Mista Cookie Jar & the Chocolate Chips

I've got kids, so I've got kid CDs, and they're not really so bad as you might think--I came late to the game, never had Barney or Raffi, straight into Ralph's World and Laurie Berkner. And there are definitely songs that make me happy from a disability perspective. But this one just came across my desk, by a friend-of-friends, and it's not like anything else I've run into:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKP-kfkK43A&feature=player_embedded

Visual description: Mista Cookie Jar, the singer, is a young Asian-American man with long hair and a mustache; he's wearing a hat and floral shirt. The video shows a birthday party for Carol Ware, an older white woman who uses a power chair. There are a lot of children and other older folks too, and there are scenes of the singer doing Carol's nails, marveling at her sunshine tattoo, and generally having a grand time.

The singer has posted all his lyrics online at his website (yeah!); find "Aunt Carol" in the lyrics menu (I can't seem to link to them directly, but they're there). (UPDATE: Katja put the direct link in comments.)

What I like here: Carol Ware is a real person, and the YouTube video label explains this. The singer has known her for years and this song is a genuine, specific tribute. He shares in the lyrics that she was a kindergarten teacher, that she likes Elvis, that she likes her coffee with Splenda, that she smokes (deal with it, she's an adult), that "we call her Aunt Carol, you can call her Ms. Ware," and that "she's a masterpiece from head to toe." All with a fun celebratory tone, and with Carol's participation and the participation of her fellow nursing-home residents. When so many kids live far from their older relatives and may not feel drawn to seniors, this song has a chance to change minds, and will definitely spark some smiles.

ETA: There's also a "making of the video" slideshow.
- Penny Richards, Ph.D. Research Scholar, UCLA Center for the Study of Women, Redondo Beach, CA

Mista Cookie Jar, also known as CJ Pizarro, is one of the most versatile musicians I have ever met. Traversing everything from hip-hop, to synth-pop, to bluegrass, his new album Mista Cookie Jar Presents: The Love Bubble captures everything a children’s music album should be: tuneful, musically diverse, imaginative, youthful and most importantly, lots and lots of fun. “Joey the Dogg” is my favorite track on this album. I dunno, maybe it’s because I, myself, have a dog at home. When I first heard CJ perform this song with guitars, djembe and children in tow, I couldn’t help but wish that I was a kid again. Regardless of whether you like kids or not, Mista Cookie Jar will bring out the kid in you. - Dawen Wang

Windsor, Vermont - June 4, 2010

Students in Windsor got a lesson in Hip Hop Friday.

Mista Cookie Jar and the Chocolate Chips held a day-long workshop and performed for elementary school students in Windsor. The goal of the Los Angeles-based group is to use Hip Hop to spread a positive message. The idea is to connect young fans with an older generation who might not understand it.

"In the media there is a lot of hip hop out there that is about a lot of negative things. About gangs, violence and materialism..look how much money I have. But we want to take the vibe of hip hop and music in general into a conscious level, one of family and talk about love and connectivity...subverting the medium in that respect," said C. J. Pizarro, a member of the group.

Mista Cookie Jar has already preformed at a handful of schools throughout the Upper Valley. The next stop on its coast to coast tour is New York City.

- WCAX - Vermont's Trusted News Source for 55 Years