Entertaining senior adults with positive and uplifting songs from the Great American Songbook and beyond. Show includes video display of easy-to-read lyrics, creating an extra layer of engagement. Discounts available for assisted living and memory care facilities.
1 review
Sherry C.
May 5, 2021Songs & Smiles has been visiting Ellery Arbor Memory Care for some time.
Our residents enjoy the music and interaction.
Song & Smiles always has a great variety of classics and easy to follow along for our age group. As someone who books entertainment on a monthly basis I really appreciate how Eric is always on time and responds to e mails/text msgs. He always makes sure to check in with us before and after performing.
We enjoy having him here at our community on a weekly basis.
Hired as: 1930s Era Entertainment, 1940s Era Entertainment, 1950s Era Entertainment, 1960s Era Entertainment
Price range: $125-$150
Languages: English
Gig length: 30 - 90 minutes
Expect to have fun, and expect to recall beautiful memories. Synched lyric videos increase connection with the music, making it easier to follow along and/or sing along with favorite songs.
Expect Eric to arrive early, set up wherever you want, and customize the show for your audience. Expect him also to spend time visiting with audience members before and after the show.
Eric Kolb has been singing and performing his whole life. He has performed for audiences at schools, churches, prisons, military bases, retirement homes, memory care facilities, and sporting events (including many Texas Rangers baseball games).
He is the Executive Director of Songs & Smiles, a nonprofit organization built with the mission of keeping families connected during the Alzheimer's journey. He loves singing and sharing, helping people connect with their own joy-filled memories.
I bring all of my own equipment, though I will work with your equipment as it make sense. I bring a speaker and microphone plus a video projector and a screen. If you have a screen or projector or a large TV, I will use your equipment if that works better for your space. If I'm using my own equipment, I like to plug into electricity, but I can run everything on battery if necessary.
Note: This is not a complete list, and I mix and match based on the audience, though I typically sing more songs from the "Standards" and "Nostalgia" groups. (For virtual singalongs through Zoom, I use only songs in the public domain.)
STANDARDS: Blue Skies, Catch a Falling Star, Danny Boy, Hokey Pokey, I Got Rhythm, It Had to Be You, Love Is Here to Stay, Moon River, On the Sunny Side of the Street, Que Sera Sera, Side by Side, Smile, Somebody Loves Me, Some Enchanted Evening, Strangers in the Night, Swinging on a Star, When You're Smiling, Yes Sir That's My Baby, You Make Me Feel So Young, You Made Me Love You, Young at Heart
NOSTALGIA: Ain't We Got Fun, By the Light of the Silvery Moon, Carolina in the Morning, Daisy Bell, For Me and My Gal, Has Anybody Seen My Gal, I Love You Truly, In the Good Old Summer Time, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Look for the Silver Lining, Mairzy Doats, Meet Me in St. Louis Louis, Moonlight Bay, Oh You Beautiful Doll, Old MacDonald Had a Farm, Sentimental Journey, She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Tea for Two, The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze, Yes We Have No Bananas
SHOWTUNES: A Spoonful of Sugar, Edelweiss, Hello Dolly, Over the Rainbow, Oh What a Beautiful Mornin', Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
COUNTRY: Act Naturally, Crazy, Happy Trails, Hey Good Lookin', Love Bug, Ring of Fire, Truck Driving Man
POP/ROCK: All Shook Up, Blue Suede Shoes, Can't Help Falling in Love With You, Hound Dog, Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head, Teddy Bear
OTHER: Hymns, Christmas Carols, and Patriotic Songs
Musically … Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Andy Williams, Judy Garland, Elvis Presley … and many others
Stylistically … Bing Crosby, Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood)
Relating to Dementia Care … Jolene Brackey (author of “Creating Moments of Joy”) and Teepa Snow (Positive Approach to Care)
None required, but may use your screen/projector or TV if available.
Oldies Music
