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Celebrating 100 years
of The First Lady of Children's Music

Through more than 70 years of groundbreaking efforts, Ella Jenkins, aptly nicknamed the “First Lady of Children’s Music,” laid the groundwork for the field of children’s music and inspired generations of children’s music leaders who have followed in her footsteps.

Jenkins was born to an African-American working class family in St. Louis, Missouri, on August 6, 1924. Her family moved to Chicago and Jenkins grew up on the city’s South Side, moving frequently to get to a more “uptown” neighborhood. Her family and neighborhood life provided the basis of her musical education—each move allowed Jenkins to experience the rhythms, rhymes, and games in each new neighborhood...

Ella Jenkins in class
About Ella
Link to About Ella

About Ella

Discography
Link to Discography

Discography

Find a Song
Link to Find a Song

Find a Song

Learn with Ella
Link to Learn with Ella

Learn with Ella