“He puts on an incredible show!” -- Lisa Barrera-Entertainment Committee, Arlington County Fair Board of Directors
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“Your talent is a true gift and we are grateful that you shared it with our little ones!”--Torria Baker, Director, UCM Learning Center
high energy funky grooves that entertain and educate!
High energy funky grooves in children’s music that entertain and educate!
Groovy Nate® is a children’s entertainer, and Teaching Artist, who creates fun and educational shows using funky grooves, exotic musical instruments, and comedy— a la Sesame Street meets Parliament/Funkadelic. He is also a GRAMMY NOMINATED ARTIST WITH THE ONE TRIBE COLLECTIVE. Groovy Nate's shows encourage children and adults to move, sing, and play creatively with one another.
Prior to working as a children's performer and Teaching Artist, he founded the underground soul band, Oktbrwrld (October World). They worked from 1997-2006, producing four albums, winning The Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) award four times, as well as having two songs featured in the 2007 motion picture, "Cougar Club".
Instruments: Voice, Guitar, Electronics, Percussion
Genres: Children's Music, Funk, Reggae, Afro-Beat, Electronic, Rock, Avant-Garde
Years Active: 2006-Present
Education:
HOWARD UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON DC
Jazz Studies/Guitar
Additional Skills:
- Teaching Artist with Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts
- Kennedy Center’s Teaching Artist Present (TAP)
- Music Director for Educational Theatre Company (ETC)
- Grammy nominated Music Producer
- Music Together Teacher
- Songwriting workshops for children grades 2-6
- Music and Movement Teacher at various schools, grades Pre-K through early elementary
- Freelance abstract art teacher for grades Pre-K through early elementary
Affiliations:
- Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) Teaching Artist Roster
- Teaching Artist Mid-Atlantic (TAMA)
- Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts
- Arts Every Day
- Educational Theatre Company (ETC)
- Kennedy Center Education
- Day Eight
- Music Together Vivo!
Awards and Honors:
Groovy Nate
- 2022 Grammy Nominated with The One Tribe Collective for Best Children’s Album
- 2011 Get Caught Reading Appreciation from Arlington Public Library
Oktbrwrld
- 2005 Washington Area Music Award winner for Best Urban Contemporary Group
- 2005 Washington Post Best Local Band nominee
- 2005 Washington Area Music Award winner for Best Urban Contemporary Recording
- 2004 Washington Area Music Award winner for Best Urban Contemporary Group
- 2003 Washington Area Music Award winner for Best Urban Contemporary Group
- 2003 Artists Undiscovered Award winner for Best R&B/Funk Songwriter