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Al Simmons | |
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 Al Simmons in 2013 | |
| Born | Albert William Simmons (1948-09-05)September 5, 1948 (age 76) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Children's performer |
| Awards | Order of Manitoba |
Albert William "Al" Simmons,OM (born September 5, 1948) is aCanadian children's performer fromAnola,Manitoba. He began performing in the 1970s and later made guest appearances onFred Penner's television show as well asSesame Street. He tours regularly acrossCanada and theUnited States. He has recorded several albums for children and won aJuno Award in 1996.[1]
Simmons worked as agas jockey,steelworker andclerk before becoming an entertainer. He started performing in amateur shows and volunteering his services for benefit concerts. He formed a comedy/rock band called Out to Lunch and then a comedy/folk band, Kornstalk, before venturing out on his own again as a musician andprop comic. His best-known act was the Human Juke Box: "two bits a laff."
Simmons has released three CDs,Something's Fishy at Camp Wiganishie,Celery Stalks at Midnight, andThe Truck I Bought From Moe, each of which won Parents' Choice honours and were nominated for Juno awards.Celery Stalks, an ode to vaudeville, won the 1996 Juno Award for Best Children's Album. His illustrated children's bookCounting Feathers was short-listed for theMcNally-Robinson Book of the Year in 1997. He received a Cable Ace Award nomination for his music video "I Collect Rocks," which is also the title track of his DVD. He also voiced theGenie Award-winning 1985 animated short,Get a Job.[2]
In 1997, he wrote a song aboutPrince George, British Columbia mascotMr. PG.[3][4]
Al married Barbara Freundl in 1976. They have three sons, Karl, Will, and Brad.
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