Fun Freetime: Lucky Diaz - Crayon Kids and Paletero Man

 

From multi-Latin Grammy-winning and six-time Emmy-nominated musician Lucky Diaz and celebrated artist Micah Player comes a vibrant debut picture book celebrating the strength of community and inclusivity. Paletero Man  is a bilingual read-aloud book based on Lucky’s Los Angeles diverse neighborhood and Latinx culture.  The story is simple: What’s the best way to cool off on a hot summer day? Run quick and find Paletero José! Follow along with our narrator as he passes through his busy neighborhood in search of the paletero man. But when he finally catches up with him, our narrator’s pockets are empty. Oh no! What happened to his dinero? It will take the help of the entire community to get the tasty treat now. Full of musicality, generosity, kindness, and ice pops, the story is based on Lucky’s own experiences as a Mexican American growing up in California, where the paletero man is a beloved fixture on the streets, purveying all kinds of flavors under the warm sun. The new picture book includes Spanish words and phrases throughout, an author’s note, and a link to an exclusive new single that will inspire dance fiestas everywhere. Find the book: Amazon | Goodreads

Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band, led by Diaz and Alisha Gaddis, are among the top artists in family music. For more than a decade, their songs and performances have celebrated diversity and inclusion, blending cultures seamlessly through song. Among their many awards and nominations, they won an Emmy Award for their kids’ variety show, “Lishy Lou and Lucky Too,” and Latin GRAMMYs for two of their family music albums: ¡Fantastico! (2013) and ¡Buenos Diaz! (2019).    In addition to the new book, the band is also releasing album of original songs called Crayon Kids.    With  so many kids and families still dealing with the challenges of the continuing pandemic, this deep and uniquely upbeat and resonant album speaks to this moment. The title track takes us on a walk around the diverse sights and sounds of New York City. Today’s “Crayon Kids” walk with ease through the sites and bilingual sounds of these bustling streets and subways. The celebratory ska-beat “Sábado” is already getting spins on SiriusXM Kids Place Live and the syndicated public radio show Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child. This bilingual ode to the weekend provides a great way to kick off a family dance party. All the songs were recorded and produced during the intense months of the pandemic and social unrest. While quarantining in LA, Diaz and his frequent collaborator Michael Farkas (based in the Hudson Valley) worked and reworked the songs and arrangements. Farkas (known for his work with The Wiyos) explains the approach: “As parents, we had a desire to address the tensions, concerns and absurdity of the times both head-on and indirectly. It was new territory.” The first track "Generation C" has not been explored in family music yet. Demographers started buzzing about the upcoming generation of young kids a few years ago, using terms like "creation, curation, connection, and community" to describe their zeitgeist. Now, CNN and others are talking about how apt the name "Generation C" is for our changing Covid times. Crayon Kids was produced by acclaimed producer Kenny Siegal, mixed by Matt Cullen and mastered by multiple GRAMMY winner Greg Calbi. The music is eclectic and upbeat. The third letter of the alphabet reappears in “Letter C,” and there’s a whole new (Martian) edition of “Dinomite!” to enjoy. The nine-song album ends on a hopeful note with “Better Together” featuring soothing background vocals by GRAMMY nominee Frances England. Like Paletero Man and all of the LDFJB albums, the Crayon Kids cover artwork is by Micah Player. Crayon Kids represents new directions for Lucky Diaz and his band. He explains, “When we started the Family Jam Band, we wanted to continually evolve. The project has always been about being fun and original. It then turned into a cultural journey for me as a Mexican-American, creating songs that are rooted in my Pocho and Latinx identity.” Diaz and Gaddis are planning concerts to promote the new book and album this summer. For the latest updates, fans may connect with them on Instagram and Facebook. For the full story behind Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band, visit http://luckydiazmusic.com/about..