A musical bond: Artist’s son inspires musician Mom to record a children’s album

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 Sept. 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.

As Daniel is learning, so is former classroom teacher Mom in a different way. She recently performed at a folk gathering called WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour, an internationally syndicated radio/TV program based in Lexington, Kentucky. It marked her first concert segment as a solo artist — and her first solo appearance on banjo, which gave her the jitters because of a potential audience of some 2 million people, but she ultimately labeled it “a banjoy good time.” She included “You Are My Sunshine,” which of course can trigger a touch of emotion as she thinks of her little, precious one.

“I had tears in my eyes,” she said. “I was struggling to hold it together.”

Yet, she keeps the mood light and cheery during her chat by launching into another breezy tune every five or 10 minutes to keep Daniel captivated as he taps on a toy keyboard and more. In fact, he taps almost in proper time — a seemingly small happening but a big victory, as Mom sees it — as she sings:

“The wheels on the bus go round and round

Round and round … .

At home, Daniel also is attracted to a real piano keyboard that he likes to plink. On her website of alliejeanmusic.com and her Facebook page of Allie Jean Music, followers and friends are cheering Daniel on, and doing the same for Mom. Among those affirming her is local bluegrass veteran and former internationally touring musician Roger Banister, who knows a thing or two about musicianship. He calls Allie Jean “incredibly talented,” and loves the idea of her forthcoming package of tunes.

“Like Allie, her children’s release is complete positive energy using all style elements,” Banister said. “Her approach to children’s music and her song for Daniel is simply delightful.”

She wants Daniel’s life, her nurturing and even the record to encourage open discussions about disabilities “and questions asked in kindness.”

Clearly, the former teacher is still an educator, and welcomes that role with her instruments instead of chalk.

“Yes, that’s exactly how I see it,” she said. “Absolutely.”

More about Allie Jean and Daniel

People can follow Allie Jean’s progress toward her children’s album release and notes about Daniel at alliejeanmusic.com.