"Mr. Will" Dupuy
With the debut of his first children’s CD, musician “Mr. Will” Dupuy releases 10 original songs — along with bouncing covers of the “Hokey Pokey” and “La Bamba” — that capture the rambunctious spirit of his live concerts for the under-seven crowd.
In “Dinosaur For My Birthday,” Dupuy taps into developmental and interactive aspects of fun songs for youngsters.
“In planning the record, I found each song had a slightly different style: pop, southern stomp, western swing, train beats, country funk and even a New Orleans feel,” Dupuy said. “But as a whole, the CD is a rootsy mix of Americana music. It’s wholesome, rhythmic and really gets the kids smiling and moving.”
His sing-along style incorporates equal parts of teaching and performing for energetic young audiences. Infectious melodies combined with upbeat lyrics make him beloved among pre-schoolers and early-elementary students, who clap, march, jump and dance along to their favorite songs. Plus, the entire family can enjoy the music.
“This is real music, with real musicians playing real instruments, instead of using computers and synthesizers,” Dupuy said. “I teamed up with a great group of musicians and went into the studio the same as I would with any professional record. But this album had such a personal and organic quality, it’s honestly been a very uplifting, inspirational and rewarding experience. It’s the most fun record I’ve ever made.”
An in-demand natural showman who plays multiple instruments, Dupuy has a personality as big as his signature upright bass and as bright as his wide smile. The son of a Grammy-nominated opera singer, he began teaching music to pre-K students after answering a help-wanted ad on Craigslist. Three years later, he has now taught more than 1,500 students in Central Texas.
In addition to his day job, Dupuy currently plays bass for Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis. Previously, he has performed with the South Austin Jug Band , Bob Schneider and Jason Boland. His next step, with the success of this children’s CD, is to expand his live public kids’ concerts and performances for birthday parties and private events.
“Working with children, I feel like I’m part of something pretty dynamic and exciting,” Dupuy said. “When I teach a class, the music breaks up the mundane and becomes the highlight of the week for these kids. Plus, I’ve discovered singing helps a child develop a rich sensory environment.”
Indeed, singing and listening to music promotes daily learning, builds motor skills, boosts overall body coordination, increases vocabulary, stretches a child's memorizing power and increases group cohesion. Kids love to bounce, march and dance around to Dupuy’s rhythms, jumping to fast songs or twirling to a song with a slower beat. But the music on “Dinosaur For My Birthday” can also help improve speech patterns, increase self-confidence, promote self-expression and help children learn to listen and concentrate. It sounds educational — but when “Mr. Will” performs, children just think it’s fun.