Tribute: A Sad Farewell to “Schoolhouse Rock” Composer Bob Dorough
Posted on April 24, 2018 at 12:16 pm
We mourn the loss of Bob Dorough, whose wonderful “Schoolhouse Rock” songs taught a generation of kids about everything from grammar to math to history. Some of my favorites:
And here is Dorough talking about the value of music in education.
It was on September 17, 1789 that the US Constitution was approved. The Bill of Rights was not added until later, but let’s celebrate that, too. How many can you name? This will help you remember them.
ABC will be airing a tribute to the classic educational series “Schoolhouse Rock” on September 7. Now parents can sing along to “I’m Just a Bill” and “Conjunction Junction” and share with their kids these delightful and remarkably informative gems.
According to CNN, the man behind the show’s iconic soundtrack was jazz pianist and vocalist Bob Dorough, who was approached in 1971 by a New York advertising exec whose sons could not multiply. After setting the multiplication tables to music with the song “Three’s a Magic Number,” the musician knew he had a hit.
Last year, Dorough, who is now 90, said he still performs and still gets requests from adults to sing some of the “Schoolhouse Rock” bits when they recognize his voice.