It鈥檚 been 30 years since Charlotte Diamond first stepped onto a stage and began delighting children and adults alike with her catchy original songs.
Each time she plays Octopus (Slippery Fish), The Laundry or I Am a Pizza, the Richmond-based performer is accustomed to looking out over the crowd and seeing her young audience singing along with their favourite songs. Even the ones who are too small to know all the words will try to gesture along with the sign language that she incorporates into her act, she said.
It鈥檚 been happening that way for three decades, and still, entertaining children holds the same shine for Diamond that it did when she was just starting out.
Perhaps it鈥檚 not too surprising, since her chosen career was inspired all those years ago, by the time she spent singing to her own sons, Matthew and Tom.
Today, as the grandmother of two boys 鈥� aged seven and four 鈥� she has a new source from which to draw her energy and inspiration.
鈥淢aybe that鈥檚 why I鈥檓 so active at this age,鈥� she said.
鈥淓xperience makes it easy to do shows . . . . Now I鈥檓 introducing new songs that I鈥檓 developing with my grandsons. When I鈥檓 on stage, I鈥檓 definitely enjoying myself.
鈥淚t is amazing how fulfilling my music career has been and how the music continues with each new generation.鈥�
On Saturday, June 21 Diamond will step onto the stage in 91原创 for the first time in several years, with a performance at Walnut Grove Family Day celebrations.
鈥淭his is the busiest I think I鈥檝e ever been,鈥� said Diamond, who performs all over Canada and the U.S. and has even done shows in Costa Rica.
She also has a new board book coming out for small children. Titled Slippery Fish, it is illustrated by a Hawaiian artist.
However busy she is, Diamond will always make time for smaller, local events like Walnut Grove Family Day.
鈥淎t the 30-year mark of my career, I like to do community events. I think they鈥檙e so important,鈥� she said, acknowledging Kim Wishinski of Kids in the Grove, who is sponsoring Diamond鈥檚 performance.
The 91原创 woman鈥檚 uncle, Bob Wishinski, who has since passed away, played keyboard in Diamond鈥檚 Hug Bug Band.
These days, her own son, Matthew Diamond, now 38, joins her on stage, playing electric guitar and singing back-up vocals and harmonies.
鈥淗e鈥檚 very captivating on stage,鈥� said Diamond. And his presence is something that appeals to the parents in the crowd, who are of a similar age.
鈥淭hey鈥檒l pick up on some of the goofy things Matt does. He鈥檚 always pulling tricks on mom,鈥� she chuckled.
In addition to entertaining, Diamond, a former middle school teacher, remains dedicated to educating children through her music.
Her song, Leave the World a Little Bit Better, for example, is less about making her audience giggle than it is about helping them to understand their role in making the world a cleaner, kinder place.
For Diamond, that also means doing her small part, to draw the world together with song.
She had the opportunity to just do that on three separate trips to Costa Rica, in 1997, 鈥�98 and 2001 鈥� visits which were facilitated by Unicef, the First Lady of the U.S. and the Canadian Embassy.
With the help of a friend in Mexico, Diamond, who also performs in French, translated some of her songs into Spanish.
鈥淭hat was so fun, working with preschoolers and with adults and whole families.
鈥淚 think that cemented my confidence that I could perform and record in Spanish,鈥� she said.
Whether she鈥檚 playing in Central America or a Spanish speaking area of the U.S., Diamond is tickled when her young audience starts singing Soy Una Pizza (I Am a Pizza) or Todo El Mundo Come Banana (All the Nations Like Banana) with her.
鈥淭hey need to know to be proud of their language,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd wherever we come from, we need to be proud of our language.鈥�
The third annual Walnut Grove Family Day celebration takes place on June 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Walnut Grove Community Park, 8919 Walnut Grove Dr.
Diamond takes the stage at 11:30 a.m.
In addition to Diamond鈥檚 performance, there will be entertainment by local talent Bird Dawg, Cambree Lovesy, Kristal Barret and Mike Steen.
Other activities will include games for all ages, Remax balloon and bouncy castle, pony rides, petting zoo, clowns, face painting, bingo and plenty of food.
