If, this season, you hear children bouncing around the house singing, “Ottie the otter … doing what an otter ought to do” you will know they have been touched by Charlotte Diamond. The veteran children’s songwriter and performer has a new CD out, Diamonds by the Sea, and this one is in collaboration with her son Matt Diamond who lives in Halfmoon Bay.
There are 19 tunes, most of them good for humming or skipping or even scrub, scrub, rub-a-dubbing in a tub. The Tub Song that seems aimed at little ones is good fun, while some of the lyrics of other songs offer more mature thoughts about life’s lessons.
“For we are the keepers of all the stories,” Diamond sings in the song of the same title that honours our ancestors. Many of the tunes are about creatures: moose, deer, fish. Families of Crows is a lyrical paean to the birds and has a violin solo from the Coast’s Chelsea Sleep.
In fact, much of this CD has a real Coast connection, not only through Matt Diamond but from its chorus, sung by Choralations Children’s Choir, directed by Janice Brunson. Local musician Ken McBride plays on guitar and flute, and the album was recorded in Sechelt at SSR Studio with Roy Code.
This is Diamond’s 14th recording. She has spent 30 years of writing and performing – she knows what kids like, and she knows it’s important that the adults like it, too. The song for mothers everywhere on this CD is called Y R U So Difficult. It’s a catchy rhythm.
The CD is now available at Strait Music, Fresh from the Coast and MELOmania. These stores are also carrying her other music, such as 24 Carrot Diamond: The Best of Charlotte Diamond and The Christmas Gift and her children’s book, Slippery Fish in Hawai’i. Find out more and hear samples at www.charlottediamond.com
