The Beat Goes On: Library, community pay tribute to children’s performer

Musicians, families and fans will celebrate the music and life of “Bongo Barry” Bernstein, a beloved Kansas City children’s performer, Friday, Nov. 20, at the Plaza Library, 4801 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.

The public is invited to join children’s musicians Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove, Funky Mama and Dino O’Dell at 6 p.m. to participate in singing and playing Bernstein’s songs and songs by other artists.

The event is a tribute to Bernstein, an Overland Park resident who died Aug. 26 at age 55.

“He was a wonderful entertainer,” Cosgrove said. “He was a beautiful soul through and through.”

Cosgrove knew Bernstein for a dozen years professionally and personally. He said the children’s musicians in Kansas City, comparable in numbers to New York and Chicago, is a family, one in which Bernstein played an important role.

“He was the wise sage of our children’s music family,” Cosgrove said. “He was always fun and fully committed to kids and families who make music together. He held us all together. His loss was huge.”

Cosgrove said when Bernstein performed throughout the Midwest last summer, he filmed children and strangers saying, “Peace, love and barbeque,” which he later made into a video. As a gift he left more than 200 colorful shaker eggs at rest stops along the way for children to find.

“It was one of the kitschy, fun things he wanted to do this summer,” Cosgrove said.

Cosgrove said Bernstein touched a range of people while performing and producing albums.

Bernstein also worked as a music therapist in the Blue Valley School District, where Cosgrove said Bernstein wrote hundreds of songs for students addressing social issues such as “Don’t touch your neighbor’s power tools” or “Let your mom on the elevator first.” 

“I had a lot of respect for him,” Wynn Begun, Blue Valley special education director, said. “He was very innovative. He used music to teach them skills.”

Begun said Bernstein not only wrote individual songs to help disabled students read, rhyme and spell, but wrote scores of songs for the district’s curriculum. He used drumming, rhythm and songs to help kindergartners through 21 year olds improve eye contact and group social skills. She said the students loved Bernstein.

“He would walk in a room and they would light up,” she said. “It’s a loss personally and professionally. He was a true gift.”

Begun asked Bernstein to perform during the fall special education staff meeting to set the tone, passing out drums and shaker eggs to everyone in the room.

“We’d all be dancing in the isles,” she said. “He had everybody up doing rhythm. He was a light in our lives at the school.”

This summer, Bernstein celebrated his 10th anniversary as Bongo Barry with performances of his “Dewey Decimal Stomp” at libraries throughout the Kansas City area. His last big show took place Aug. 7 at the Plaza Library.

Helma Hawkins, children’s services director at the library, attended the concert. She watched him hand out shaker eggs, drums and instruments to every child and parent.

She said the crowd filled the library auditorium, which rocked with clapping, stomping and singing.

“You could see how much he loved what he did,” Hawkins said. “He was very generous with children.”

FAST FACTS

A music celebration and tribute to ‘Bongo Barry’ Bernstein is at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at the Plaza Library, 4801 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.

Children can create musical instrument crafts, led by Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City staff members.

Bongo Barry merchandise will be available for purchase. Attendees are encouraged to wear tie-dye shirts, Bongo Barry’s trademark costume, and bring their own drums.

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