Skip to content

Diamond releases her 13th album for children

FOUR Hugs a Day, that's the minimum, four hugs a day. At least three generations, probably at one time or another, have either sung the song to their child or had it sung to them as children.

FOUR Hugs a Day, that's the minimum, four hugs a day.

At least three generations, probably at one time or another, have either sung the song to their child or had it sung to them as children. The woman who wrote the iconic children's song is Charlotte Diamond. For more than 25 years, Diamond has been entertaining children here and throughout North America, Europe and as far as Costa Rica. Today, Diamond still pens songs and performs children's concerts.

She has recently released her 13th CD, 24 Carrot Diamond, The Best of Charlotte Diamond, a compilation of 24 of her alltime favourites songs.

"To celebrate 25 years in the business, I thought it was timely to put together a best of CD," says Diamond, who writes songs for children ages two to eight.

Her love of writing and performing is evident in her enthusiasm about her career.

Although in her early 60s, Diamond shows no signs of retiring anytime soon. In fact, she still performs between 80 and 100 concerts a year.

"I really love working with kids, and when I do my shows I love to interact with the audience," says the mother of two grown sons, both of whom have sung on several of her earlier CDs.

When asked about her longevity, Diamond pauses and says, "Maybe because I come from a teaching background, also I think because my family is involved and I'm very persistent."

The seasoned children's singer speaks three languages and has recorded two Spanish CDs, as well as three in French.

"There's a multicultural aspect to all of my music," she adds. Besides that, Diamond runs music workshops and school concerts. Diamond says she has started to write new songs since her grandchildren were born.

"As a grandmother I feel like my focus has changed a little bit," she says. "I also think there's even more humour in my newer songs."

Diamond didn't start out singing children's songs.

After graduating with a bachelor's degree in secondary education from the University of British Columbia, and further studies at Quebec's Laval University, the longtime Richmondite taught French, science and music to high school students for more than 15 years.

She taught in Abbotsford, New Westminster and Vancouver.

She credits the "grandfather of folk" Pete Seeger, as well as her sons for steering her into a new career as a children's singer.

(Seeger is an iconic folk figure, who wrote such hits as "If I had a Hammer" and "Where Have all the Flowers Gone?" and sang at President Obama's inauguration.)

In 1982 Diamond had an opportunity to tour with Seeger.

"I was in a quartet and we performed as the introductory band before him and it was an amazing experience to watch him perform," she says.

When her sons were born, Diamond took time off from teaching and dabbled in songwriting.

"Then, while the kids were in preschool, I really got into children's music and developed the preschool's music program," she says. "At the time I was already singing and writing folk music for adults.

"Initially, I took the song "La Bamba" and wrote new lyrics and created a children's song out of it."

In 1985 she formed her Hug Bug Band and independently released her first CD, 10 Carrot Diamond.

"I recorded it in 1985 on LP and cassette and on Oct. 19 of that year I rented the Gateway Theatre and sold out two concerts," she says. "The following year, 1986, I won the Juno Award."

The album was certified gold in Canada.

For more information visit www.charlottediamond. com.