Todd McHatton

A Brand New Marvy!

Sun, 06 May 2012 15:01:45 -0800

Wow. Have we had an amazing couple of weeks. I'll share as much of the magnificence as I can with you over the next few posts. Highlights from our trip to NYC, including our performance on SiriusXM with Chris Ballew/Caspar Babypants, hanging with amazing artists, musicians, and so many people with a passion for family entertainment, Kindiefest!, meeting Steve Burns from Blues Clues, seeing How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (which, by the way is amazing but still not as good as this), spending time with my new BFF/Bandmate and making the early pre-announcement (I'll have it here soon.. I promise) for our new album, and so much more! I can't wait to share it all.
But first...
Let's talk about Marvy.

When I was about 6 years old I discovered my love for puppets. Then came magic, then music, then comics.
I've always said that puppets are one of the highest art forms. You create this character from nothing and then bring it to life and, when you really get a good one, it lives on. Both of my kids have told my hands things that they've never told me. It's a strange, beautiful mystery.
I made Marvy, the furry purple monster/bunny about 7 years ago. I make a lot of puppets but this one was unique. First of all, he was huge compared to the any other puppet I'd made up to that point. Second, his voice and his personality came out instantly, as soon as I put him on. My little (at the time) boy and I made a silly music video with him called Super Friend Vacation almost immediately. My son was definitely the star but he and Marvy played off each other beautifully. We made other puppets together and played with Marvy sometimes but we didn't "make" anything with him until around this time last year.
It was just before Easter and I wanted to make a fun little tune with my daughter. I set up the mic for both of us and we just started talking and singing along to the little groove I had just recorded. It happened instantly. Just a little bit of magic with my amazing little girl. I posted it right away as I do with a lot of my tunes and I didn't give it much thought again until we were wrapping up the Galactic Champions of Joy album. It was just about done and my wife suggested that we add it as the last track. It was really different from the rest of the album but that's what was kind of great about it. Jeff Bogle from OWTK gave it to Mindy at SiriusXM (thank you Jeff and Mindy! We are endlessly grateful!) and within a month of its release it was on its way to becoming the number one song on SiriusXM Kids Place Live. It spent 5 weeks at #1 and has stayed on their "Top 13 Under 13" for 30 consecutive weeks now. More amazing things have since come from sharing that little bit of joy than I could possibly list here. Marvy now has a career of his own, he's taken the band with him, and has begun work on an album of his own. It's all quite amazing and endlessly inspiring. The thing with puppets though is that their bodies wear out fast. It becomes more difficult with time to even operate their mouths. Marvy is special though and I am only a very amateur puppet maker. I want Marvy to live on in a big way. So, knowing that we'd be making a very special trip to New York to, in a sense, celebrate the magic that has come from our experiences with him so far, I reached out to find someone who could help. The artist I discovered exceeded my expectations. His apuppetaday tumblr has kept me entertained daily for months now. His name is James Wojtal and he worked for the Henson company for many years. He worked on "Bear" on "The Bear In The Big Blue House", one of my kids favorite shows of all times, as well as Blotch on "Kermits Swamp Years", another family favorite. Some of the construction of the new and improved Marvy has been documented online for the world to see. It was a weird feeling to put this magical monster/bunny into someone else's hands but it also had that grand feeling of letting go. Marvy just got some super powers and I really couldn't be happier for him. Wait till you see what he's got in store. You know what...? Marvy is just getting started.

This video features the actual very first moment I put him on.

Bears Bear Bare Bears - The Video!

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:11:43 -0800

A little experimental animated video I made on an iPad for the song "Bears Bear Bare Bears" from the new record Galactic Champions of Joy!
Get the CD Here!
Get the Download Here!

