SCL

I can’t help but jump in…I am the one who had the great pleasure of creating this video with Psalty himself, Ernie Rettino. We did it for the opening of our worship conference and he came out after the video to great applause.

A couple fun facts about the video:

- The “Corny” christian girl singer is actually Ernie’s wife, Debby Kerner-Rettino, circa 1970. Debby was also Charity Churchmouse!

- During the shoot, we had to stop for lunch. Imagine walking into a sit-down Mexican restaurant with Psalty in full blue…I said to the hostess, “Two adults, one big blue cartoon character.” We got a lot of looks.

- Psalty chain-smokes and swears like a sailor. (Okay, that one is a joke!)

Glad you all enjoyed it…
Tony Guerrero
Director of Creative Arts
Saddleback Church

HI everybody! I’m new at this blogging thing. I hope you don’t mind the epistle-length blog. I ‘m wanting to respond to all of you who made comments about my video from Saddleback Worship Conference 2008. They were a lot of fun to read. From the emails I receive on my own website http://www.psalty.com, and from a few on the PSALTY:Behind the Music clip, I see that many of you want to pass on the experience you had as a child. I’m thrilled to hear that.

FYI – Psalty was created in 1980 by Ernie Rettino & Debby Kerner Rettino (2 people I am ver-r-r-r-y close to). The video market in the Christian world really didn’t exist before Psalty. It was Kids Praise 4 (the album that was nominated for a Grammy Award) that blazed the trail. I had to beg the record company to make a second video (Kids Praise 5). Today we take for granted that things like videos and DVDs and CDs always existed, but not true Li’l Praisers. Back in 1984 this was cutting edge Christianity. Folks just didn’t have the vision, and if they did, it was usually thought of as something that was probably evil.
You should also know that before every album and video we created we prayed and surrendered everything to God. The prayer was usually something like, “Lord, this is your project. What do you want to say to your people?” Then we would sit and try to be creative…nothing came for days. Then usually about the fourth day or so the river would begin to flow. Basically what was happening was we tried in our own strength to fulfill God’s Promise of meeting our needs. When we were completely exhausted and gave up then He supplied. I have heard many creative folks speak of similar experiences when creating.
Even though God rested on the 7th day from His creation of the world, He is still creating today through you and I. And when presenting the Gospel, using every creative tool at our disposal is essential and life-giving to the ones who are doing the creating and to the ones who are receiving the message. Over 30 years of fruit producing in terms of salvation and changed lives as a result of this ministry speaks volumes to that Truth.
We have seen hundreds of thousands of kids and adults make commitments to Christ at our Billy Graham Kidz Gigs, Luis Palau Kids Celebrations, Harvest Kids Crusades, Psalty Funtastic Praise Parties and from kids watching videos and DVDs and listening to CD’s and tapes through the years. The original marketing prediction for the first Kids Praise Album was 30,000 units. We were excited to think that we could reach 30, 000 kids. BUt that album sold over a million copies.The series sold over 6 million, and is still selling today. The messages are timeless…and the music is still fun.
Everyday we receive many emails of testimonies from folks who say things like, “I accepted Christ when I was 4 at your Psalty concert. I want you to know that I am still a Christian today. I’m 30 years old and God still uses the words of the songs to minister to me”.
When we stepped out in faith to create the first Kids Praise Album we had no clue as to what God had in mind for this ministry. It was produced in at least 14 languages, and it’s difficult to go anywhere in the world where someone hasn’t heard of Psalty the Singing Songbook. The man who was the voice of God on Psalty’s Christmas Calamity tells of how he was in Africa with his own ministry, back in some deep jungle area in the Congo where there was no electricity. He preached one night and children came up afterwards recognizing that he was the voice of God on their Psalty tape.
I have so-o-o-o many stories and testimonies to tell. One day I may write a book. Some make you laugh, some make you cry, some make you jump for joy…and all your stories are the blessings of God and His handiwork. My personal email address is psalty@psalty.com I would to hear your story.
God loves you!
Still your friend,
PSALTY

WOW.

My 2 yo daughter thinks Psalty is as cool as Mickey Mouse.

Me, too.

I grew up rough, so Psalty wasn’t my thing, but does anyone remember the name of the Christian Rapping Robot. I loved that guy and had his tape. Listened to that along with Slick Rick, Grandmaster Flash and a few years later even NWA.

wow!! psalty commented!! suhweet!! I must say I find it quite Ironic that he may write a book someday… books writing books??? why do I feel like there’s something just wrong about that!!

