COLUMBUS, Ind. — Folk and bluegrass singer Allie Jean’s lilting vocals never sound so heartfelt as when she is singing to her nearly 2-year-old son, Daniel. Sitting on the floor with her guitar and her boy, she strums and begins to sing:
“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine …”
The tyke watches her, fascinated, and then breaks into a mischievous grin. Truth be told, Daniel is more than his mother’s sunshine. He is the inspiration for her forthcoming new children’s folk album “Sing and Play All Day.” The 16-song recording, due sometime in the fall, marks a dramatic departure for the artist who has spent the past 10 years or more as an internationally touring, professional bluegrass artist with acts such as Frank and Allie Lee and also The Freight Hoppers.
Before that, the Columbus native and current resident, known to most by her birth surname of Burbrink, also performed in this area with the Whipstitch Sallies, known to venture out of bluegrass even toward a pop tune or two occasionally.
“The basic reason for this album is because I had to start a whole new life (with Daniel’s birth),” she said. “This is like a sing-along in the car.”
And these are personally tweaked songs she has been crooning to Daniel since he was in the hospital neo-natal intensive care unit.
Recently, she released the first song and video from the effort. “Baby Dan Went to a Jam” is a light, happy takeoff of “Old McDonald Had a Farm.” In the video, Daniel is shown tapping out a righteous rhythm on a toy drum.
For Daniel, music seems to serve to stimulate his senses, his curiosity, you name it. Mom is interested in all of that and more because Daniel was born with Apert Syndrome. The rare genetic disorder is marked by features such as a fused skull (already surgically adjusted), webbed fingers and toes and other challenges. More surgeries for Daniel are scheduled beginning Dec. 8 to release the fingers and toes with the help of skin grafts.
For now, though, he has determinedly begun to try to walk unaided without his walker. And when Mom launches into the musical line of “if you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands,” a beaming Daniel quickly responds with happy claps that Jean hopes to have recorded on the tune.
He loves her music enough that he reaches out a time or two to pluck a few of her guitar strings, and has done the same with her banjo.
“The purpose (of the album) is not just entertainment, but also bonding with your child by learning to play music together,” she said.
For the complete story and more photos, see Tuesday’s Republic.
