Inspired by my bee stories, my ninety-one year old father-in-law took pen in hand and wrote “A Busy Bee Song.” Setting the words to a simple tune he composed, he hoped to inspire children to learn about and respect the honeybees.
He asked Judy Rhodes, a local singer in his home town of Phoenix, Arizona, to sing his song. Judy performs with a small group, “Up the Road and Around the Bend,” who sing for folks in retirement homes around the Phoenix area. He copyrighted his words and music to make it officially his own.
Chuck Barrett is truly an inspiration. He leads an exercise group three days a week at his local YW. His enthusiasm is contagious and people join in, some in wheelchairs, some with walkers with bingo in the next room as his fierce competition.
I set videos and photos of my bees to Chuck’s song, and we hope you will enjoy our efforts to bring awareness to the honeybees story.
Hallo Pat, this is wonderful. Will you please tell your father in law that I said that too. May I have your permission to show the film to the children at the local junior schools where I give lessens about bees. I would like to ask the children to learn the song as part of their english lessons as well. It would be really good if you could provide the sheet music for playing on piano. Because there is a copywrite your father in law must give his permission for this I think. Your photo’s make it even more lovely too. Thank you for sharing x will he share the orange cake recipe too do you think?
Chuck was very touched by your comment. He lives a distance away, but we talk to him every week. Since he is suffering from macular degeneration, he can barely see. He composed the song, but didn’t write it out, so there’s no sheet music. He hasn’t seen the video yet. We’ve got to get someone over there to help him see it. We’ll have to figure out what he wants to do.
Lindylou, I have recently gotten an “okay” from Chuck for you to share the film with your students. Chuck would like to get some feedback on how the kids like it, as well as some ‘credit’ for the composition. Thanks for your interest and request for permission. I’ll ask for the delicious orange cake recipe next. 🙂
I absolutely love it. May I repeat that? I absolutely love it. As a retired teacher of young children I am sure it would be a hit. So many concepts are in the song. I could plan a whole six weeks unit around that song. lol
What you have been trying to teach us about bees for years, your father-in-law gets across in a three minute song! OH JUST KIDDING! 🙂
Thanks, Esther, you’re right, a song can get the point across really well. He worked on that song night and day for about a week, then back and forth with us typing the words super large so he could see it. He’s a remarkable man, being able to come up with this project and seeing it through to completion at 91 years old!
Remarkable…YES. We should all be so fortunate to be active and productive at that age. 🙂
He is a real inspiration! I do like the song. He has managed to tell the bee story in a charming way for the children and yet keep it truthful to help them understand. Your video fits it very well showing the variety of flowers that the bees visit. Amelia
Thanks, Amelia, that was part of the plan. He composes the melody, I add the videos, but I didn’t know he would also write the words and get someone to sing it.:)
Great stuff Pat, hats off to your father in-law. Malina, whilst not understanding the lyrics, loved the video and I have a new set of finger prints on the laptop screen 🙂
Hmmm. She might grow into liking bees. You can never start too early. 😃
What a fun and educational way to teach kids about bees and flowers.