Fun Express Children’s Pop Music Combo Plays Spokane Saturday

FOR THE RECORD (August 16, 1996): Parachute Express, a professional children’s pop music group, will give two shows Thursday, at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., at the Civic Theatre. Call 328-4886 for more information. The day was wrong in a story in Thursday’s IN Life section.

There’s something quirky about the music group Parachute Express.

They sing songs about a hapless, clumsy fellow named “Willy Falldown,” stuff they want to take to the moon and “The Everchanging Garden of Mister Bell.”

The goofy subject matter closely shadows that of a typical Presidents of the United States of America song, but Parachute Express isn’t a rock band.

“It’s like being a rock ‘n’ roll touring group,” says singer-songwriter Stephen Michael Schwartz. “Except our parties are pizzas and sodas after the show. It’s a little healthier than the standard rock ‘n’ roll parties. And the groupies are smaller, too,” he laughs.

As you might have guessed, Parachute Express is a children’s pop music combo. And in the genre, the trio’s adoring following - tiny in size but not in numbers - rivals that of the Beatles. The group will give two performances at the Spokane Civic Theatre on Saturday.

Parachute Express, which also includes Janice Hubbard and Donny Becker, formed in 1984 to supply music for a children’s fitness franchise called Gymboree Play Program, a program now known across the globe.

Almost immediately, their music became infectiously popular and outgrew Gymboree, so the corporation began financing and marketing Parachute Express albums separately.

Disney eventually took interest, signed the group, re-issued the five Gymboree albums and released a sixth called “Happy to Be Here.” Through Buena Vista/Disney, the group this year shot its first video cassette, called “Come Sing With Us.”

“I think kids relate to us because what they’re seeing is very real,” explains Schwartz. “The love that we have for each other (band members) translates into a really nice connection and then you add music to that. It’s kind of like sitting around a campfire, a high-energy campfire. The music that we do is very high energy and very interactive.”

For Schwartz, a father of two, writing children’s music poses a constant challenge. For one, he must write to people four times younger than himself.

But what inspired him to try 14 years ago was his then 6-month-old son.

“The key was to write to a little bit of an older audience and also to integrate movement. That’s the hardest song in the world to write is a song where you’re integrating movement into, getting children to listen and respond. So it was a challenge to do that, but an enjoyable challenge.”

Like “Schoolhouse Rock” did in the 1970s, Parachute Express educates as well as entertains. Plus, they package their songs in many upbeat styles such as folk music and ragtime, which is an indirect way of teaching their audience about different types of music.

“I feel music is so important. It has been an important part of our lives since early times. It’s makes life bearable,” Schwartz says. “It’s interesting and enjoyable to watch these children to grow up into and through our music.”

Parachute Express is putting the final touches on their seventh album. It will be the first for their new, independently owned record label, which has yet to be named. The label will also serve as an outlet for other children’s music artists.

If you’d like to join the Parachute Express fan club or receive tour and merchandise information, their hotline is (818) 549-1496 and their office number (818) 548-9246.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: KID’S SHOW Parachute Express will perform at the Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard, on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for children 4-17 and $10 for adults, available by calling the theater at 328-4886 or Gymboree Play Programs of Spokane at 456-0277. Children 3 and under are free if they’re held.