Grammy Award-winning children’s music artist Joanie Leeds was born Joan Leibowitz was born in Miami, Florida on October 1, 1978. After taking voice lessons, she sang in school choirs and got involved with musical theater while also teaching herself to play the guitar. While studying musical theater and drama at Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, she recorded her debut album, My Job Application Knows More about Me Than You Do (2000). Once she graduated, she moved to New York City, where she formed a band, set up her own label and publishing company, and took a job bartending at iconic club The Bitter End. Joanie Leeds began to play many of New York’s clubs and worked several day jobs before releasing her second album Soul from My Footsteps (2003). She began working at a retail store that catered to children, spending most days singing for children. This experience inspired her to write original children’s music, quit her job, and start her own birthday party business. Her next album, City Kid (2008), was her first children’s music album, which won her a coveted Parents’ Choice Award. The album brought her to the attention of a wider audience, and she toured to support it. Joanie Leeds followed City Kid with the albums Challah, Challah (2009), I’m a Rock Star (2010), and What a Zoo (2011). These albums earned her many accolades and awards including and Independent Music Award (Best Children’s Song) as well as a NAPPA Gold Award, and more. More albums followed including Bandwagon (2013), Good Egg (2015), Meshugana (2015), and Brooklyn Baby (2017). Her 2019 release, Sterling, was an Americana album that she recorded with fellow singer-songwriter Matthew Check. She returned to children’s music for the Grammy Award-winning All the Ladies (2020), Oy Vey! Another Christmas Album (2022), and fREADom (2023).