A post from the REAL PSALTY! That’s about the coolest thing I have seen in a while. Now, where’s the Donut Man?

Ahh, I have a fondness for Psalty records spinning on the creaking player when I was a child. I think I still know every line and song by heart.
My husband and I have five children now and all the records (but no record player). We have one lone cassette tape of Psalty that gets played over and over and over and over….and over.
Anything that can hook two generations onto the gospel is priceless.
Thanks, Psalty!
Now to find a record player….
Blessings,
Hannah

That is so awesome! I loved Psalty as a kid and I love sharing him with my first graders today. They get a kick out of the fact that I still know the songs from when I was “little”. I’m so glad that God has used Psalty in so many ways and is continuing to use him today!

I used Psalty to teach my boys (now 12 and 14) the fruits of the spirit. We made our own fruit bowls and everything – borrowed the videos from our local library to do it. I so miss the simple innocence and low tech clarity of presentations of the Gospel like Psalty’s and will always be grateful for the doors it opened to help me teach my guys about Jesus and His love.

Scott Overpeck – I think you are thinking of Colby!

http://waxidermy.com/images/colby.jpg

We showed a Psalty dvd to our 2 year old a few weeks ago. Now, he has surpassed Elmo in popularity in our household.

We did some “Kids Praise” shows with Psalty in my elementary school when I was young. Psalty was played by our music teacher, who was approximately 5’5″. A few years later we did one of the kids praise shows in church and they borrowed the costume from the school. Only problem was, the guy who played Psalty this time was about 6’2″. Let’s just say the book costume ended up being a little bit short, and nobody thought to tell the guy to wear something besides blue tights underneath. I think that’s the last time we did a Psalty production at church or school.

Ok, Psalty’s songs helped keep me on the straight and narrow (know which song that’s in?). One of his songs plays through my head for just about every situation in my life. No kidding. My daughter loves Psalty, and I’m so excited b/c now I have an “excuse” to blare it in the car.

I’m also extremely jealous of my sister, who got her post right next to Psalty’s. Not fair.

Very interesting
I’m adding in RSS reader

I thought that you would enjoy this story: http://heatherltrotter.wordpress.com/2008/12/17/psalty/

I’m a recent fan of this blog, and i have to say I think this is my favorite post yet. I’m 24, and I also grew up listening to Psalty tapes. It was something my brothers and I shared with my dad. We’d act out the entire camping video in our backyard on a regular basis and my dad was always Farley McFirefly. I was always Lisa. I would sing “I cast all my cares upon you.”

I’d listen nonstop. My favorite tapes were the one where they went back in time to hang out with David and Fanny Crosby and the one where they were in the jungle. I remember meeting the “real” psalty when I was very young(maybe 4) and singing to him my favorite song when he picked me up. It was the highlight of my childhood.

I went on a radio contest at like age 8 to get to meet Psalty, and I was a proud member of Kidz Gig.

Thanks for bringing up some great memories! The video is also hilarious and I wish I could have seen good ol’ psalty perform again.

This is officially the coolest blog ever because the REAL Psalty commented! I’m so glad he left his email address so I could tell him how much he’s meant to me and my family. I grew up with him and now my 2 yr old is obsessed with him.

psalty won a grammy?

"a whole new level of sophistication" it's right there that I lost it.

I'd love to see a re-imagining of the Psalty story. Something like going back to the beginning like in Batman Begins. Or maybe it's New Psalty! Some guy finds this dead dusty song book and scans the pages into his computer, then becomes iPsalty, the singing iPad. Or maybe Pkindle (not sure what to do with the P, but it looks cool).

Hollywood could totally pull this off. Michael Bay would need to direct so there are enough explosions, but Ang Lee would need to be a consultant so there's depth of feeling. Kirk Cameron should be in it too so Christians will go see it.

This is why I enjoy Christian children's music–and I'm an adult! I shall never forget the symbolism in "The Wa-Wa Song":

And now I'm full of joy,
I'm living in His promised land…

Psalty, in a time when there was little worship music targeted toward adults in our house, your songs have always brought me to tears. I listen to them when I need a childlike, prayer-closet moment alone with the Lord.