KNOWLEDGE IS POWER - Disney Dedicates Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Golden Anniversary with NEW Music Special

 In January 1973, back when Mickey Mouse was still young and Disney was ran by Michael Eisner, Disney and ABC's classic Saturday Moring children's interstitals music series Schoolhouse Rock! was born to the nation. Created by Bob Dorough, David B. McCall and George Newall, this series was meant to help introduce children to the lengths of multiplication, grammar, American history, science, computer software programming, money skills and protecting the environment of our planet through fun quirky 3-minute music videos that help to get their point across.

The first song "Three is a Magic Number" was released on January 6, 1973 and was the track that began a legendary masterpiece of educational children's television. Other bangers including the most-popular "Conjunction Junction" and "I'm Just A Bill" by Jack Sheldon would follow in the years to come.

Unfortunately a majority of the SHR team have died ever since the final release of the series, Schoolhouse Rock!: Earth Rock in April 2009, with the other creator George Newall unfortunately passing away at the beginning of December 2022. Also in years past, we lost Bob Dorough, Jack Sheldon, Zachary Sanders, Grady Tate, Blossom Dearie, David Frishberg, creator David B. McCall and animator Tom Yohie Sr.

Although these legendary people are no longer with us, Schoolhouse Rock continues to dominate children's television to this day and new generations of kids are being introduced to the classic educational rock and roll music classroom that once was. The series has also sparked two Broadway musical tours and also being performed in elementary schools worldwide, a Broadway project of whihc the SHR staff are deeply grateful to attended.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of this legendary children's series and the music that Dorough and Sheldon have given us over the years, Disney-owned ABC will go out with its latest addition to the award-winning Disney's Family SingAlong series. The fifth installment, Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary SingAlong will air Wednesday February 1st at 8:00PM ET/7c.

Hosted by Ryan Seacrest (American Pop Idol, Dick Clark's New Years Rockin' Eve), the new one-hour special will feature a who's who of Disney and entertainment superstars singing their own takes of Schoolhouse Rock's best songs, the first covers project since the Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks! covers album released in 1996 by Atlantic Records. Among the celebrities featured include NE-YO, The Black Eyed Peas, The Muppets, the casts of Disney's hit Broadway musical adaptions of Aladdin and The Lion King, Disney Channel legend Raven Symone (That's So Raven, Cory in the House, Raven's HOUSE) and for the GRAND FINALE, the all-time classic "Conjunction Junction" rendition performed by NBA Basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal and members of the iconic Boys & Girls Clubs of America charity.

A toast of gratitude and thanks to Bob, Jack, David, George and the whole team for putting together this incredible catalog of children's music. 50 years is a long way to go and even though you unfortunately have died and aren't around to see this celebration take effect, here's salute to the entire team of that cartoon and hoping that your music had brought something special of what it meant to the world.

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