You Are a Shining Star

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:50:25 -0800

You Are a Shining Star.mp3

So many beautiful projects lately. So beautiful and so overwhelming. I'm having one of the greatest artistic times of my life lately.
I've never had such a spectacular writing partner. Yes, it's true, I have begun a band with an amazing artist and amazing human being. An artist that I'm quite certain many of you know and love. I can't wait to share it with all of you. We're working away on our first glorious, epic album and have already started bouncing around ideas for the follow up. I'll have more on all that very soon.
In the meantime, I just had to populate this space with some more brand new audio joy of my own.

The Happy Easter Sing-Along / Play-Along Game!

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:42:00 -0800

Play Along!
After numerous requests from both experienced and budding musicians all over the world I humbly offer up to you the chords and tuning for "I Think I'm A Bunny". The special tuning, low to high is: E, G#, B, E, G#, D#.
See if you can figure out where the chords go and play along. Post a video when you're done and Marvy might send you a special surprise!

I Think I'm A Bunny by Todd McHatton
Featuring our favorite furry, purple, monster / bunny, Marvy Monstone.
You know what? / What? / I think I'm a bunny... / But you're not a bunny, you're a monster / But I think I'm a bunny / Bunnies aren't purple / I think I'm a bunny / You're not a bunny / I think I'm a bunny / You're not a bunny / I think I'm a bunny... / No you're not / I think I'm a bunny / I don't think you're right/ I think I'm a bunny / You're not a bunny / You're a monster... / But I might be a bunny / You know I could be a bunny / Yeah, I think I'm probably a bunny 'cause, you know, I've got these long ears, you know, and sometimes I like to have a carrot or something, you know / Furry and purple / Covered with purple fur / Furry and purple covered with purple / Furry and oh yeah I'm purple / So, if I'm not a bunny then, you know, what am I? / But you're not a bunny, you're a monster / Yeah, yeah I get that, you keep saying that but, you know, what am I? / You may be not a bunny but you gotta not care about that / Yeah, but I do care about that / I think I'm a bunny / Please don't say that / You're not a bunny / But I think I'm a bunny... / You are definitely not a bunny / I think I'm a bunny yeah / Please you are not a bunny / You're a monster... / You know, maybe I'm a really special bunny, you know with purple fur, and, you know, long purply ears, and you know, just a good overall disposition and everything, you know / I think I'm a bunny / You are a monster / Furry and purple covered with purple fur / Furry and purple covered with purple / Furry and, oh yeah I'm purple

Happy Easter Everyone!
Watch the video here or download the song here.

Hand Aid - Felt Around The World

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 16:48:43 -0800

So, Marvy, our favorite furry, purple, monster/ bunny guy, was recently asked to participate in a very special song for charity. And, even though he insists that he is definitely neither puppet nor monster, he's pretty sure he's a bunny that loves singing with friends.
Plus, all the proceeds go to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Click on the image and go get it!

The Hand Aid Mission
The mission of Hand Aid is to provide support to all puppets, no matter their eye size, hairstyle, or nose color. Through song, word, and bug-eyed double-takes, we demand respect, dignity, and the right to be treated as equals.

The Ee Oh Song

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:53:13 -0800

The Ee Oh Song.mp3

Here's a brand new, happy, fun tune we're working on.
See if you can figure it out before I do.
"Their stare - ee oh
Is odd - ee oh..."
We just got some new gear in the video production studio so check back soon for some brand new adventures including a little thing we're working on called "Todd McHatton's Champy Ones" and a whole lot more!

Valentine Song For Mom

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:11:44 -0800

Valentine Song For Mom.mp3

A special Valentine Tune featuring BOTH of my amazing kids! This is a song we initially put together for my wife but we've decided to share it with all of you.
Happy Valentines Day everyone!

It's So Nice To Meetcha

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:12:38 -0800

It's So Nice To Meetcha.mp3

And... we're back! So many new fun projects in the works and on the way. I can't wait to share them all with you! That doesn't mean that I'm going to stop doing what I've always done here though. There's lots and lots of new music on the way including this brand new tune! It's So Nice To Meetcha!

Brand New Holiday Tunes on the Todd McHatton / Christmas Songs album!

