Jack Grunsky

Childhood years in Toronto: Jack was born in Austria and grew up in Toronto. His parents settled in Canada after crossing the Atlantic on the Queen Elizabeth II ocean liner. Both parents were musicians, so naturally music was a big part of the Grunsky household. Years of cello, piano and recorder lessons provided a musical foundation, but it was during his high school years, that Jack's interests leaned towards guitar, percussion and singing. He played drums in his high school dance band and later picked up the guitar and formed a folk singing trio.

Ten years in Europe: After high school, Jack returned to Austria, where he attended the Academy of Arts in Vienna, but never stopped playing his music. Interestingly, it was during his years as an art student that Jack's music began to flourish. For the next ten years he became involved in the European music scene, as a singer song-writer and in 1966 he formed the folk singing group, Jack's Angels, who recorded four albums for Amadeo Records of Vienna. They were hugely successful but lasted only a few years. After the group disbanded, Jack continued recording three more solo albums for Amadeo Records: The Way I Want To Live, My Ship and Toronto, which was produced by Alexis Korner in London, England, and featured tracks with Mick Taylor on slide guitar. A number of singles reached the top of the European charts. A German publisher took a keen interest in Jack and brought him on board the progressive German label, Kuckuck Records of Munich, where Jack produced three more albums: Buffalo Brian, Newborn Man and the self-titled, Jack Grunsky. In 1974, his seventh recording, Icarus, was released; a double compilation album which included live performances at Vienna's famous Folk Club, Atlantis. Throughout his stay in Europe, Jack toured extensively playing major concert halls and music festivals and was often a featured guest on radio and TV specials. Austria's national radio ORF offered him his own half-hour weekly radio show called, 'Folk With Jack', which served as a vehicle for sharing his passion of folk music.

Back home to Canada: It was precisely this music and the strong pull back to his adopted homeland, Canada, that prompted Jack to return to his musical roots and pursue his career in North America. He connected with record producer Chad Irschick and together they produced an independent album titled, The Patience Of A Sailor (1978). Jack was a regular at coffee houses and folk festivals in Ontario.

Current activites: He continues to tour extensively, performing in theatres and family concert settings, International Children's Festivals, and Early Childhood Educational conferences. He is often accompanied by his Chigo Chigo Band, that has come to include his talented daughter, Cosima. He presents many keynotes and workshops at ECE conferences, where his annotated performances invariably provide educators with fresh, new insights for music in the classroom. Numerous television and radio appearances have broadened his appeal both in Canada and the US. Finally, Jack has also developed a symphony show for young audiences called, Welcome To The Orchestra, which he has performed with most of the major professional symphonies in Canada.

Jack is a constant, creative force in the children's music industry and his songs and music have found their way into homes and classrooms all over the world.

Music for children: In the early '80s, and now a family man with two daughters, Jack reached a turning point in his career. When asked to conduct a music program for the Toronto Island Montessori School, a new musical world opened for Jack - "educating children through music". With four years of teaching music and working with young children, he developed a new repertoire of songs and soon began to perform live again, touring hundreds of schools in Canada, USA, Europe and as far afield as South Africa. During the next 25 years, Jack Grunsky's name has become synonymous with excellence in children's music. His recordings, Imaginary Window, Children Of The Morning, Waves Of Wonder, Dream Catcher, a family concert video, Celebrate! Jack Grunsky Live, Jumpin' Jack, Sing and Dance, Playground, Jack In The Box #1, Jack In The Box #2, Like A Flower To The Sun and My Beautiful World, along with his publications of teacher's activity guides, have received all of the most prestigious awards in children's media, including three JUNO Awards for Best Children's Recording.

His expertise as a record producer and mixer has been recognized by fellow children's artist, Fred Penner. The CD, Sing With Fred won a JUNO Award for Best Children's Recording of 2002. He has also mixed jazz recordings by the Toronto based Nehring, Koller, Braid trio and is credited for mixing and co-production for The Heillig Manouevre. In 2006, Jack released a NuJazz instrumental recording titled, Coastlines, aired on radio stations globally. April 2008 he released a follow-up 'folk/new-age/jazz/bossa nova' CD titled Room To Move with new songs and instrumentals which he is showcasing in concerts for grown-ups. Featured musicians on the CD are Mark Kelso on drums, Matt Horner on piano, Henry Heillig on bass, William Carn on trombone, Colleen Allen and Perry White on saxophones, Ravi Naimpally on tablas, Lenny Graf on woodwinds, and harmony vocals by 'Angels on Call', Cosima and Hertha Grunsky and Maru Rodriguez. Jack is also currently producing his daughter, Cosima's latest CD.

More children's CDs: Jack's own new children's CD titled Catchy Tune was released in August 2008 and has received the iParenting award for Best Children's CD plus a Parents' Choice Silver Award. In November, 2008 Jack was honoured with the SOCAN Children's Music Award.

Early years in Europe:

born in Austria, raised in Canada and after high school returned to Austria
1964 Academy of Arts in Vienna
1966 formed the folk group Jack’s Angels - Amadeo Records, Vienna

three solo albums for Amadeo Records: The Way I Want To Live, My Ship and Toronto, which was produced by Alexis Korner in London, England, and featured tracks with Mick Taylor of the Rolling Stones on slide guitar

1969 signed to progressive German label, Kuckuck Records Munich
three more albums: Buffalo Brian, Newborn Man and the self-titled, Jack Grunsky

1974 released his seventh solo album, Icarus

Throughout his 10-year stay in Europe, Jack toured extensively, performing in major concert halls and music festivals and numerous radio and TV appearances

1971 -73 hosted his own radio show 'Folk With Jack' for Austria’s ORF

Back home to Canada:
1974 returned to Toronto to his ‘Canadian’ musical roots

1978 collaborated with record producer Chad Irschick and released The Patience Of A Sailor

1977-79 - concert tours back to Germany and Austria with his Canadian band

in Ontario Jack was a regular at coffee houses and folk festivals

continued music studies at Royal Conservatory of Music

Music for children:
1981 conducted a music program for the Toronto Island Montessori School
four years of teaching music and working with young children

1989 recorded his first children’s CD Imaginary Window, followed by Children Of The Morning

signed to BMG Music Canada and released JUNO Award winning Waves Of Wonder, followed by Dream Catcher, a family concert video; Celebrate! Jack Grunsky Live and Jumpin’ Jack

tours of schools, children’s festivals, family concert series, symphony shows and Early Childhood conferences in Canada, USA, Europe and a three-week engagement in Cape Town, South Africa

2000 released a series of indie recordings, licensed by Casablanca Kids Inc. his second JUNO Winner Sing & Dance, followed by Playground, Jack In The Box #1, Jack In The Box #2, Like A Flower To The Sun & third JUNO Winner, My Beautiful World

2002 produced fellow children's artist, Fred Penner’s JUNO Award winning 'Sing With Fred'

mixed jazz recordings by the Toronto based Nehring, Koller, Braid trio

mixing and co-production for The Heillig Manouevre jazz quartett

2006 Jack released his NuJazz instrumental recording titled, Coastlines

2008 he released a follow-up ‘folk/new-age/jazz/bossa nova’ CD titled ‘Room To Move’

Recent children’s CD’s

2008 released another children’s CD Catchy Tune

2008 SOCAN Children’s Music Award

2009 produced his daughter Cosima’s children’s CD,The Whole World Sings WIth Me

2009 released his first CD in French Partout où les enfants chantent

2011 a new ‘father/daughter’ recording project with Cosima just released, titled: ‘Hoppin’ Socks’.

Tracks

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