| Jack Forman | |
| Origin: | Seattle, WA |
| Instrument: | Bass, Voice, Keyboards |
| Associated Acts: | Recess Monkey |
| Occupation: | On Air Host on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live; Bassist frontman for Recess Monkey; Solo family musician |
| Website: | http://www.jackformanmusic.com |
| Genre: | Children's Music |
Jack Forman is the bassist frontman for the Seattle-based kids' band, Recess Monkey,[1] a solo musician for kids and family audiences,[2] a former on-air host on SiriusXM Satellite Radio's Kids Place Live, channel 134;[3] and an author published on Compendium Inc.[4] Forman has produced sixteen albums for family audiences, earning a GRAMMY Nomination[5] in the "Best Children's Album" category in the 59th Annual Grammy Awards for Recess Monkey's 2016 release Novelties.[6] He and Recess Monkey bandmate Drew Holloway wrote a book for Compendium Publishing.
Forman attended The University of Washington in Seattle, where he studied English with a Creative Writing emphasis.[7] His work with children began in 1996 at Camp Hess Kramer in Malibu, CA where he served as a cabin counselor, specialist and unit head for four summers. Immediately after graduating college he began teaching full-time at Seattle's University Child Development School[8] in various elementary and pre-school levels. It was there that Forman met Drew Holloway and Daron Henry, founding members of Recess Monkey,[9] and began playing music for kids and family audiences beginning in 2005.[10]
Songs From the Monkey House won a 2017 NAPPA Award for its "witty" songs: "Taking a recess from his Grammy-nominated band Recess Monkey, Jack Forman has concocted a super fun solo album." The album was also named the #10 album for families in 2017 by the Fids and Kamily Awards.[24]
Forman is also a GRAMMY-Nominated musician: Recess Monkey's 2016 family album "Novelties" was nominated for "Best Children's Album" in the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.
Forman began hosting his afternoon/evening live call-in show "Live From the Monkey House"[25] on SiriusXM Satellite Radio's Kids Place Live (Channel 134)[26] in January 2013.[27] Jack broadcast from his home studio in Seattle via a dedicated line connected to SiriusXM's Washington DC studios. The show had daily themes that vary based on current events, listener-fueled ideas and game show style games. Forman was live for three hours Monday-Thursday, 5pm-8pm ET, 2pm-5pm PT; and presented "This Week in the Monkey House," a replay show of highlights from the week, on Saturdays at 7am PT, 10am ET for four hours.[28] The show’s final episode aired February 12, 2024. On February 28, 2024, Forman released the first episode of a new podcast, "Jack Forman's Monkey House" on Patreon.
Forman and Recess Monkey bandmate Drew Holloway wrote an interactive picture book for family audiences, illustrated by Rob McClurkan, entitled Dive In: A Topsy-Turvy-Say-It-Out-Loud Underwater Adventure in 2016.