Zinghoppers invade Valley to kids’ delight
by Jim Crawford

CAVE CREEK – Start with a train conductor, add a singing, dancing possum, a guitar playing donkey, a kangaroo drummer  and you get Zinghoppers, a zany mix of music and fun aimed at the little ones.

The Zinghoppers clan is the brainchild of Jack and Kitty Norton, transplants from Minnesota, who left the north for Cave Creek’s warmer climes.

The program encourages kids to explore their world through music, movement and laughter, and they don’t even realize they’re learning.                                   

“We both have backgrounds in early childhood education,” Jack said. “One of our goals with this program is to promote reading and reading readiness in youngsters. Our show is aimed at children 1 to 8, but the little ones like us best.

“Kids love the characters,” Jack said. “We’re not necessarily trying to be funny or appeal to the parents. If the kids are entertained, the parents will be entertained. All of our music is age‑appropriate. We write from a child’s perspective. It’s easy to forget just how simple it is. As a songwriter you have the freedom to write about anything you choose.”

And kids can tell if you’re a phony, Jack said.

“You have to be honest. They can tell if you’re not sincere. You have to make the parents happy, too. After all, from a business standpoint, our core fan base can’t hire us. You have to be flexible for this to work.”

Each character was developed by early‑childhood education experts, and the show features a soundtrack recorded by top‑notch Nashville studio musicians, Zinghoppers promotional material states.

The show was created to specifically appeal to preschool and early elementary age children. The Zinghoppers focus on themes and situations that will resonate with this audience in mind.

Before becoming a Zinghopper, Jack was a full‑time bluegrass musician. He and Kitty met at age 15 in a performing arts high school in Minnesota and have been an item ever since.

Kitty was born in Minneapolis and spent much of her time growing up in Jamaica.  She made her first recording at 10 and was hosting her own radio show at age 12.  She has released gospel, pop, Spanish and R&B‑influenced singles and albums.

Jack grew up in a musical family and was raised listening to the sounds of 1920s Dixieland jazz and bluegrass music. His first album of vaudeville folk music was released in 1996 and he has spent the last decade writing songs and performing his music.

The decision to move to Arizona was an easy one for the Nortons.

“It was negative 19 when we left,” Jack said. “We packed up everything we could get in our van and left. It’s kind of like starting over here. Last year we did 240 shows. We stay busy. This is our full time job. We’re gone three or four days a week. So far we’ve performed in 48 states. We haven’t been in Maine or Alaska, yet. This thing has kind of taken on a life of its own.”

Together they develop the content and curriculum of the Zinghoppers show with a team of early childhood experts from the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic. Jack and Kitty co‑write the Zinghoppers’ original songs.

“We just released our first CD,” Jack said. “It’s called “Hop, Hop, Hop.” by the Zinghoppers. It’s on sale at several of the retail outlets here.”

The Nortons rely a great deal on word‑of‑mouth to advertise their shows.

“Parents are always looking for something safe, different and fun for their kids to do,” Kitty said. “If the kids are entertained, so are the parents. Moms take a lot of pictures. There’s a lot of ‘firsts’ that take place during our shows.”

Jack calls the show a combination of “Mr. Rogers (Neighborhood)” and “The Wiggles.”

“I grew up with Mr. Rogers,” he said. “He was always a constant in my life. The Wiggles are really talented; they are some amazing musicians.”

The ultimate goal of the Zinghoppers is to land a spot on PBS, the mecca for children’s television.

“It’s one thing to have ideas,” Kitty said. “But you’ve got to have the resources to enable the public to see them.”

The Zinghoppers are performing at 10:45 a.m. on Nov. 12 at Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road in Cave Creek.

For information call (480) 488‑2288 or visit zinghoppers.com