Meet Mr. Patrick, Staten Island’s Favorite Children’s Musician
If you live in Staten Island and have children, there is a very good possibility you have seen at least one or two musical performances by Patrick Raftery, better known to his fans as Mr. Patrick or “Music with Patrick.” Together with his musical cohorts, The Rock-A-Silly-Band, Mr. Patrick has performed at countless events in our borough – everything from local fairs and festivals to birthday parties and school fundraisers. He even performed at our last Staten Island Parent Day!
We sat down with Raftery to chat about how he got started, what’s behind his clever and entertaining performances, and why music is such a valuable tool for today’s youth.
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Let’s learn about you! What is Mr. Patrick’s backstory?
I’m known around town as Mr. Patrick, though, contrary to popular belief, “Mr” is not my given first name. My real first name is a closely guarded secret that even Edward Snowden is not privy to haha. I’ve been playing guitar since 1985, a time that now seems Medieval it’s so long ago, and like many guitarists back in the day, the first things I learned to play were the chords to Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” and Ozzy’s “Crazy Train.” It was kinda a rule that you had to learn those first, and if you didn’t you’d be looked down upon in polite society. So learn them I did.
Fast forward over the years, through many a garage band and a stint in a local rock band in the mid-nineties called Joyous Noise, and one day I found myself in a kiddie music class called Music Together with my son, who’s now 22 but at the time was 3, so do the math. One of the teachers asked if I might be interested in training to teach a class every now and then, and I thought, “Sure, why the heck not? It’s not like there’s anything else going on in my life like, say being a parent, working, etc.” One thing led to another and people started to ask me to play at parties and events and, slowly, through much trial and error, Mr Patrick came into the world. So there was no “aha moment” where I stood up and proclaimed that I would perform for families: it just kinda happened. That’s my origin story. Not as interesting as, say, The Joker, but an origin story it is. And now here I am, nineteen years later, and Music With Patrick is a business I really enjoy.”
How would you describe “Music with Patrick”? What does an average performance look like?
My performances are tailored to the people I’m performing for. I don’t do the same music and activities for say, two-year-olds as I do for third-graders, who are forever on guard against being subjected to “baby songs.” Woe unto the person who tries to slip a “baby song” past a group of third-graders: things get ugly fast. But all of my performances consist of lots of silly jokes and antics, along with a slew of songs pretty much all kids know, along with some original music I’ve written.
Puppets are a big part of the show, as they keep the kids’ attention and have an almost magical hold on them. Favorites include Sparkles the Unicorn, Mt. T the T-Rex, and, inevitably, Sara the Shark. Any guess what song I’m required to play when she comes out?
I always throw in jokes that keep the adults entertained because, let’s face it, no one wants to sit through a boring kid show. So, yes, I make fun of politics, pop culture, celebrities: you name it. The kids don’t get the jokes, but the adults do, and in some way, it makes what I do a kid version of Tenacious D, where you’re in on the joke and kind of poking fun at the genre.
One other thing that’s important to me is that I have no agenda: I am not interested in promoting causes or indoctrinating kids with ideas that I feel they “should” learn: that’s not my role. All I’m interested in is making people laugh and dance and sing.
What inspired “Music with Patrick?
I’m inspired by many things. Some of my earliest memories are of watching Sesame Street as a child, and I still remember all of those songs by heart. Can’t say the same for high school chemistry (sorry Mr. Burke!). Those songs were well-written and well-performed, and they still resonate. I still love the madcap humor of the pre-Disney Muppets.
I also distinctly recall sitting in my grandma’s basement – where she spent most of her time because she was Italian – watching Stevie Wonder play “Superstition” on Sesame Street and having my young mind blown! What an amazing thing to see as a three-year-old. It’s probably why when I see kinds subjected to Cocomelon songs and videos I start to twitch. Come on, people: put on some Stevie! Kids can appreciate greatness! Speaking of which, The Beatles, of course, are my biggest musical influence because, well, they’re The Beatles. Need I say more?
I’m also inspired by all types of comedy, with Monty Python topping the long list. Also love Mel Brooks, Steve Martin, and anyone else who is adept at pointing out life’s many absurdities through the magic of humor. Music + Laughter = FUN!”
What are some standout performances, memories, or shows you have had?
I’m lucky to have had so many amazing experiences over the years. How many other people can say they’ve played in a Tibetan Museum surrounded by statues of great spiritual significance as well as at Woodlawn Cemetery, the resting place of many famous people, among them Miles Davis and Duke Ellington? Not even Bruce Springsteen has done that (take that, Bruce!). But really the things that have been most memorable have been the small moments where I’ve seen something and just been taken aback by how much music touches us human beings.
A few that spring to mind include the time I played a holiday show at the Seton School, which serves children with special needs. Feliz Navidad got one boy who was sitting in a wheelchair so excited that his therapist lifted him out of the chair and carried him around to dance while he moved his legs. He had the most joyful look on his face.
Another time I played for children on the autism spectrum and afterward a child came up to touch my guitar and said some words. His teachers were shocked. “He doesn’t talk,” they said. Apparently, the music reached somewhere deep inside him and brought those words to the surface.
In addition to these moments are the relationships I’ve made with the children and their families over the years, which are so special to me. And now I’m getting to the point that the kids who were little when I started are now graduating college, so that’s a whole other thing that’s surreal to encounter. Funny story: I went to pre-prom last year before my son’s junior prom, and when I walked in the yard his date’s parents were like, “It’s Mr. Patrick!” Their daughter used to come to my classes back in the day. We are hoping that my son will one day recover from the embarrassment of that situation. Fingers crossed on that.”
How do you think music benefits today’s youth?
I think music benefits everyone: the young, the old and the in-between. It’s so obvious that it barely needs pointing out: music is part of us, and we respond to it in a visceral way. It triggers memories, helps us relax, and opens our bodies up to its rhythms, but most of all it’s fun. And I’m all about the fun.
I’m also about the importance of children experiencing music in person and not on a screen. There’s a place for screens of course, but I think the community generated by shared in-person musical experiences is so important to children and, really, to everyone. We could all use more of that.
Where do you perform shows? How can people get in touch with you for booking?
I have played at just about every type of event: birthday parties, communion parties, christenings, bar mitzvahs, Passover celebrations, summer camps, holiday events, school assemblies, and afterschool programs: you name it and I’ve played it. (Okay, not bachelor parties, but, hey, you never know!). I’ve played in parks, at zoos, in museums, in hospitals and rehab centers, at nursing homes, and everywhere in between. I’m a New York City Department of Education Vendor, and I am flexible to the needs of whoever hires me: I can play for any size crowd and any type of event.
You can find out more about me at MusicWithPatrick.com. And you can reach me at Patrick@MusicWithPatrick.com or at 718-930-4555. You can also follow me on Instagram @musicwithpatrick.
Did you know Music with Patrick has an album filled with original music, including a viral hit about Staten Island Chuck, the zoo’s famous groundhog! Listen to it here. Go to musicwithpatrick.com to learn more about Mr. Patrick or to book him for an upcoming event.
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