GREG LATO
\\ FAMILY MUSIC ARTIST AND CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR //
BIO
\\ RELATABLE TO KIDS, NOSTALGIC FOR PARENTS //
Award-winning family musician and songwriter Greg Lato
adds yet another feather to his cap with the release of his second children’s album, Adults These Days. The album has recently reached the Top 10 on the iTunes Children's Music chart. An extra treat, available separately, is Greg’s recently released children’s picture book, Everybody Needs Someone, based on a song from the album.
Greg’s 2020 debut children’s album, Create My Own World, with special guest two-time Grammy winner Bill Harley, reached the Top 15 on the iTunes Children’s Music chart and won both a Family Choice Award and a Creative Child Award.
When Greg Lato’s 8-year-old daughter, Siena, observed a very “dad” thing Greg did last year, she rolled her eyes and declared, “adults these days!” Thus was born the idea for a completely “inside-out” kids’ album, Adults These Days, in which Greg could create a compelling, time-traveling panorama of childhood connecting with adulthood.
Adults These Days is an album of friendship, togetherness, family, and belonging that is filled with music as relatable to kids as it is nostalgic for parents. “The songs for Adults These Days felt so natural and comfortable to write and record that every day I knew I was evolving into a full-fledged children’s music artist, prepared to take my place within the community,” says Greg Lato. “Within Adults These Days also comes the debut of my first long form, spoken word storytelling track, where I met the challenge of voicing several different characters!”
Album highlights include a vignette of happy times as a kid, “Relive This Song Again,” with an underlying message that each day in one’s childhood will become a scene in the memory of the adult-to-be. In the slightly bluesy declarations that begin “New Lunchbox,” Greg boldly sets the scene for his narration of a fabulous social success, courtesy of a new lunchbox! Not to be missed is “What Kind of Animal Would You Be?” This ‘70s-styled jazz-rock number features spoken rhythmic observations about animal behavior. The song really opens up in the
middle with some spectacular vocal jazz scatting by the fabulous Becky Bass, turning it into an unforgettably exuberant experience.
“Everybody Needs Someone” is a plaintive ode to belonging and a happy celebration of friendship as a beautiful thing. Inspired by this concept, Greg Lato based his second children’s picture book on this song.
The ‘Everybody Needs Someone’ book, with illustrations by Sarah-Leigh Wills, highlights the importance of having someone with whom to celebrate the good times, turn to for comfort in more challenging times, and trust when learning life skills and lessons.
Greg has also recently signed a record deal with 8 Pound Gorilla Records based in Nashville. They are the biggest family and children's music record label in the US and are home to some of the most popular children's artists!
Born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island, Greg Lato was surrounded by an encouraging Italian family that included his father, jazz sax player Vinny Lato, who owned an extensive vinyl collection that served as Greg’s introduction to the world of music. At the age of eight, he started playing guitar and two years later began writing his own songs. Greg proceeded to develop instrumental chops on drums, bass guitar, and piano and took advantage of every performing opportunity that came his way. Identifying as a songwriter, Greg went on to compose for film, TV, and other artists, most recently co-writing with The Voice runner-up Billy Gilman. Greg received two awards from the Billboard
World Song Contest, had one of his music videos air on the FUSE channel, wrote a song for a film that went to #1 on the iTunes movie charts and spent 8 months in the Top 10, has written for network TV shows, has had his songs played in McDonalds, Subway, several department stores and Planet Fitness franchises, and co-wrote the Young Survivors theme song for the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Foundation.
Everybody Needs Someone is Greg Lato’s second children’s book. In 2017 he wrote and released Try, an inspirational sing-along book about not being afraid to take chances. Adults These Days and Create My Own World are available on all digital distribution platforms and at Greg Lato’s shows.
MUSIC
ADULTS THESE DAYS//
CREATE MY OWN WORLD//
MYSTERY CHRISTMAS//
CHILDRen'S BOOKS
TRY//
TRY is an inspiring and motivational singalong book about not being afraid or discouraged to take a chance on anything you want to do. After all, any accomplishment starts with that first step of trying regardless of your fear of failure or caring what others think. There are no limits if you just give it a go!
TRY is meant to be an interactive book; not only in song, but in visuals. Each page on the left displays a conflict, with the page on the right showing a solution or positive outcome. The book deals with many topics including bullying, exclusion/inclusion, illness, feelings of helplessness and overcoming adversity. It includes the title song with an uplifting, tropical vibe, and was described by the Warwick Beacon as "a motivational joy for both parents and kids".
EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEONE//
EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEONE is an inclusive ode to friendship, family, togetherness and belonging. It highlights the importance of having someone to celebrate the good times, comfort in more challenging times, and someone kids can trust to teach them valuable life skills and lessons. The book also has a song to accompany it that is upbeat, heartwarming, and simply memorable! Kids will be singing along, and parents will be reminded of a sound that recalls the classic 70’s AM Gold era!
VIDEOS
OFFICAL MUSIC VIDEO
WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL WOULD YOU BE?(FEAT. BECKY BASS)//
OFFICAL MUSIC VIDEO
MYSTERY CHRISTMAS//
OFFICAL MUSIC VIDEO
RELIVE THIS SONG AGAIN//
LYRIC VIDEO
THANKFUL//
LYRIC VIDEO
I LIKE SPRINKLES//
LYRIC VIDEO
WHAT DADDIES DO (I WILL BE WITH YOU)//
PRESS
(Adults These Days is) “A compelling, time-traveling panorama of childhood connecting with adulthood” -
Broadway World//
"Fantastic! Kids (and Adults) will love it and I highly, highly recommend it!" (Adults These Days)
Storywraps//
"Rhode Island’s Greg Lato is a bright star in the genre of family/children’s entertainment. Highly recommended."
Pop-A-Looza//
“Create My Own World is highly recommended for both family and public library children's collections.”
"Adults These Days" is freewheeling fun, and a delight for both personal and public library children's collections. - Midwest Book Review
Midwest Book Review//
“Engaging stuff for kids of all ages that will leave everyone feeling happy and satisfied.”
Midwest Record//
“Create My Own World presents a fun and inspiring soundscape in these challenging times through music as relatable to kids as it is nostalgic for parents.”
What's Up Rhode Island//
“With its songs about imagination, creativity, exploration, kindness, and family, Create My Own World helps kids look beyond a life of quarantine and distance learning to a future when they will truly be able to create their world anew.”
NJ Arts Maven//
“A vibrantly colorful album”
Exclusive Magazine//
“It’s a cool listening experience due to how catchy everything is but the different sound elements makes it really interesting.”
The Independent Newspaper//
“It’s hard to believe that this Greg Lato’s first children’s album, cause the throwback pop artist sure knows how to pen a tune for the young ears, and that parents who grew up on ‘70s and ‘80s sounds will be drawn to as well.”
Take Effect Reviews//
“Create My Own World’ Is A Positive New Addition To The World Of Family Music”
“Greg Lato’s debut family music album Create My Own World is a strong start for the veteran singer-songwriter in the family music realm. It is a work that will appeal just as much to adults as it will to children.”
Phil's Picks//
INSTAGRAM FEED
Record Label//
8 Pound Gorilla Records: info@8poundgorillarecords.com, www.8poundgorillarecords.com
Publicity//
Waldmania PR, Elizabeth Waldman Frazier : elizabeth@waldmaniapr.com, 847-748-8874
Booking and Artist Contact//
Greg Lato : greglato@gmail.com, 401-952-1581