Wade in the Waterby Ella Jenkins

Watch a NEA National Heritage tribute to Ella Jenkins, "the first lady of children's music": www.arts.gov

Ella Jenkins is often referred to as the First Lady of Children's Music, and with good reason: The 90-year-old Chicagoan released her first album of children's songs in 1957. Since that time, during the course of a career that includes 60 albums, she paved the way for generations of new musicians who interact with young audiences by popularizing her “call and response” technique to engage kids.