“With each song, kids can jam out while pondering their place in the world. It’s certainly less scary when set to music!”
– The Toy Insider
“Morley and Chris Bruce aka “The Bruces” invited friends from around the world to contribute original songs, poems, and phrases. Artists include David Amram, Toshi Reagon, Maria Popova, Martha Redbone, Tenzin Choegyal, Lokua Kanza, Jon Cowherd, Tendor Dorjee, Roopa Mahadevan with Trina Basu & Arun Ramamurthy, Roopa Mahadevan, Kenita Miller & Justin Hicks, Annie Sumi & Travis Knapp. The album features many languages including English, Tibetan, Tamil, Spanish, and Lingala, as well as a song with 22 languages. Each track on Story of the Sky serves as a musical compass, guiding listeners toward a deeper understanding of our place in the universe and the beauty of interconnection.”
– World Music Central
Story of the Sky, the debut family album by husband and wife team Morley and Chris Bruce is a multi-cultural and inter-generational treasury of nineteen original songs in praise of interdependence and the natural world.
Story of the Sky is a beginning-of-life narrative and moral compass project. Its diverse musical blend creates a soothing yet robust listening experience full of gentle guidance for today’s youth. Collectively it is a celebration of what is best in us and an antidote to destructive and self-destructive learned habits with which no child is born.
Morley invited friends from around the world to contribute original songs, poems, and phrases. Artists include David Amram, Toshi Reagon, Maria Popova, Martha Redbone, Tenzin Choegyal, Lokua Kanza, Jon Cowherd, Tendor Dorjee, Roopa Mahadevan with Trina Basu & Arun Ramamurthy, Kenita Miller & Justin Hicks, Annie Sumi & Travis Knapp. The album features voices ranging in ages from two to ninety-two and has many languages including English, Tibetan, Tamil, Spanish, and Lingala, as well as a song with 22 languages.
On the title track “Story of the Sky” Morley invites us in acappella tradition, into the album’s theme of our interdependence with the natural world.
“Feelings” featuring 6 year old Akash Ramamurthy written by Morley and Chris Bruce is (now part of SEL curriculum in preschools and elementary schools)
Martha Redbone’s “All of Creation” is a celebration of nature and the cycle of harmony.
“L.O.V.E.” a duet / chant from Morley and 92 year old Maestro David Amram that speaks to the beauty of seeing the best of ourselves in each-other. (now part of SEL curriculum in preschools and elementary schools)
“Just Like Me” features 7 year old Kaira Ramamurthy and joyously looks at finding our reflection in one another and nature. By Morley and Chris (now part of SEL curriculum in preschools and elementary schools)
Toshi Reagon’s transcendent “This Is the Sun (Song for Ruby)” was written to celebrate the arrival of a friend’s child into the circle of her family, evoking the vastness and balance of our place in the universe.
“Teeth Song” by Jon Cowherd celebrates the cycles of life’s changes.
“Together” features Justin Hicks and his wife, Tony nominated Kenita Miller on a warm song with rich harmonies about the joys and benefits of collaboration.
“I Listen” acknowledges a young persons sensitivity to sound and encourages self determination, empathy and learning from listening. By Morley and Chris
“Berceuse” from award winning Congolese-Rwandan Lokua Kanza sung in Lingala, translates to “love your friends, take care of this world in which you live”.
“I Love You River” A triumphant call and response in praise of water, the river of all life. By Morley and Chris (now part of SEL curriculum in preschools and elementary schools)
The Afro-Peruvian “Niñe Milagro” by Claudia Cuentas is a lullaby celebrating all children, acknowledging they are a miracle for coming to Earth at this time of great need.
With “I Fly to You”, one of Tibets leading musicians Tenzin Choegyal joins The Bruces singing about grief and the eternal bond formed by unconditional love.
“Where Do We Come From?” written by mother and son Trina Basu and Akash Ramamurthy, celebrates the diversity of life on earth and asks you to reflect on your own story while recognizing the interconnectedness between humans and Mother Nature with a beautiful translation sung in Tamil by the great Roopa Mahadevan.
“Song for the Wild One” by Travis Knapp and Annie Sumi is an expression of hope that children being born now will feel a deep connection with the natural world.
“21 Blessings” comes from Tendor Dorjee sung in Tibetan, praises the sensitivity and awareness of this beloved child.
“Everybody Needs Care” by Morley and Chris addresses dignity within the spectrum of ability, inspired by a family friend. (now part of SEL curriculum in preschools and elementary schools)
“Sun Is Shining In My Heart” A positive affirmation by Morley featuring cellist, Dave Eggar (now part of SEL curriculum in preschools and elementary schools)
“Orbital Motion” a poem written for this project by Maria Popova put to music by Morley, Chris Bruce, The Ramamurthys, Marika Hughs and Rashaan Carter at Looking Glass Arts.
Morley is a celebrated singer- songwriter, producer, and educator, who has released seven solo artist albums under the auspices of Sony and Universal, as well as independently. Her music appears on major network television shows, in commercials, and human rights documentaries. In 2019 Morley spearheaded the fundraiser, Borderless Lullabies, which continues to be a source of revenue for KIND: Kids-In- Need-Of-Defense, a pro-bono legal defense fund that addresses the multi-faceted needs of unaccompanied migrant children.
Chris Bruce is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, writer, recording and touring musician. He is a longtime collaborator with Meshell Ndegeocello, My Brightest Diamond, Toshi Reagon, Lizz Wright, Seal, Trevor Horn, and many more.
Booking performances and workshops: Sojo at morley@morleymusic.org
Lyrics to Story of the Sky can be found on https://morley.bandcamp.com/album/story-of-the-sky-by-the-bruces-friends