This week on the show, I met a childhood hero.
Sharon Hampson was one third of the legendary children’s band “Sharon, Lois & Bram” and, more recently, just “Sharon and Bram”. We’re joined on the mics by her manager (and daughter!) Randi Hampson. We talk about their long career, the Elephant Show, and how they found success by not talking down to kids.
We talked about Lois Lillenstein’s death a few years ago. Even though she had stopped performing following her husband’s death years ago, I could clearly see how much she meant to both Sharon and Randi. In fact, each of Sharon, Lois, and Bram’s longtime spouses were an integral part of the band, and had all passed away.
Sharon herself has been no stranger to struggle. She’s a three-time cancer survivor. She told me about how, shortly before snapping a cheery promotional along with Lois and Bram (and the big gray Elephant), she’s just found out about one of her diagnoses. We explored how that groundedness in reality helped her and her bandmates relate to kids. Repeatedly they’re still told how the music of Sharon, Lois & Bram had helped young people by providing some comfort and light in difficult circumstances. That was certainly the case for me as a little kid.
So, reminisce about “Skinnamarink” (Skinnamarink Day is October 8!) and listen to our conversation at the links below.
You can learn more about Sharon and her work here and here and everywhere.
Mark Henick 