I’ve always been a bit of a rule bender. I believe that sometimes rules exist to keep stupid people from hurting themselves from doing stupid things. I believe in developing good instincts and to live life with a lot of adventure and have tried to inspire this in my child. My son is my one and only, he is my world, my sunshine, and the air I breathe. In his wonder years he was the greatest playmate and we had a blast. We forged creeks, climbed trees, rode bikes, played on the monkey bars, swings, tackled and played tag, explored rocky ravines and took in the wonders all around us. What’s funny is that it was I who had to coax him to do things a little out of the ordinary for a little fun. He was the cautious one and when I’d say, “look a short cut, let’s take it!” He was absolutely mortified! Dare we do something as risky as exit through a door that was posted with “entrance only,” he was certain we’d get caught and hauled off to jail!

It was quite an education in the mechanics of licensing a song when I recorded my first children’s album and all I can say is “Shame on the Sham!” The “Sham” I am referring to is Sam The Sham who wrote the classic rock & roll tune called “Wooly Bully.” Why the shame? Well one day I was inspired by a 4-year-old preschool student who had come in from the play yard filled with excitement because a roly poly (aka “potato bug”) had just climbed on his arm! In a magical moment of improvisation, I began singing about the adventures of this gentle little bug and right there in that classroom a song was born called “Roly Poly.” The lyrics happened to fit perfectly to the tune of “Wooly Bully” and the teachers were amused since they recognized it and the kids were very thrilled to bop out to a rock and roll tune about the sow bugs they just experienced outside. I thought it all very wonderful and was sure that this fun little song would be included on my first album! It even became the theme song for the school’s earth day celebration and it was quite a site having over 80 kids sang their hearts out, rolling their arms singing “ROLY POLY” in one be voice to the Roly Poly song!

I was excited and recorded the song and had my 7 year old help me with the vocals since it was an echo song. But alas getting the license to permit me to use this song was a different story. To license a song the best place to begin is with the Harry Fox agency out of New York. They manage licenses and royalties for millions of songs. They have a very simple song search tool called Songfile that makes it easy to find and license a song, but only if they manage 100 percent of it. If they do, then it’s a piece of cake. But if they don’t, then you have to go directly to the publisher. “Wooly Bully” had 2 publishers and it took some searching the internet to find them. The first publisher, who owned 25 percent of the song rights, agreed to grant me a license, but only if the second publisher, who owned the remaining 75 percent, agreed. Well after many emails and some calls to pinpoint the appropriate person at this company, they sadly declined my request for the license. I was stunned. I couldn’t believe that Sam the Sham or those associated with the “Sham” wouldn’t grant the use of this song for children — I mean this was for kids and it was GREEN too! Shame on the Sham!

One of the many hats I wear is “preschool music teacher.” In my music classes there are those kids that simply have to be heard. I see that star fire in their eyes and on their faces. They simply need to stand out, shine and share it with everyone!

I understand this. When I was 5, my dad took my brothers and I to a big theater in Cleveland, Ohio to see Captain Kangaroo live and on stage, along with his side kicks, Mr. Green Jeans and the Dancing Bear. It was all very exciting and it was the first time I had ever seen a big stage like that. The show began and all I could think about was how I could get on that stage! I was compelled! There was no way I was going to be happy unless I somehow, someway, got on that stage! I sat there vibrating in my seat and I kept bugging my older brother, who was about 10 at the time, to ask them if I could go on stage. I was relentless and he probably realized he needed to do something just to shut me up. So he went over to the stage manager and became my very first booking agent. He did a good job ‘cause the manager said yes. So I ran over and was on my way to stardom!

There I was on stage with Captain Kangaroo! I felt good, I made it, I was where I belonged, I was a star! Everyone was looking at me, waiting to see what I was going to do, man it felt great. I had everyone’s attention, woo-hoo! The Captain asked me some questions and there it was, THE MICROPHONE, I was talking through the MICROPHONE! He asked me if I wanted to sing a song, well of course I wanted to sing a song but I had absolutely NO IDEA what song! It was almost kind of annoying, all his questions. I just wanted to BE there, it’s not like I had PLAN. My mission as far as I was concerned was accomplished. The Captain patiently went through a list of songs and when he landed on “Mary Had A Little Lamb” I said, “Sure!” Well “sure” I had heard the song before but I didn’t know the words. So luckily I did know the title line and then after that I relied completely upon my brother who was in the audience looked kind of freaked out, mouthing the words to me. No problem, I muddled through and thankfully, I had the cute thing going for me. I was a HIT, I knew it because they CLAPPED when I finished.

