“Kids music has many good ambassadors, but there are few that wear that suit as well and as gracefully as Tim.” - NPR
Tim first found his love of making music for children and families while volunteering at a women and children’s shelter on the Upper West Side of Manhattan during college. Since then, over the course of a +15 year career, Tim has become a familiar face and voice to children and families as a singer-songwriter, winning the 2016 GRAMMY Award for Best Children's Album for his independently released and fifth album for families, HOME. He was also nominated for Best Children’s Album in 2018 for his sixth album, BUILDING BLOCKS.
Named “Kindie's Breakout Star” by New York Family and “the best of the best” by Parents’ Choice Awards, Tim is known to audiences for infusing children’s music with a pop sensibility and heartfelt sound that moves your feet and touches your heart. Tim has colored outside the lines as a singer-songwriter, by hosting a TV series for preschoolers on NBCUniversal's Sprout Channel, writing songs for classic shows like Sesame Street, playing tambourine with viral music sensation Postmodern Jukebox, and more, in addition to traveling across the country and around the world to share a love of music with children and families.
On a never-ending tour in cities and towns, Tim has performed thousands of times in a variety of venues, including at-capacity shows at The Kennedy Center, Brooklyn Bowl, The Smithsonian and the Music Hall of Williamsburg, in addition to having an opening slot for “Kool & the Gang” and headlining spots on the family stages of Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits. Tim’s music is a mainstay on SiriusXM KiDs Place Live, where his original songs are on constant rotation.
Tim’s quest to inspire and nurture a love for music has also led him to be a cultural ambassador alongside US Embassy’s arts envoy programs, and he has taught and performed in Nigeria, China, Barbados, and numerous other island countries in the Eastern Caribbean.
On the small screen, Tim has had a lead role in hosting and developing some of the most exciting kids’ content on television today. From 2013-2018 Tim acted as Host/Writer/Producer of SUNNY SIDE UP, the only LIVE show for preschoolers, on NBCUniversal's Sprout Channel, where he garnered two EMMY nominations. Tim wrote and produced daily content, including songs and sketches, and welcomed numerous special guests on-air, including First Lady Michelle Obama, Julie Andrews, Pentatonix, Tim Gunn and Astronaut Chris Hadfield.
Tim received two Kidscreen Awards for his hosting, and his Sunny Side Up videos continue to be a fan favorite with millions of views on YouTube. Additionally, Tim worked as Music Director for the development and launch of the Emmy-nominated SNUG’S HOUSE, and can currently be seen in Snug’s House music videos. Tim has also appeared on NBC's longstanding PSA campaign THE MORE YOU KNOW.
Tim recently created, hosted, and produced “The Birthday Show” on Hellosaurus, a web based platform for interactive content, which won the Kidscreen Award for Best Interactive Series, as well as co-created/wrote/directed “The Wiggles + YOU!” that won the same award the following year.
A prolific songwriter, Tim writes for other children's properties, including SESAME STREET, where compositions include “We Can All Be Friends,” the introductory song for Julia, the first muppet with autism, and “C is for Cloud,” a duet between Elmo and Ellie Goulding. As Music Director with his production team Bfast Studios, Tim has created original content for NETFLIX FAMILY, PBS Kids, and NASA, in addition to writing and performing “Growing Together” for the Sprout float at the 2017 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Tim is also known around the world as “Tambourine Guy” with the viral music collective POSTMODERN JUKEBOX. Tim’s show-stopping moves and clowning around have helped PMJ gain over five million YouTube subscribers and 1.5 billion views, along with the number one spot on the Jazz iTunes charts for 12 consecutive albums. Performance highlights with PMJ include New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, LA’s Greek Theatre, Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheater, London’s Colisseum, L'Olympia in Paris, Moscow’s Crocus City Hall, in addition to the PBS special “The New Classics.” NPR describes Tim as the “Yo-Yo Ma of the tambourine.”
With passionate commitment, Tim continues to embrace opportunities to reach families through all mediums. Tim recently published his first children’s book, OOPSIE-DO! alongside HarperCollins, hosts POSTMODERN JUICEBOX, a preschool series orbiting the Postmodern Jukebox universe, and co-hosts HIGHLIGHTS HANGOUT, a podcast for kids created by Highlights Magazine.
From appearances on television, shows on stage and tunes on the radio, Tim is dedicated to creating a memorable musical experience for others. He strives to be a conduit for the music through his performances and compositions, letting sound and song create connection, impart feeling, and above all, bring joy to everyone listening.