Press Kit

Billy B. The Natural Science Song and Dance Man

Since 1977 Bill Brennan (a.k.a. “Billy B.”) has electrified children, parents, and teachers alike with his exciting, unique style of combining environmental education and entertainment. Billy B., a trained educator turned performer, uses songs and dances which he writes and choreographs himself to teach children of all ages about the wonders of natural science, ecology and the environment.

Billy B. has performed for more than 2 million children in 45 states and Canada, giving 400-500 shows a year in schools and diverse venues such as the White House, Wolf Trap Filene Center, Ford’s Theater, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Geographic , the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and the 20th National Earth Day Celebration on the Mall in Washington. D.C, where nearly a quarter of a million people were in attendance.

1. Biodiversity
2. Emerge and See
3. Topsoil
4. Coral Reef
5. Yo, I'm a Flower

Billy B. has been featured in the U.S. News & World Report, PBS, Fox Television, Entertainment Tonight, National Public Radio, the Washington Post, Detroit Free Press, and in a myriad of other publications, television, and radio shows. He has produced nine recordings ( four of which were commissions, with titles like “Romp in the Swamp,” “Biodiversity and Billy B,” and “The Ways of the Bay,”) and a host of television, video, and film productions.

Through his energetic performances, Billy B. teaches children a large spectrum of environmental topics, from arthropods, alligators, and owls to complex scientific phenomena such as photosynthesis, pollination, the grinding of the earth’s tectonic plates, and erosion. In addition to teaching elementary and middle school children environmental science through song and dance, Billy B. also performs for primary and preschool students with both songs about nature and songs dealing with common courtesy, self help and life at school.


Billy B. uses an extensive repertoire of dynamic movements and songs to captivate his young audiences. His success in teaching environmental concepts to millions of children of all ages lies in his ability to mesmerize children with a variety of fun and instructive movements and histrionics. Billy B. explains:

“Kids want to do two things, move and make noise. And they love to move and make noise while they imitate things. In my shows I make sure they have the opportunity to do so. Over the years they have taught me the gestures and sounds they find irresistible. I use these gestures and sounds to elicit immediate as well as unsolicited participation. I love to teach them how to imitate the movements of an alligator or the call of an owl or to use an irresistible gesture to help them remember tricky vocabulary. While we are having fun together they don’t realize they’re learning scientific facts and concepts that might stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

Combining his instructive, fun gestures and movements with a lively and diverse musical repertoire of rock ‘n roll, reggae, folk, salsa, R & B, and rap, Billy B. tailors his performances to different age groups, ranging from preschool to junior high school kids, while at the same time, he exposes children to important environmental concerns, such as; the need for preserving biodiversity, the rain forests, estuaries, river and bay ecology, explaining the greenhouse effect, the symbiotic relationship of various animals and plants in the ecological food chain, and other vital ecological concerns.

“There is a common element to all my shows…the message and the methods are always the same–we can use our bodies and our voices to imitate, marvel, appreciate and learn about the many scientific wonders that work together to sustain life in our natural world .”

Fan Mail The Audience Has Spoken

Billy B. has performed for:

  • Over 2 million children in 45 states and Canada.
  • 200,000 people during the 20th National Earth Day Celebration on the Mall in Washington, D.C.
  • Family audiences at the White House, Wolf Trap Filene Center, Ford’s Theater, The National Theater, Longwood Gardens, L.A. Botanical Gardens, The Kennedy Center, the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan, Notre Dame, Texas A&M.
  • Museums such as the Smithsonian, Illinois and Pennsylvania State Museums, the National Aquarium, The Indianapolis Children’s Museum, and the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.
  • National Geographic Society, National Wildlife Federation, Project Learning Tree, World Wildlife Fund, Head Start and many major teachers’and environmental conferences.
  • Texas State Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium

Television, Video & Film

  • Biodiversity 911 wrote music and starred in three videos that comically teach about global warming and fish harvesting for the World Wildlife Fund
  • It’s Happening Today on the Chesapeake Bay Co-wrote music and script and starred in hour long video aired on PBS stations nationally.
  • You Can Make a Difference Wrote, starred, and choreographed music video for National Wildlife Federation and aired on Discovery Channel.
  • The Singing Tree Wrote script and musical score for film sponsored by U. S. Department of Agriculture.

Recordings

Achievements

  • Featured on Entertainment Tonight, National Public Radio.
  • Commissions to create live shows – The World Wildlife Fund, The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, The France and Merrick Foundations, The Centers For Nature Education