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Jack Forman

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Jack Forman
Jack Forman posing awkwardly in a stylized 1970s business office environment.
Jack Forman, Office Hours
Background information
OriginSeattle, WA
GenresChildren's Music
Occupation(s)On Air Host on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live; Bassist frontman for Recess Monkey; Solo family musician
Instrument(s)Bass, Voice, Keyboards
Websitehttp://www.jackformanmusic.com

Jack Forman is the bassist frontman for the Seattle-based kids' band, Recess Monkey,[1] a solo musician for kids and family audiences,[2] a former on-air host on SiriusXM Satellite Radio's Kids Place Live, channel 134;[3] and an author published on Compendium Inc.[4] Forman has produced sixteen albums for family audiences, earning a GRAMMY Nomination[5] in the "Best Children's Album" category in the 59th Annual Grammy Awards for Recess Monkey's 2016 release Novelties.[6] He and Recess Monkey bandmate Drew Holloway wrote a book for Compendium Publishing.

History

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Forman attended The University of Washington in Seattle, where he studied English with a Creative Writing emphasis.[7] His work with children began in 1996 at Camp Hess Kramer in Malibu, CA where he served as a cabin counselor, specialist and unit head for four summers. Immediately after graduating college he began teaching full-time at Seattle's University Child Development School[8] in various elementary and pre-school levels. It was there that Forman met Drew Holloway and Daron Henry, founding members of Recess Monkey,[9] and began playing music for kids and family audiences beginning in 2005.[10]

Discography

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As solo artist

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  • Songs From the Monkey House (2017)[2]
  • Office Hours (2019)[11]
  • Hold the Phone (2020)[12]
  • Can’t Buy a Thrill Ride (2021)

With Recess Monkey

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  • Welcome to Monkey Town (2005)
  • Animal House (2006)
  • Wonderstuff (2007)[13]
  • Tabby Road (2008)[14]
  • Field Trip (2009)[15]
  • The Final Funkier (2010)[16]
  • Flying (2011)[17]
  • In Tents (2012)[8]
  • Deep Sea Diver (2013)[18]
  • Desert Island Disc (2013)[19]
  • Wired (2014)[20]
  • Hot Air (2015)[21]
  • Novelties (2016)[22]
  • Family Photo Album (2018)[23]

Awards and acknowledgements

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Songs From the Monkey House won a 2017 NAPPA Award for its "witty" songs: "Taking a recess from his Grammy-nominated band Recess Monkey, Jack Forman has concocted a super fun solo album."[2] The album was also named the #10 album for families in 2017 by the Fids and Kamily Awards.[24]

Forman is also a GRAMMY-Nominated musician: Recess Monkey's 2016 family album "Novelties" was nominated for "Best Children's Album" in the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.[5][6]

"Live From the Monkey House," SiriusXM's Kids Place Live, Channel 134

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Forman began hosting his afternoon/evening live call-in show "Live From the Monkey House"[25] on SiriusXM Satellite Radio's Kids Place Live (Channel 134)[26] in January 2013.[27] Jack broadcast from his home studio in Seattle via a dedicated line connected to SiriusXM's Washington DC studios. The show had daily themes that vary based on current events, listener-fueled ideas and game show style games. Forman was live for three hours Monday-Thursday, 5pm-8pm ET, 2pm-5pm PT; and presented "This Week in the Monkey House," a replay show of highlights from the week, on Saturdays at 7am PT, 10am ET for four hours.[28] The show’s final episode aired February 12, 2024. On February 28, 2024, Forman released the first episode of a new podcast, "Jack Forman's Monkey House" on Patreon.

Published works

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Forman and Recess Monkey bandmate Drew Holloway wrote an interactive picture book for family audiences, illustrated by Rob McClurkan, entitled Dive In: A Topsy-Turvy-Say-It-Out-Loud Underwater Adventure in 2016.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Musician Jack Forman's cool job".
  2. ^ a b c "Songs from the Monkey House by Jack Forman CD".
  3. ^ "Interview with Jack Forman, the leader of the band 'Recess Monkey'".
  4. ^ a b "Kirkus Review".
  5. ^ a b "Jack Forman".
  6. ^ a b "Recess Monkey".
  7. ^ "An Interview with Jack Forman".
  8. ^ a b Knox, Kelly. "STEP RIGHT UP TO RECESS MONKEY'S IN TENTS". Wired.
  9. ^ "Monkeying around". 28 October 2008.
  10. ^ "Teachers enrolled in school of rock".
  11. ^ "Kids' Music Not Regular Office Hours for Jack Forman". 14 February 2019.
  12. ^ Cohen, Jeffrey (June 3, 2020). "Jack Forman Refuses to Phone It In". Geek Dad.
  13. ^ "The Year in Music for Kids". NPR.
  14. ^ "Review: Tabby Road - Recess Monkey". 15 July 2008.
  15. ^ "Review: Field Trip - Recess Monkey". 21 June 2009.
  16. ^ "Recess Monkey – The Final Funkier CD Review". 17 June 2010.
  17. ^ "A Parent's Review: 'Flying' CD from Recess Monkey". 14 June 2011.
  18. ^ "Review: Recess Monkey – Deep Sea Diver". 7 October 2013.
  19. ^ "Review: Desert Island Disc - Recess Monkey". 28 October 2013.
  20. ^ "A parent's review: Recess Monkey's Wired". 16 June 2014.
  21. ^ "Review: Hot Air - Recess Monkey". 8 July 2015.
  22. ^ "We All Scream for Recess Monkey's New Release "Novelties"". 16 June 2016.
  23. ^ Family Photo Album. OCLC 1048602666.
  24. ^ "The Best Kids and Family Music of 2017: 12th Annual Fids and Kamily Music Award Winners". 19 October 2017.
  25. ^ "Kids Place Live". 27 June 2023.
  26. ^ "Jack Forman".
  27. ^ "Interview: Jack Forman (Recess Monkey / Kids Place Live)". 7 March 2013.
  28. ^ "Recess Monkey - This kids band is full of "Hot Air"". USA Today.
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