The Story Of The Music

In 1993 I was writing music for video games and other multi-media projects with my good friend George Sanger. I had composed the background music for three Berenstain Bears computer products. One day, out of the blue, I got a call from Papa Bear himself, Stan Berenstain! He called to tell me how much he enjoyed the music on their product. When I told him that I’d been making children’s albums for the last ten years, he asked me to send him some. About a week later, Stan called and asked if I would be interested in setting some of their books to music. I was honored, and frankly, pretty nervous.

In a way, I’d been working with those books all my life. The Big Honey Hunt was one of my favorite childhood books. Later, after graduating from Herron Art school, (Stan and I spent time at the same art school) I worked for seven years as a Montessori teacher, reading the Berenstain books to the children almost daily. I was familiar with almost every book they had published.

Stan invited George (who would be the producer) and I to his home in Pennsylvania to discuss the project. I was a bit surprised when a smiling Jan answered the door. I was sure we’d be greeted by an assistant. We were given a tour of their studio and we talked for hours. Michael came over, and Jan fixed us all soup and sandwiches for lunch. I have to say, it was just like being in the tree house in the middle of bear country! The next day I flew home, full of ideas and very inspired, ready to go to work.

First, I would spend a few days in my studio finding the right style and feel for the book/song. Then, I’d spend a few days more converting the words of a thirty-plus page book into a three minute song. That’s not an easy task considering these books are read and loved by millions and millions of devoted fans. I would assemble the first draft and send it to Stan and Jan. They would mark the revisions and send it back. I would make another draft, they would mark and send it back, until the lyrics and music were in the form of song that you now hear. You also hear me portraying all the bear voices; Father, Mother, Brother, Sister, The Doctor, even Lizzy and Officer Margarite. I always wanted to hire voice talent for those parts, but Stan felt that a single narrator was more like a parent reading a story to their child.

After the lyrics were approved, I would go to the studio and begin recording tracks. A few times during the project, Stan had expressed some interest in coming to Texas to visit my studio. He never did, so I never had to tell him that my “studio” was actually my garage! And that garage hosted a steady stream of singers, percussionists and others who helped make the recording.

As a songwriter, the feedback Stan and Jan gave me was invaluable. Stan was an absolute stickler for detail. Every word was important to him. Every line had to rhyme perfectly, have a natural flow, and most importantly, be completely understandable to a child. Stan and Jan’s earlier mentor and editor was Dr. Seuss. Now my editors were Stan and Jan and I was thrilled!

Unfortunately, due to forces beyond anyone’s control, the songs were shelved just before they were to be shipped to the stores. They sat on my computer’s hard drive for over ten years. A few years ago, Michael and I discussed putting them on the website. I finally got around to re-mastering them and voila! Here they are for your listening pleasure. Working with the Berenstains has been a truly proud moment in my career and I hope you enjoy the music!