Bill Harley

Bill Harley
Born
William Harley

(1954-07-01) July 1, 1954 (age 72)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
EducationHamilton College
OccupationsMusician, Storyteller, Author
Years active1975–present
Websitewww.billharley.com

Bill Harley (born William Harley, July 1, 1954 in Greenville, Ohio) is an American children's entertainer, musician, and author who has been called "the Mark Twain of contemporary children's music" by Entertainment Weekly. He uses a range of musical styles, and his audience includes both children and adults. Harley began singing and storytelling in 1975 while still a student at Hamilton College. Much of his material is autobiographical, focusing on vignettes from childhood.

Career

Harley has released over 30 recordings. He received two Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word Album For Children (albums consisting of predominantly spoken word versus music or song) for his albums Blah Blah Blah: Stories About Clams, Swamp Monsters, Pirates & Dogs and Yes to Running! Bill Harley Live in 2007 and 2009, and five additional Grammy nominations. He has also won Parents' Choice awards, ALA (American Library Association) awards and the highest award from the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio for his concert DVD Yes to Running.

Harley has also published numerous books. His first novel for elementary students, The Amazing Flight of Darius Frobisher, was chosen by Bank Street School of Education as one of the best children's books of the year. His second novel for children, Night of the Spadefoot Toads, was released in October 2008 and won a Green Earth Book Award. His picture books include Sitting Down To Eat, which was selected as an American Booksellers Association Pick of the List. A book from his most recent series, Charlie Bumpers vs. The Teacher of the Year, won the 2016 Beverly Cleary Children's Choice award and is part of the One School One Book programming from Read to Them.

Harley has performed in more than 2500 schools over the years. In addition to children's music, he performs at storytelling festivals around the country, including appearances at the National Storytelling Festival. He tours nationwide as an author, performing artist and keynote speaker from his home in Seekonk, Massachusetts. His 1988 album You're in Trouble had a contributing bit by Rhode Island children's performer Salty Brine, who started one of Harley's songs like a weather report, and his trademark line "No school Foster-Glocester!"

Awards

Nominations

Awards

Discography

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Swift, P.J. "Bill Harley – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Bios". Bill Harley. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Bill Harley". The Recording Academy. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  4. ↑ "BCCCA Past Winners". ola.memberclicks.net. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Academy's Complete List of Nominees". Los Angeles Times. January 6, 1999. p. 5. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Final Nominations For The 42nd Annual Grammy Awards". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 3. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2000. p. 72. Retrieved September 11, 2011.
  7. ↑ "53rd Annual Grammy Awards nominees list". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Circle of Excellence Award Recipients". National Storytelling Network. Archived from the original on September 15, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  9. ↑ "The 2006 Storytelling World Resource Awards". Storytelling World. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Complete list of Grammy nominees". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Corporation. December 8, 2006. p. 5. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  11. ↑ "The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Nominations". CBS. Archived from the original on February 14, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  12. ↑ "The Green Earth Book Award". Newton Marasco Foundation. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  13. ↑ Morgan, Thomas. "R.I. Humanities Council picks Harley, Kazarian for prizes". Projo 7 to 7 News Blog. The Providence Journal. Archived from the original on July 15, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2011.