Groton Musician Les Julian Loves To Play

Les Julian is a true troubadour—wandering aimlessly and optimistically with a song in his heart.

Julian has performed his eclectic, earthy style of children’s music for a number of years.

He hadn’t always performed for children, though. Julian picked up the guitar while in college, working on a degree in economics.

“The music of the era was really rich,” he said, of the early 1970s. “You have the Beatles, and the Eagles, and wonderful jazz.”

“Music [was] what I loved,” he continued. “Music quickly became the most important thing that I wanted to do.”

Julian started a solo career playing small gigs at clubs and colleges throughout the northeast. He also worked part-time at a hospital performing music therapy.

“There’s no road map in life, you kind of have to follow your attractions,” said Julian. “But that became something I couldn’t tolerate anymore.”

Julian released his first album, Sweet Nothing, in 1990.

“I was writing songs throughout that time,” said Julian, who served as the president of the Connecticut Songwriters Association from 1986 to 1989. “People were writing comments about the songs and saying they sounded a little like children’s song. And I listened to that.”

In 1995, Julian recorded his first album for families and children, called Color Outside the Lines.

“These things are like pasta that you throw at the wall and you see if they’ll stick,” he said. “It stuck.”

The album won a Parent’s Choice gold award and was recognized by the American Library Association.

Julian created school and library programs based on Color, which were also well-received.

Since then, Julian has recorded three additional children’s music albums: On My Dad’s Shoulders, Living in the Land of Ooh, Aah, and Good Things Happen. He has received accolades from Parent magazine and the National Association of Parenting Publications.

“There are a few things more satisfying as writing a good song,” said Julian. “Then once you find out that the song works, that it actually communicates and connects with people, that’s just unbelievable to me. I just love that.”

Julian is now immersed in the wacky and wonderful world of children’s music.

“Kids are very open to music,” he said. “You can do Rock n' Roll, you can mix in classical elements, you can have jazz, you can use folk music.”

Playing to a different audience took little adjustment. Julian said he had to learn the intricacies of age-appropriateness, but music is a language easily translated.

“Audiences are not all created equal and sometimes the connection is harder to achieve,” said Julian. “The joy is when a connection is made."

Julian’s stories tend to challenge the perceptions of his audience. One of his songs tells the story of Jackie Mitchell, who, in a 1931 exhibition game, struck out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

“It was a big deal,” Julian said. “It was such a big deal that the commissioner of baseball didn’t hire her back. I love telling kids that kind of a story.”

The artist performs next at the Groton Public Library, as part of its, ‘One World, Many Stories’ campaign. Julian will perform a collection of tracks from previous albums. The program is based on his song, We All Laugh in the Same Language. It will feature music inspired and influenced by other ethnicities.

“There’s something about singing in other languages that honors the human spirit and the human community,” he said. “I love that idea.”

Concert attendees should expect to participate and, Julian said, have fun.  

“My goal there remains the same,” said Julian, “which is simply to connect."

Les Julian will perform at the Groton Public Library August 13 at 2 p.m.