced by Dean Jones in his Rosendale, NY, straw-bale studio, the record highlights guest appearances from Garth Hudson of The Band, Elizabeth Mitchell (musician) of You Are My Flower as well as Morgan Taylor and Rachel Loshak of Gustafer Yellowgold. The album received praise from NPR,[2] won a Parents' Choice Award,[3] and USA Today called it their "...favorite album of 2012".[4] Can You Canoe? also won the GRAMMY Award for Best Children's Album of the Year in early 2013.[5]
In 2013, The Okee Dokee Brothers embarked on their second adventure, a month-long trek on the Appalachian Trail. They hiked, camped, met mountain musicians, and wrote the songs that make up their second CD/DVD in their Adventure Album Series, entitled Through the Woods. Also produced by Dean Jones, this album emulates the instruments and styles heard in traditional old-time Appalachian music. The record features Hubby Jenkins of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, 4-time GRAMMY winner David Holt, and 2-time GRAMMY winners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer.
The band tours nationally, performing at such venues as Symphony Space in New York, Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Minnesota State Fair, Minnesota Zoo, Town Hall Seattle, and Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, among many others.
On August 20, 2013, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton proclaimed "Okee Dokee Brothers Day" in the State of Minnesota.[6]
Discography
- Through the Woods (May 2014)
- Can You Canoe? (May 2012)
- Take it Outside (August 2010)
- ¡Excelente Fabuloso! (2010)
- Kids With Beards (2008)
Band Members
- Justin Lansing - banjo and lead vocals
- Joe Mailander - acoustic guitar and lead vocals
Additional/Touring Band Members
- Jed Anderson - percussion and backup vocals
- Liz Draper - stand-up bass
- Becky Gaunt - fiddle and backup vocals
- Andy Lambert - clogger
References
- ^ http://entertainment.time.com/2013/02/11/grammys-2013-the-complete-list-of-winners/
- ^ http://www.npr.org/2012/06/07/154534866/music-review-can-you-canoe
- ^ http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=30847&StepNum=1&award=aw
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/01/04/best-new-kids-music/1801325/
- ^ http://entertainment.time.com/2013/02/11/grammys-2013-the-complete-list-of-winners/
- ^ "Grammy Award-Winning Okee Dokee Brothers Honored by Governor Dayton". Mn.gov. Retrieved 2013-8-27
External links
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