| Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band | |
| Landscape: | yes |
| Origin: | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Years Active: | 2010–present |
| Website: | http://luckydiazmusic.com |
| Current Members: | |
| Past Members: |
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Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band (also known as Lucky Díaz y La Familia Música, and The Lucky Band) is the husband and wife team of Lucky Diaz and Alisha Gaddis.[1] The Grammy and Emmy-award-winning duo plays bilingual indie music for kids described by The Washington Post as "a hip-shaking, head-bopping, Los Angeles–based explosion of 'kindie' rock."[2] They are known for whimsical children's songs which they also incorporated into a television show. Diaz graduated from Berklee College of Music and Gaddis graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.[3]
Billboard recognized the band as among Latin Children's Music Artists You Should Know, describing them as "kind of like a bilingual B-52's for kids"[4] and People Magazine listed their album A Potluck first in cool kids albums.[5]
The Lishy Lou and Lucky Too television show has won multiple Emmys. Gaddis also won an Emmy for Best Performer for her work on the show.[6]
The National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) recognized Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band's album A Potluck with an Honors Award and recommended the album to "families who enjoy their rock in a variety of styles."[7]
They won a 2013 Latin GRAMMY Award for Best Latin Children's Album for ¡Fantastico![8] making Diaz and Gaddis the first Americans to win a Latin GRAMMY. Their album Adelante was a 2015 Best Latin Children's Album GRAMMY Nominee at the 16th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards.[9] In 2019, they won their second Latin Grammy Award for the album Buenos Diaz under the name The Lucky Band.[10] The album Paseo Lunar was nominated for a 2020 Latin Grammy Award in the Children's category making this the fourth nomination for The Lucky Band.[11] [12]
The albums Crayon Kids (2021) and Los Fabulosos (2022) were nominated in the Best Children's Album category for the 64th Grammy Awards and 65th Grammy Awards respectively.[13]
The band was the recipient of the Parent's Choice Gold Award from the Parent's Choice Foundation which rewards excellence in children's entertainment, for Oh Lucky Day (2011).[14]
Along with Polly Hall and Andrew Barkan (Andrew and Polly) and CJ Pizarro (Mista Cookie Jar), Diaz and Gaddis produced the album Hold Tight, Shine Bright to help separated immigrant families and promote "the preservation and promotion of love, hope and family." The proceeds will go to Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) to be used for legal aid for families affected by the current immigration crisis.[15]
Diaz and Gaddis co-executive produced and co-starred in the live-action television show inspired by their act called Lishy Lou and Lucky Too. It centers around the characters Lishy Lou, Lucky, and their friend Thingamajig and teaches values, social skills, and Spanish through music and dancing.[16]
Their song Falling was featured in a Coca-Cola commercial.[17]
Touring and additional band members have included Theron Derrick,[18] Deacon Marrquin, Kurtis Keber, Michael Klooster, Michael Farkas, Gee Rabe, Joe Harpcat,[19] Eric Morones, Dale Edward, Wesley Switzer, Robert Eibach, David Longoria and Henry Hofman.[20]
Lucky Diaz published his first children's book "Paletero Man" with HarperCollins Children's Books, in June 2021.[22]
Diaz and Gaddis met at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles, California.[6] They married in 2012[23] and are raising two children together.[24]