Levine livens up library
Published 1:53 pm Friday, July 27, 2018
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The Greenville-Butler County Public Library was one lively place on Thursday afternoon, as youngsters (and not-so-youngsters) clapped, danced, jumped and sang with gusto.
Michael Levine, singer-songwriter, music producer and a man committed to spreading the joy of music and movement was in the house to entertain the large crowd assembled there.
From singing along with Pete The Cat, the children’s book series for which Levine serves as music producer, to taking a wild car ride, hanging out with the Nut Family and partying with Groovy Joe, attendees were engaged in the hour-long, high-energy performance. Some of the youngsters along with one adult got to come up front to sing and dance with “Mr. Michael.”
Levine, a Birmingham native who currently lives in Atlanta, says he has always loved writing and recording songs.
“After many years of being a full-time touring singer and songwriter,
I found myself getting invited to sing to kids at camps and preschools. And one thing just kind of led to another,” he explained.
“I met Eric Litwin, co-author of the Pete the Cat books, and started recording and working together. I enjoy working with kids as much or more than singing to adults, and I found it was fulfilling my mission to inspire people with music.”
Today, Levine makes an average of one to two appearances each week around the country, always seeking interaction in his performances—between himself and the audience, between parents/grandparents and their kids and “all of us together.”
In addition to his music production duties for Litwin’s books, all New York Times best sellers, Levine is the co-founder of the Learning Groove music curriculum and partners with his wife Bonnie in Sunmoon Pie, performing Hebrew spiritual music together.
Levine took time to meet some of his new fans and pose for photos following his performance.
“That sure was a lot of fun,” said Kevin Pearcey, GBCPL director, who enjoyed watching the performance with his own twin daughters.