A new children’s music album for LGBTQIA+ families offers soothing melodies and inclusive, loving lyrics by 15 award-winning LGBTQIA+ writers, performed by more than 30 LGBTQIA+ artists, including many Broadway stars!
The Rainbow Lullaby (Broadway Records) was conceived by Ryan Bauer-Walsh (Billy Elliot) in memory of his mother, Nancy, “as a way to continue her legacy of maternal strength, kindness and love.” Many of the songs, such as “Family Means” (Kyle Dean Massey, Taylor Frey, Jenn Colella, and Chilina Kennedy) and “Mommy and Mama” (Jo Lampert) are explicitly inclusive of families with two moms or two dads, or, like “Your Own Sweet Family” (Susie Mosher), speak to the many types of families. “The Beautiful Son” (Jaime Cepero, Jonathan Burke) tells of a “beautiful Black son” being raised by two dads. Some, like “Hide and Seek” (Matt Doyle), “When We Dreamed of You” (Ryan Bauer-Walsh), and “The Dream” (L Morgan Lee) touch on the often long journeys many LGBTQIA+ people have taken to parenthood. “Two Mama Flamingos” (Christine Dwyer) reminds us of the natural world’s variety of families, including two-mom flamingo couples, two-dad giraffe pairs, and a seahorse dad gestating its eggs. Others, like “You’ll Have a New Day Tomorrow” (Ryan Bauer-Walsh) speak simply to the bond between any parent and child. All of the songs, however, are at heart about the love and care of family, however we may choose to define it.
You can stream the album from any major streaming service, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. All proceeds from purchases via Broadway Records, however, support the Ali Forney Center, whose mission is to protect LGBTQ+ youths from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to live independently.
The album is being pitched as “the world’s first LGBTQ lullaby album,” which is technically true, but might lead one to think it’s the first album of LGBTQ-focused or LGBTQ-inclusive kids’ music. It’s not—here are a number of other albums you may want to check out. The Rainbow Lullaby, however, gives us a full album focused on soft lullabies, perfect for bedtime or anytime when the kids (or you) need a little calming. With the songwriting and performing talent brought to bear here, this is likely to become a go-to album for many, many families.
Have a listen to “Family Means,” and then check out the rest of the album:
The album in full includes performances by Michael Buchanan (The Book of Mormon), Ryan Bauer-Walsh (Billy Elliot), Klea Blackhurst (Party Face), Jonathan Burke (The Inheritance), Jaime Cepero (Smash) Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk winner Jenn Collela (Come From Away), Madge Dietrich (Kinky Boots), Matt Doyle (Company), Christine Dwyer (Wicked), Taylor Frey (The View Upstairs), Zachary James (The Addams Family), Natalie Joy Johnson (Kinky Boots), Jay Armstrong Johnson (Our Town), Aury Krebs (A Letter to Harvey Milk), Chilina Kennedy (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Tony Award nominee Caitlin Kinnunen (The Prom), Jo Lampert (Hundred Days), L Morgan Lee (A Strange Loop), Richie Leone, Michael Longoria (Jersey Boys), Kyle Dean Massey (Wicked), John Charles Mclaughlin (Crackskull Row), Susie Mosher (Hairspray), Shakina Nayfack (Musical Theatre Factory), Kyler O’Neal (Pity Party), Lauren Patten (Jagged Little Pill), Ernie Pruneda (Sister Act), Jelani Remy (Ain’t Too Proud), Chris Rice-Thomson (Pretty Woman), Clay Rice-Thomson (Matilda), Marissa Rosen (Kristin Chenoweth: For The Girls), Marty Thomas (Wicked), Katie Thompson (R.R.R.E.D.), and The First Presbyterian Church of New York City Choir.
Songs on the album are by Tony, Oscar and Grammy Award winner Marc Shaiman (Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can), Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Award winner Debra Barsha (Radiant Baby), Ryan Bauer-Walsh (Three Men In A Boat), Michelle Chamuel (The Voice), Bobby Cronin (Mary & Max), Amanda D’Archangelis (Single Rider), Emmy nominee David Dabbon (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver), award-winning composer/pianist Yaz Fukuoka, Andrew Gerle (Meet John Doe), Mark Hartman (Magic To Do), Paul Loesel (LMNOP), Jason Ma (Gold Mountain), Dionne McClain Freeney (The Sugar Hill Sisters), Adam Overett (My Life Is a Musical), Arri Simon and Janine McGuire (Express), Susie Mosher (Hairspray), Larson Award recipient Zoe Sarnak (A Crossing), Fred Sauter (Bedbugs!!), and Lucas Tahiruzzman Syed (The Brontës).