The moment every educator hopes for ❤️

Mr. Blue Shoes with to fans who saw him perform at their Middle School in Mineral Wells, Texas in 2014. They now have a baby of their own and brought her to the show!

Years later, two former students reminded me what these programs can mean.

“When you bring the Mr. Blue Shoes program to your school or library, the rewards are immediate. You see smiling faces, laughter, learning, and lifelong memories being created right before your eyes.

But sometimes the greatest impact isn't what happens that day—it's what happens years later. I was reminded of that at a recent library performance when a young couple approached me with their baby.

They told me I had performed at their school when they were in middle school. When they saw I was coming to their local library, they immediately knew they wanted to come.

Now they're married, have a child of their own, and they're sharing those same memories with the next generation.

"We are definitely fans," they told me. "When we saw your name, we knew we had to be there."

Moments like that remind me that what we do isn't just entertainment. The songs, the laughter, and the shared experiences can stay with children for years—and sometimes even become part of their own family traditions.

It's an incredible feeling to know that a single program can have an impact far beyond the day it's presented. If you'd like to bring the Mr. Blue Shoes program to your school, library, or community event, simply reply to this email. I'd be happy to answer any questions, check available dates, and send you pricing information.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned—there's much more to come!

Some things can't be experienced through a screen

I recently had a show in South Texas near Padre Island, just a few miles from Starbase where SpaceX is developing Starship.

Tens of thousands of people had crowded into the area, and I found myself asking...

Why are so many people here?

Come to find out a rocket launch had been scheduled, but it was cancelled at the last minute because of a technical issue.

It got me thinking...

In today's technology-driven world, why would so many people—families with children, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents—travel all that way when they could simply watch it on TV?

The answer is simple.

Because experiences matter.

We remember what we experience far longer than what we simply observe.

I had never seen Starship in person before, so the next day I drove over to the launch site anyway.

To be honest, I've seen a lot of things in my life, but standing there looking up at that rocket was incredible. It wasn't just the size of it. It was the feeling that came with standing there in person.

Seeing it with your own eyes is completely different than seeing it on a screen.

It sparked something in me. Before I knew it, I was reading everything I could about it. I wanted to know how it worked, how they got it 2 miles away to the launch pad, and every little detail about it and where it might take us someday.

That experience reminded me why I've spent nearly 18 years traveling from school to school performing for children.

Some experiences simply can't be replicated through a screen. I've now had the privilege of performing more than 1,700 shows for over 400,000 children, and one thing I've learned is this:

Children may not remember every word we say, but they'll often remember how we made them feel.

Whether it's watching a rocket launch, hearing live music for the first time, or sharing a moment of laughter with classmates, those experiences have a way of staying with us long after the day is over.

Thank you for everything you do to create those moments for the students you serve every day.

If you're planning programs for this school year—or even if you just have a question—I would love to hear from you.

Why songs stay with us for a lifetime 🎸 📚

During a summer program recently, a student raised his hand after one of my songs and asked me a question that really made me think.

"Why would someone put a story in a song?"

I told him that songs have a remarkable way of capturing our attention and making ideas memorable. Long after we forget a conversation or a page in a book, we often remember the words to a song we haven't heard in years.

When a story is paired with melody and rhythm, it becomes something we don't just hear—we experience it. That's one of the reasons music has been used for generations to share history, preserve traditions, and teach important lessons.

It's also the philosophy behind every Mr. Blue Shoes program.

Rather than simply talking about the history of American music, students experience it through live performance, storytelling, audience participation, and songs that help those ideas stay with them long after the assembly is over.

It's always rewarding to watch students discover that learning can be just as engaging as it is memorable.
If you're planning assemblies for the upcoming school year, I'd love to bring that experience to your campus.

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸 A quick story about American music...🎸

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸 

As we celebrate America's birthday, here's a fun piece of music history: the words to *The Star-Spangled Banner* were written by Francis Scott Key in 1814. 

More than 150 years later, blues guitarist Jimi Hendrix transformed that same song into one of the most unforgettable performances in music history at Woodstock, showing how great music continues to evolve while honoring its roots. 

That's exactly what I love sharing with students through Mr. Blue Shoes—helping them discover how blues, rock & roll, rap, country, and so much of the music they hear today are all connected. 

Wishing you a safe and wonderful Independence Day, and if you're planning programs for the new year, I'd love to bring that musical journey to your students.