high energy funky grooves that entertain and educate! 

“Your talent is a true gift and we are grateful that you shared it with our little ones!”--Torria Baker, Director, UCM Learning Center

 “He puts on an incredible show!” -- Lisa Barrera-Entertainment Committee, Arlington County Fair Board of Directors

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​High energy funky grooves in children’s music that entertain and educate!

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Groovy Nate® is a children’s entertainer, and Teaching Artist, who creates fun and educational shows using funky grooves, exotic musical instruments, and comedy— a la Sesame Street meets Parliament/Funkadelic. He is also a GRAMMY NOMINATED ARTIST WITH THE ONE TRIBE COLLECTIVE.  Groovy Nate's shows encourage children and adults to move, sing, and play creatively with one another.

Prior to working as a children's performer and Teaching Artist, he founded the underground soul band, Oktbrwrld (October World).  They worked from 1997-2006, producing four albums, winning The Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) award four times, as well as  having two songs featured in the 2007 motion picture, "Cougar Club". 

Instruments: Voice, Guitar, Electronics, Percussion

Genres: Children's Music, Funk, Reggae, Afro-Beat, Electronic, Rock, Avant-Garde

Years Active: 2006-Present                                
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Education:
HOWARD UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON DC
Jazz Studies/Guitar

                   
Additional Skills:

• Teaching Artist with Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts
  
• Kennedy Center’s Teaching Artist Present (TAP)
  
• Music Director for Educational Theatre Company (ETC)
  
• ​Grammy nominated Music Producer
  
• Music Together Teacher
  
• ​Songwriting workshops for children grades 2-6
  
• Music and Movement Teacher at various schools, grades Pre-K through early elementary
  
• Freelance abstract art teacher for grades Pre-K through early elementary
  

​Affiliations​:

• Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) Teaching Artist Roster
  
• Teaching Artist Mid-Atlantic (TAMA) 
  
• Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts
  
• ​Arts Every Day
  
• Educational Theatre Company (ETC)
  
• Kennedy Center Education
  
• Day Eight
• Music Together Vivo!

Awards and Honors:

​Groovy Nate​

• 2022 Grammy Nominated with The One Tribe Collective for Best Children’s Album
  
• 2011 Get Caught Reading Appreciation from Arlington Public Library
  

​Oktbrwrld

• ​2005 Washington Area Music Award winner for Best Urban Contemporary Group
  
• ​​2005 Washington Post Best Local Band nominee
  
• ​2005 Washington Area Music Award winner for Best Urban Contemporary Recording
• ​2004 Washington Area Music Award winner for Best Urban Contemporary Group
  
• ​2003 Washington Area Music Award winner for Best Urban Contemporary Group
• ​2003 Artists Undiscovered Award winner for Best R&B/Funk Songwriter