Ep. 207: Steve Zuckerman (Sesame Street "I in the Sky," "Lowercase n," & "Imagination Rain.")

Steve Zuckerman is a composer for television and movies, a songwriter, and a singer who wrote songs for at least three animated Sesame Street inserts: "I in the Sky," "Lowercase n," and "Imagination Rain."

Steve Zuckerman Biography

I was legally deaf until a series of operations restored my hearing. I was seven at the time. I knew from that moment on that my future lay in making “noise.” I created my first composition for orchestra at age ten. There was no mystery throughout my formative years as to which path I would follow.

Before my twentieth birthday, I was fortunate to begin my professional career writing for the Children’s Television Workshop for many animated letter commercials (some are still on the air). Later that same year, I was tasked with creating the theme music for the ABC network’s Saturday Superstar Movie and commissioned to score three one-hour specials for that time slot.

I found a niche in creating music for commercials. Later, I was privileged to be a composer and copywriter for the successful launches of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers toylines. From then on, I have focused on youthful audiences and their associated products.

Most would agree that music is a powerful tool for conveying emotional content and an essential part of supporting visuals and the spoken word. My experience has shown me that “getting it right” is a subjective task that requires much more than good communication between client and composer. It’s about service. It’s about turn-around, and it’s about attitude. These are the hallmarks of professionalism that, when supported by craftsmanship and discipline, result in extraordinary outcomes regardless of how challenging the circumstance. It’s about commitment to excellence. That has always been my focus.

https://www.musicz.tv

Co -host

Erica Erica Johnson: Vocals, bass, spoons, percussion of The Dead Hensons.

The Dead Hensons were an eight-piece San Francisco Bay Area Jim Henson tribute band that played music from various Henson projects, but primarily Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and The Muppet Movie. The band has also covered songs from The Electric Company.

The band name is a play on the Dead Kennedys, a San Francisco Bay Area punk band that formed in the late 1970s.

The band released a 7-inch record with professionally recorded versions of "Pinball Number Count," "Riverbottom Nightmare Band," "The Lonely N," and "The First Day of School."

They have also recorded bootleg and live versions of other Muppet-related songs including "Between," "Can You Picture That?" "Candy Man," "Eleven," "Exit," "Ladybugs' Picnic," "Movin' Right Along," "Rainbow Connection," and "Subway."

Due to changes of address among members, the band gave its farewell performance at the Bottom of the Hill on December 4, 2009. The special double setlist included "Mr. Bassman," "Jellyman Kelly," "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday," and "A Bear Eats Bear Food."

https://web.archive.org/web/20210506041204/http://www.deadhensons.com/

Credits

Stephen Bluhm - Sound Engineer and episode editor

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Rich Wexler

Producer/Interviewer

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Episode Editors

Otter Castro

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