Al Simmons, a distinctive Canadian entertainer, never hesitated to weave unconventional elements into his recordings aimed at young listeners. Thousands of children across the United States and Canada have enjoyed his high-energy live shows, while parents and youngsters have eagerly purchased his prizewinning collections.
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Simmons launched his performing path at a young age by organizing local parades, circuses, and magic performances. He later joined forces with fellow Canadian Fred Penner for a cross-country concert series that ran successfully for three years and concluded in 1976. Penner sustained their connection in subsequent decades by regularly inviting Simmons to appear on the syndicated children’s program Fred Penner’s Place.
During the 1980s Simmons also appeared on Sesame Street and took the lead role in the Canadian National Film Board production Ol’ Spoke, which centered on his horse-cycle invention. In addition, he served as an Official Representative of Canada and performed at world expositions held in Tokyo, Vancouver, and Brisbane.
His debut solo children’s project, Something’s Fishy at Camp Wiganishie, contained an assortment of whimsical numbers addressing topics such as Lego underwear and feather collecting. One standout track on the Oak Street release, “I Want a Pancake,” was not written by Simmons but instead offered an energetic version of a longstanding favorite. Although distribution remained limited beyond Canada, several selections received airplay on children’s radio and appeared on various compilation albums.
In 1996 Simmons issued Celery Stalks at Midnight, a tribute to vaudeville traditions. The collection included classics like “Sam, You Made the Pants Too Long” together with the title song, a Depression-era number that finishes with the line “All eyes are on the potato, and the beat goes on.” Reflecting his characteristically bold approach, the album also contained what may be the longest children’s pop recording ever made—an eight-minute piece tracing the mosquito life cycle. His approach proved successful when the album received the Juno Award that same year.
Simmons shifted toward a stronger folk influence with 1998’s The Truck I Bought From Moe. As before, he highlighted distinctive material deserving renewed attention, among them the Copp/Brown standard “The Dog Who Went to Yale” and “Gypsy Sock,” a tango depicting a restless sock that declares, “I want to run with the wild hose, where pens and pencils and the car keys go.” Under his guidance, even wayward socks and scholarly dogs found common ground.
