“He puts on an incredible show!” -- Lisa Barrera-Entertainment Committee, Arlington County Fair Board of Directors

Find out about Groovy Nate shows and much more!

“Your talent is a true gift and we are grateful that you shared it with our little ones!”--Torria Baker, Director, UCM Learning Center

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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