DON GRADY : THE CHILDREN OF ST. MONICA

Happy birthday to Don Grady, (born Don Agrati, June 8, 1944). One of Walt Disney's original Mouseketeers, Don became one of "My Three Sons," and on that sitcom had a few chances to perform songs. Fiction gave way to fact, and Grady recorded legit songs as a member of The Yellow Balloon, which scored a hit with a song titled "Yellow Balloon." He then formed Windupwatchband, recording "The Children of St. Monica" on the indie Canterbury label. The song's since been more popularly credited to him, not his group.

Whatever became of Don after "My Three Sons" ended its run in 1972? He continued to explore music, writing the theme song for "The Phil Donahue Show," working with Michael Crawford in Las Vegas, and most recently completing "Boomer," his first solo album since "Homegrown" came out back in 1973. You'll find 30 second samples of "Boomer" on Don's website: http://www.dongrady.com/store.html. Yes, it seems that Don is one of the 90% of artists who don't give away an entire album or even one complete song on the hopes that "if you like it you'll buy it."

However he's not selling "The Children of St. Monica," which, come to think of it, didn't even make the Top 100 (the earlier "Yellow Balloon" song spent 5 weeks on the Billboard charts, reaching #25). Don is quick to point out that on the West Coast, this Canterbury company's tale was #3, and KOL radio's survey placed it ahead of such powerhouse tunes as The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" and Frank Sinatra's 'That's Life."

"The Children of St. Monica" offered in your download below, is sunshine pop with some dark overtones. The melody is so perky that only ill folks would even notice some of the eerie lines being sung. Don observes the children as "the sun goes down" and they go into an empty church "joining hands around the burning candle." What do they do next? Apparently an impression of the Swingle Sisters (how many kids warble wordless vocalize jazz??)

The kids also weep "quiet tears they share with one another," which leads Don and his band to imitate peeling bells and what seems like Sammy Davis Jr.'s impression of a twangy guitar ("now na now now na now."). Ultimately: "Heads are bowed in honor of the fate that cast their will. Who could ever know just what they're saying?" However, this isn't "The Village of the Damned." Don just stopped into a church he found along the way. It's St. Monica dreaming on a summer's day. Or rather, night. With kids alone in a church surrounding a candle.

Happy Birthday DON GRADY Instant download or listen on line. No pop-ups, porn-ads or wait time.