This time on The Children’s Hour we celebrate the extraordinary life of Ella Jenkins, the First Lady of Children’s Music. We explore her life with people who knew her, loved her, and carry on her legacy in their own lives, and through her own words and music. Our show is full of her songs, stories and memories, sing along with Ella Jenkins and The Children’s Hour!

Join us on The Children’s Hour as we celebrate the life and legacy of Ella Jenkins, the First Lady of Children’s Music. Ella introduced kids everywhere to the joy of singing, rhythm, and music from different cultures. Her songs, filled with call-and-response, clapping, and playful melodies, have been teaching and inspiring young people for decades.

Ella Jenkins was born in 1924 and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She loved listening to the sounds around her—people singing in church, rhythms on the street, and her uncle playing the harmonica. She didn’t take formal music lessons, but she learned by listening and practicing on her own. 

Over time, she became a pioneer in children’s music, creating songs that encouraged kids to sing together. Her music brought cultures and languages from all over the world into classrooms, concerts, and homes. 

Ella believed that everyone can make music. Her songs often included call-and-response, where one person sings and others echo back. She encouraged kids to find rhythms in everyday life—clapping, stomping, and even knocking on doors! 

Her music was also about learning. She taught kids words in Spanish, Swahili, Hebrew, and many other languages. She wanted young people to know that music connects all of us, no matter where we come from.  

Famous children’s musicians Dan and Claudia Zanes joined us on this episode to share how Ella influenced their music. They remind us that Ella’s songs weren’t about performing perfectly—they were about feeling free to sing together. 

Music educators Jason McInnis and Maria McCullough also spoke about their time with Ella. They say she had a special way of making every child feel seen, valued, and excited to participate. 

Ella Jenkins passed away at the age of 100 in 2024, but her music will never be forgotten. She recorded 39 albums, many of which are still played in classrooms and homes around the world. Through her songs, she taught kindness, culture, and the power of community. 

This episode was produced by Katie Stone with help from Sarah Gabrielli, Jackie Fulton, and Thaniel Lentz. Thanks to Tim Ferrin for clips from his documentary Sing a Song Together. Special support for this show came from Bomi Parakh and Linda Blanchard.

The Children’s Hour is a production of The Children’s Hour Inc., a New Mexico-based nonprofit. Our show is distributed by Native Voice One: The Native American Radio Network.

© 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Please note: not all songs we play can be found in Spotify.