RAGGS Kids Club Band
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RAGGS Kids Club Band is a children's music group of "dogs", humans in costume. Their intended audience is children ages 2 to 8. The band was created by former advertising executive Toni Steedman, who now manages RAGGS LLC full-time.
The band consists of RAGGS, Trilby, Fido, B. Max (B. Maxwell Oliver) and Razzles. O'Roadie is another character, who acts as the band's roadie. The band "integrates positive messages with fun characters — each with his or her own personalities, qualities and differences".
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[edit] Band's career
Created as a promotional company running a kids club in 30 American malls, the property eventually became a full-fledged brand. RAGGS has a full-length video/DVD, four CDs, and a line of merchandise. There were three touring bands active, as of 2004, visiting malls, fairs, festivals, and theatres.
The band has won an iParenting Award, National Parenting Centre Seal of Approval, and Children's Music Web Award for "Best New Kids Group" and "Song of the Year".
[edit] Palace Theatre 2004
Throughout 2004, the band starred in a 90-minute performance at The Palace Theatre in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, alongside comic strip cat Garfield. The performances focused on the RAGGS Kids Club Band planning a birthday party for the famous orange cat. Suspecting things, Garfield "won't relax until he gets the surprise."
The 90-minute performance ran daily at 4:30 p.m. local time.
[edit] RAGGS Kids Club Band: PAWSUUUP! Tour
A DVD was released 17 August 2004, features in-concert performances of seven of the band's songs, and three "music videos". The 55-minute long program was produced by Linda Mendoza (The Chris Rock Show) of Line by Line Productions, and executive produced by Carole Rosen.
The crew included screenwriter by Mark Valenti (Rugrats, Hey Arnold!, Totally Spies), lighting designer Alan Adelman (75+ episodes of Great Performances, Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards), music producers Fred and Becky Story (Concentrix Music & Sound), costume designer "Greyseal", and choreographer Hardin Minor (National Dance Institute).
The DVD earned 3.5 out of 4 stars from Suite 101 Family Entertainment film critic Nicholas Moreau, tied for the highest ever rating for an independently produced DVD.
The music from the tour was released as an album, on CD.
[edit] Other DVDs
Scheduled to have been released after the initial DVD offering were "Unleashed" in 12 October, and "Holiday Jam" in 2 November.
[edit] Television Show
In 2005, LLC and Australian production company Southern Star produced a 65 episode television series called RAGGS. Each episode featured live concert performances, interviews, animations and musical interludes. These segments were stitched together with a narrative based around the dogs and their adventures in and around their clubhouse. The show also introduced a new character, Dumpster, the dogs' narcissistic and cantankerous pet.
It is currently in repeat screenings on Channel 7 in Australia. No broadcast date in the United States is known.
A second series is currently in production and will be broadcast in November 2006.
[edit] Educational Advisory Board
- Dr. Gordon Berry, UCLA Professor Emeritus
- John Kennedy, President of the Board of the American Music Centre
- Dr. Frances Rauscher, associate professor of Cognitive Development at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
- Dr. Wendy Valerio, associate professor of music at University of South Carolina
[edit] Trivia
- B. Max's wheelchair is provided by Sunrise Medical/Quickie.
- It is unknown why RAGGS' name is always capitalised, even when referring to the dog itself, not the band.
- The band has a complicated secret handshake, shown on the PAWSUUUP! Tour DVD.
- RAGGS LLC has a registered trademark on Trilby's name, but not any of the other characters.
- Even before it was a mall touring company, RAGGs was created by Steedman to entertain her daughter in the car, according to press materials.
