Grammy award-winning story teller and musician will perform free Saturday at noon in the community room of Eagle River Town Center, just down the hall from the Chugiak-Eagle River Library. Admission is free, but space is limited. Photo by Susan Wilson

It's big news that Bill Harley is coming to Chugiak-Eagle River's library for a free performance.

His name might not be that well known in Hollywood circles, but those who appreciate a good tale, told with humor and a keen understanding of the kid-parent relationship, will walk away glad they made the effort to attend.

Harley's performance is geared toward families and children, but his message is universal.

"Bill Harley has the uncanny ability to reaffirm life for listeners, be they 5 or 50," reported a Penguin books review. "Humor, empathy, intelligence and reality all radiate from his work and from him."

A two-time Grammy award-winning artist and recipient of the Magic Penny Award from the Children's Music Network, Bill uses song and story to paint vibrant and hilarious pictures of growing up, schooling and family life.

Harley also is a prolific author and recording artist, and regular commentator for NPR's "All Things Considered." He joined the National Storytelling Network's Circle of Excellence in 2001 and tours nationwide as an author, performing artist and keynote speaker.

Harley began singing and storytelling in 1975 while still in college. His songs are joyous, direct and honest, and his stories are filled with the details of daily life – all told and sung from his slightly off-center point of view.

As Harley puts it: "Humor is my weapon." Below is an excerpt from a Q&A interview by Booklist, which ran last year.

By Kristi Jemtegaard

Written for Booklist

BKL: You're a singer, songwriter, storyteller, and author. Which of these is your favorite and why?

HARLEY: Playing music is the easiest thing to do—you can entertain yourself by singing or playing the guitar or piano. I love (sometimes) the process of writing, but it's a discipline. When the world opens up in that process, it's quite amazing. And performing, being in the moment with a group of people, is transcendent. The answer is: I'm not choosing.

BKL: Did you always know that you wanted to write and perform for children? What was your path to choosing that particular audience?

HARLEY: I found early on that I was comfortable with children—they're immediate, responsive and involved. We give lip service to the importance of caring for children, but because they lack power, they're often ignored. I'm happy to speak for them and to them, and hope to affirm their lives through my work.

BKL: You've been performing before audiences for many years. Do live performances help you refine or change your material in any way?

HARLEY: I like to perform material for a while before I record. Some songs work on a recording that will not work in a performance. With an audience, you can only do one or two slower or more thoughtful songs since you have to really move things along.

BKL: You must have had some fun experiences performing for children. Can you share any bloopers, blunders, or memorable moments?

HARLEY: Oh, so many. I kind of like mistakes or having things go wrong—it allows me to interact with the audience. Kids have thrown up in the middle of my shows, and I try not to take that personally! At one show, some kid, who had heard my stories on recordings, kept interrupting me and stealing all my punch lines.

BKL: Do you think your music and stories help children become better at visualizing what they read and hear?

HARLEY: There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this is true—and precisely why story is so important. All the brain science is finally pointing to what I've felt my whole life. And singing—vocalizing—is central to being able to speak in the world: to having a voice, both physically and metaphorically.

BKL: I know that you perform in libraries. What advice do you have for librarians interested in hosting successful music programs?

HARLEY: Make sure both the performer and the audience are comfortable and have their basic needs met. And find a way to set some gentle guidelines for behavior to help ensure that everyone can enjoy the performance. I love a librarian who can be both a good cop and a bad cop. Technical ability is nice, but it's inconsequential if it's not paired with good performance skills and classroom management techniques.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, January 21, 2010.