Above "So Glad" Watercolor by Mary Byrom

Marcus Gale at Portsmouth Harbor in New Hampshire, Photographed by Rick Pickford

Marcus Gale and Mary Byrom at Portsmouth Harbor in New Hampshire, Photographed by Rick Pickford

A tour de force for the toddler set: Marcus Gale releases concept album for kids

By SHAWN MACOMBER Showcase Correspondent

Call it the children’s music equivalent of Pink Floyd’s "Dark Side of the Moon" or David Bowie’s "Ziggy Stardust."
Marcus Gale’s new CD, "So Glad!" is a concept record for children, telling the story of the perfect kid day. The record includes odes to the beach, dancing and play time with best friends and best dogs. "So Glad!" is, in short, a tour de force for those under 4 feet tall.
"This record really evolved sort of organically after I wrote, ‘Wake Up,’" Gale said in a recent telephone interview. "It follows a day full of fun from sun up to sundown. Once I had the concept, it wasn’t too hard to fill in the blanks. I just got down on the kids’ level and started looking around."

There will be two CD release parties in November for "So Glad!" On Saturday, Nov. 15, Gale will perform at the Family Resource Center at Landmark Hill in Kittery, Maine, at 2 p.m., followed by a Saturday, Nov. 22 performance at 11 a.m. at the South Berwick Town Hall.

Gale grew up on the music of the 1960s and "So Glad!" very much has the feel of folk records of that time. Gale’s guitar playing is the kind of lilting, continuous major chord strum that artists like America and Joni Mitchell made so popular. Gale’s voice is strong, remaining in key as it flutters between the high and low registers. Lyrics, as you probably have guessed, are unflaggingly positive.
Gale spent his 20s performing in rock ’n’ roll bands, belting out songs in barrooms before he quit pursuing music seriously for a decade. Gale picked up the guitar again when he began volunteering a couple of days a week at local preschools. Those energetic impromptu songwriting sessions impressed teachers enough to give Gale a steady-paying gig. He realized something exciting was happening.
And he hasn’t looked back since.

"Kids are hands-down the best audience in the entire world," Gale said. "Kids will react instantly and participate without any self-consciousness. They throw themselves into the music and have a great time. Of course, they’ll also tell you immediately if they’re bored as well. It’s a very honest experience."
A Marcus Gale show is based on participation and interaction. There’s a lot of dancing and singalongs. Gale’s "puppet pals," Froggy and Doggy, often join in the fun. Audience members are brought up onstage for interviews that introduce songs. (For example, best friends may be brought up before the song "Best Friends.")
"There’s never a dull moment," Gale said. "The kids won’t stand for it." Gale describes his work as a full-time musician as "more a mission than a career." "My whole intention with my songs is to pass on good values to the audience, not just entertain them," he said. "I focus on three specific values: honesty, kindness and patience. Most of my songs tie in with at least one of those."
Those three values are also at the core of Falun Gong, an Eastern system of beliefs Gale practices and said has changed his life.
The music of "So Glad!" is matched in spontaneity and enthusiasm by the cover art, courtesy of Rick Pickford.
"Rick helped me so much with pulling this all together," Gale said. "He’s an unsung hero of the local arts community. He’s always willing to go the extra mile, and he does really beautiful work."
Gale said he wanted to make "So Glad!" the kind of record that will connect with kids. "I work hard to make the songs instantly accessible," Gale explained. "With this kind of music, you want kids singing the chorus by the end of the song. If they’re not singing and dancing by then, I’m not doing my job." "So Glad!" is available from Marcus Gale and at www.Cdbaby.com. For more information, visit www.marcusgale.com.

© 2003 Geo. J. Foster Company