Ella Jenkins: A Pioneer of Children’s Music

Ella Jenkins, a remarkable self-taught musician, passed away on Saturday in Chicago at the age of 100. She revolutionized the children’s music genre by recording and performing exclusively for young audiences. Through her innovative approach, Jenkins transformed a genre often viewed as marginal and overly moralistic into a vibrant celebration of diverse yet shared human experiences. Her iconic songs, such as “You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song,” resonated with children and adults alike.

Despite having no formal musical training, Jenkins possessed a natural instinct for rhythm. Reflecting on her early years, she once shared, “I was always humming or singing and la-la, lu-lu or something.” She absorbed the melodic sounds of her childhood, from the playful clapping games on the playground to the spirited chants at high school sporting events, and even the lively calls of a sidewalk watermelon vendor. As an adult, she ingeniously paired these everyday melodies with her original compositions, aiming not merely to entertain children but to instill a sense of respect for themselves and others.

With the accompaniment of playful instruments like kazoos, harmonicas, various hand drums, and later, a baritone ukulele, Jenkins delivered subtly instructive lyrics. One notable example is her song “A Neighborhood Is a Friendly Place,” which she penned in 1976:

Over children’s steady clapping, she recorded the age-old melody of “A Sailor Went to Sea.”

For countless parents and educators, Jenkins’s interpretations of traditional nursery rhymes such as “Miss Mary Mack” and “The Muffin Man” have become authoritative versions. From the outset of her career in the 1950s, Jenkins emphasized the importance of call-and-response in her performances. This technique encouraged her young audiences to engage directly in the music-making process, fostering a sense of shared responsibility in the success of a song. She drew inspiration from the legendary Cab Calloway’s use of this method in “Hi-De-Ho,” believing that the essence of joy and creativity was rooted in collaboration.

In one of her widely recognized recordings, Jenkins joyfully sings, “Did you feed my cow?” to which a group of enthusiastic children replies, “Yes, ma’am!” The song continues, further illustrating the interactive nature of her music.

Throughout her illustrious career, Jenkins not only revived cherished children’s songs but also expanded the genre’s horizons to embrace a global perspective. Prior to her influence, children’s music in the United States was largely characterized by simplified and often cartoonish adaptations of classical melodies. Jenkins’s work brought depth and diversity to children’s music, enriching the experiences of countless young listeners.