I’m getting very close to finding my “why,” and when I do I’m going to nail that sucker to the wall. Why am I looking for my “why? “ Because a book I read recently inspired me. It’s called, “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek (Click here for info on START WITH WHY). It’s a study of why some people and organizations are more innovative, influential, and profitable than others. How having a clear sense of “why” is the basis for all action, thought and communication.

The book describes how some of the world’s most influential leaders had their “why,” down pat — like Steve Jobs. Steve wanted to bring the personal computer to the common man and now there are over 73 million people that can fit these into the palm of their hands! Sinek’s book describes his clear vision and unwavering commitment.

I have to laugh because one day many years ago when I worked as a receptionist at Lucasfilm, Steve came bounding through the door and up the stairs to evidently meet with Pixar, which was then the small computer division of the company located in the back of the building. It was my responsibility to make sure everyone signed in and to me he looked like someone’s unruly teenage son running wildly up the stairs on his way to meet his dad for lunch. I jumped up and hollered at him, “hey, you need to come and sign in!” Begrudgingly he tromped back down the stairs and signed in. I thought, “the nerve of this guy, who does he think he is?” This was my encounter with the “why” man himself, the man who exemplifies the power of having a “why.” My “why” at that moment was to follow corporate policy (not to have Steve Jobs bend to my will, however humorous that sounds), and his was to change the world!

“Start With Why” has sort of traumatized me because I too wish to live my life more, “whyfully.” Don’t we all? Something to ground us especially on those WTF am I doing days?! Something to help us to quickly navigate around those little inconveniences, like dinner. Or receptionists.

I would definitely recommend the book. It’s thought provoking and I’ve been applying the “why” question to many things in my life, like having a band for instance. Why do I have a band when it’s a huge amount of work, time, and cost when everyone I know goes to bed at 9:00 — which is when most gigs begin? Why? Why don’t I just focus solely on children’s music since it seems so logical and successful? Why am I producing and writing songs when I’m not sure they’ll ever be heard? Why?

Welcome to my very first Blog. I am an independent musical mom that swims in a whacky crossover world between children’s and adult music. With the release of my new album “Amy Liz Kid Hits,” I’ve taken the plunge and rebranded my children’s musical self as Amy Liz and maintained my singer/songwriter adult self as Amy Wigton. Since we are all now slaves to the internet and google, it made sense not to have “Gallop Little Horsey” followed by something adult related, like footage from a comedy show I did a while back. (There was a bad word in it, shhhhh, don’t tell the kids).

This dual name thing is all very new to me and I’m not sure if it’ll cause clarity or just more confusion for my poor wittle bwain. I’m secretly hoping that maybe Amy Liz can get away with things that Amy Wigton would never imagine doing and vice-versa. This way neither would be required to claim responsibility!

I really didn’t plan on adopting a new name. I’ve been performing music with kids for 9 years as “Miss Amy.” The preschoolers called me this and it just stuck, since every teacher’s name at a preschool starts with “Miss.” But just as I was getting ready to release my CD, this lady on the east coast came along and declared she is the real “Miss Amy” and has the trademark papers to prove it! Now why would someone come along and blow my perfect name conventions out of the water?! I considered the name “Miss Amy West” but it didn’t roll off the tongue so easily. More about HER in a later blog.

My blog will relate to women, musicians, songwriters, moms, parents, artists, entrepreneurs, free thinkers, dreamers and anyone who is creatively inclined or aspires to be. To those who keep their sense of play and wonder alive and enjoys being physically active and engaged in the world. And to those who like looking at things from a different angle or just some simple entertainment and a laugh to go along with that morning cup of joe.

I wish to offer insights into the off-beat process of being a musical “mompreneur.” I’ll provide some snippets into “thinking outside of the box” and some good tips on navigating the music world in the genres that I travel. I’ll share my creative process, my art, ideas, inventions, inspirations, perspectives, experiences, successes, failures and I won’t blog about any fits of rage. Unless they are very, very funny.

I’m pretty unconventional and other moms sometimes don’t know what to make of me. For instance, I love to climb trees to the top to catch a good sunset. It’s just weird to me that no one else does this. If you do, please join me — my redwood offers the greatest views!

As a songwriter, musician, performer, teacher, manager, publisher, actress, producer, engineer, circus clown, street musician, comedian, mother and wife, I’ll share some interesting stories of what it’s like doing what I do. I’ll introduce you to some of the colorful people I’ve met along the way who have also made their way into my songs. And of course the great stories about the amazing kids, whose honesty, fresh insights and funny nature I’ve captured in my journal throughout the years.