Early Start
Growing up on Chicago's South Side, Ella Jenkins's early musical education was shaped by the diverse rhythms and rhymes of her neighborhood. Her uncle's harmonica playing inspired her to find rhythm in everyday objects, and her mother supported her interest by buying her first harmonica.
Key Achievements
- Released over 40 albums for Smithsonian Folkways, including the classic 'Call-and-Response'
- Received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004
- Honored as a Legacy Honoree by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage
- Awarded the Pioneer in Early Television Citation by the National Museum of American History.
Why They Inspire Us
Ella Jenkins is a wonderful role model who showed how music can bring people together and celebrate different cultures. She dedicated her life to creating a joyful and inclusive world for children, teaching them that their voices are important and that singing together can build community.