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:49:50 -0800

We're adding brand new tunes to the

Christmas Songs album!

Get them HERE!
Merry Christmas everyone and thank you so much for such an amazing year!

I Think I'm A Bunny - The Video!

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:07:52 -0800

I Think I'm A Bunny
Todd McHatton / Galactic Champions of Joy

Get the CD Here!
Get the Download Here!
Get the T-Shirt Here!

I Think I'm A Bunny - The Book! and Video Updates

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:09:32 -0800

I've begun work on a brand new "I Think I'm A Bunny" BOOK! I'll be updating the progress here.
Yes, I know, I said the video was going to debut last week - we ran into some small unexpected technical difficulties but it should be done soon. Thank you for all of your amazing emails. One of you even said that you're singing "I Think I'm A Bunny" with your choir! We all want to see that. Please post it or send it to me and I'll post it here!
Thanks to all of you we're back at #1 on SiriusXM Kids Place Live for our 4th week! "I Think I'm A Bunny" also made Zooglobble's Top 25 Songs of 2011! Galactic Champions of Joy made Time Out New York Kids list of the Top 10 Albums of 2011, About.com's Top Albums of 2011, and was picked by the amazing Jeff Bogle as OWTK's #1 Album of 2011! What an amazing year! Thank you everyone!
And I'm so glad you like the "I Think I'm A Bunny T-Shirt"! If you haven't got one yet get it here!
One more thing... I've got 4 brand new songs we're finishing up to round out the holiday download album: "Todd McHatton / Christmas Songs". I put out this download only album originally in 2009, added a new tune in 2010 and, well, now I'm trying to get these new ones done for 2011. I know it's getting late though so don't wait for me - go get it now and I'll try to get these new ones all finished up and have as many of them as possible to you before Christmas!

I Think I'm A Bunny T-Shirts!

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:44:33 -0800

You asked for it! Just in time for Christmas! It's your favorite furry purple monster/bunny!
It's the "I Think I'm A Bunny" T-Shirt! Available in both kids and adult sizes.

I Think I'm A Bunny - kids ringer t-shirt by ToddMcHatton
And YES! The "I Think I'm A Bunny" VIDEO will debut this week!
Thank you so much for all the emails and letters. We're so happy that so many of you enjoy this song so much! If you're new here please check out the new album...
Galactic Champions of Joy

Grass Stained Twilight

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 11:12:47 -0800

Have you ever seen my first book?
Grass Stained Twilight is on sale now through December 14th, 2011.
Get 25% off when you use this Coupon Code:
BUYMYBOOK305
It's loaded with songs, stories, pictures, and poems and it's fun for the whole family!
Get it here.

The Happy Vegan Thanksgiving Song - for The Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres!

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:49:46 -0800

We've got the #1 Song on Sirius XM Radio Kid Place Live! It's from the brand new record, Galactic Champions of Joy which has already been named one of the best albums of 2011 by About.com!

We want to focus some of the awesome success we're having on making everyone aware of vegan awesomeness for the holidays. It's The Happy Vegan Thanksgiving Song and we're giving every penny from every download between November 14th through Thanksgiving Day 2011 to the Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres.

This is a really easy, fun way to help out this amazing organization. It's a "name your price" download (minimum 50 cents). Please help us spread the word! Happy Vegan Thanksgiving!

Say Hello To My Hippo - The Video!

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:39:03 -0800

It's the first video from the new album Galactic Champions of Joy! Home brewed right here in our little solar-powered playground. And YES! there is a video coming for "I Think I'm a Bunny"! Thank you so much for making us #3 on the XM Radio Kids Place Live Charts this week! And thank you for all of your amazing emails! Please keep letting Kids Place Live know you want to hear more!
Call In: 1-866-328-2345
Email: kidsplacelive@siriusxm.com
Or, post your request/dedication/shout-out on their Facebook page:
SIRIUS XM'S KiDS Place LiVE