Norman Mervyn Barrington-Foote
is an internationally acclaimed musician, songwriter, and comedian for all ages. Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, he is best known for his songwriting, outrageous props, and off beat sense of humor in children's music and live performance; he has been nominated for three Juno Awards for Best Children's Album in 1990, 1993, and 2001.
For years, musician and visual comic Norman Foote has delighted audiences worldwide. Norman has received critical acclaim for his clever songs and engaging concert performances. He has written for Walt Disney Records, Shari Lewis,
CBC's syndicated TV show Scoop and Doozie,
KOBA's production of Nelvana's Little Bear Live
and Backyardigans Live.
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NORMAN FOOTE TICKETS
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History
Norman Foote received his first guitar from his parents at the age of 11. Influenced by
the Beatles,
Hank Williams, and
Elvis, he soon switched to the
electric guitar. This led to performing with
garage bands throughout his high school career. At the age of 20, Foote left home to travel
Australia and
New Zealand and it was while he was abroad and performing with a travelling theatre group in
New South Wales, Australia that Foote discovered his passion for
puppetry and
slapstick comedy.
Foote was one of the first artists to sign on for the
Music Box Artist Series
with Walt Disney Records. It is with Disney that he recorded his first two albums,
FootePrints
and
If the Shoe Fits
. In 1995, Foote teamed up with another children's performer,
Fred Penner, and his company Oak Street Music to release his next album
Shake a Leg
. Oak Street Music continued to be a major contributor in the production of future records, including
Pictures on the Fridge
, released in 1997.
Foote's songs are witty and humorous, and use examples of life's valuable lessons to find inspiration for new songs. One of his many talents is his ability to take a small aspect of life and turn it into a subject worth singing about. His music is exuberant, good-natured, and fun with refined mannerisms
[1]. While Foote uses only his voice and guitar as instruments, he combines
light jazz,
pop, and
folk music to create his own style that has helped keep his name alive for over 15 years. His latest album,
Domestic Rendez-vous
, is geared towards an adult audience rather than children's ears. He uses influences such as
Randy Newman and
Billy Joel to create an edgier, more mature sound while still engaging listeners with his stylistic humor and charm
[2].
He has performed with numerous symphonies, including the
Oklahoma City Philharmonic,
Nashville Symphony Orchestra,
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and the
London Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed at the Montreal Comedy Festival,
Just For Laughs and internationally at the
Galway Arts Festival in
Ireland.
Norman Foote is the parent of four children and grandfather to two.
Awards
- Juno Awards
Nominee - 1990, 1993, 2001
- Parent's Choice Award
- 1992, 1996, 2001, 2002
- Socan's Best Songwriter for Children
- 2002
- National Association of Parenting Publications of America Award
- 1992, 2002, 2003
Discography
- FootePrints
(1991)
- If the Shoe Fits
(1992)
- Shake a Leg
(1995)
- Pictures on Fridge
(1997)
- Step To It
(1999)
- One Thousand Pennies
(2001)
- Domestic Rendez-vous
(2005)
- Love My New Shirt
(2008)
References
- http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wpfqxqy5ldke~T1 AllMusic.com
- Norman Foote iTune's Album Review