Dennis Warner’s tenth release “Beep Beep” is also his first album intended for children. Years of requests for such a project came to fruition after receiving a grant from the Central Minnesota Arts Board. “Beep Beep” weaves together Warner favorites from when he was growing up to newer songs, either written by him or friends and colleagues in the folk music world like Tom Rush and Tom Paxton. The songs flow beautifully together as Dennis combines fun and up-tempo with meaningful ballads, along with songs sure to bring a laugh to any age listener. In the grant application Dennis stated, “As an artist, I am not interested in creating something silly just to have a kids CD for sale. The songs have to mean something. This will be an album intended for kids, but with songs adults will also enjoy.”
Using his expert intuition to identify quality songs, Dennis Warner dove deep into his past to resurrect a couple of songs his Dad, musician Rod Warner, used to sing around the house while his protégé’ was barely out of diapers. Dennis remembered how “Beep Beep” and “The Marvelous Toy” always made him laugh. This same fun, lighthearted spirit comes out as well in the “Fish Story Song”, “Cat in the Sink”, “Biscuit Man” and in the blazing fast, tongue twisting tale “Rubber Blubber Whale”. Texture and depth are added with “We Have Each Other”, “Skippin’ Stones”, “Goodnight to the Moon and Stars” and a rousing first ever studio version of his anthem “Beads on One String”, previously released on a live CD and also in a book by the same name.
Dennis Warner is an experienced artist, averaging over 100 concerts every year, nationwide. Some of his past performances include prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, D.C) and the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts (St. Paul, MN), along with festivals such as the Kerrville Folk Festival. Whether his concerts take place at theaters, colleges, schools, libraries, spiritual centers or other community meeting places, Warner’s audiences feel equally at home. Besides music, Dennis is also a frequent guest speaker throughout the country, talking about his popular children’s book Beads on One String, now in its Fifth Printing.
“Beep Beep” was recorded at Thousand Pines Studio in Minnesota with Warner’s long time band “the D’s”: Dan Neale (guitar/vocals), Derrick Raiter (percussion/vocals) and Dennis “DK” Kennedy (marimba/harmonica/vocals). Warner accompanies his vocals on both six and twelve string guitars. Several special guests also appear, including vocalist Glen Everhart making his fourth appearance on a Dennis Warner album, opera singer Jack Richter and Nashville musician Julie Rust.
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