About Name Your Tune

About Name Your Tune Name Your Tune is a compilation of much-loved classic children's songs that are transformed to feature your child's name in every song. Our original Name Your Tune CD debuted in November 2003 and has become a staple in children's music collections around the world. It is an instant hit with children, parents and grandparents alike. Everyone can sing along with the songs that are old and new all at the same time - classics like "Old MacDonald Had A Farm E-I-E-I-O" become "Little Hannah Had A Farm E-I-E-I-O."

When we created Name Your Tune in the recording studio, we started with 700 names. Our catalogue has since grown to include more than 4000 names and our performers are in the studio several times throughout the year to add names that are requested by our customers. If your child's name is Maximilliano, Christos, Story or Lotus, you already know this because we recorded their names just for you. If your child's name has a unique spelling, we've thought of that, too - each Name Your Tune CD is made to order and your child's name is printed on the label your way. In these ways and more, Name Your Tune is the perfect gift for every child.

November 2010 marks the release of Name Your Tune 2. We've been in the recording studio recording a whole new collection of songs all about you!

Name Your Tune is a natural outcome of our life-long love of music. We have enjoyed being a part of children developing a life-long love of music - that is our greatest achievement.

The People Behind Name Your Tune

Candace Alper
About Name Your Tune Name Your Tune Personalized CDs is Created and Executive Produced by Candace Alper. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from McMaster University and a Bachelor of Education degree from OISE/University of Toronto. Candace has been active with children and youth in her community through social programs, summer camps and trips abroad. This project has been a natural progression bringing together her love of music, arts, children and creativity. As mother to seven-year old Hannah, Candace appreciates the impact and joy of music in her child's every day. It is Candace's motivation, enthusiasm and vision that have driven this project from its conception through to the hands of each child. Candace is an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year nominee, and a Top 3 Mompreneur of the Year by Savvy Mom.

Eric Alper
Co-Founder Eric Alper is an award-winning Canadian Music Industry veteran for more than 15 years. As Director of Media Relations and Label Acquisitions for eOne Music Canada, Eric brings his sought-after perspective and experience to Name Your Tune. He has handled the PR for such prestigious artists as Sir Bob Geldof, Ringo Starr, Ray Charles, Dan Zanes, Robert Munsch, The Wiggles, and hundreds more. His fundraising efforts through Hear Here, the non-profit charitable organization he co-created to purchase hearing aids for kids in families who can't afford them, and as a board member of the Canadian Music Therapy Association and Artists Against Racism, have totaled over one million dollars. Name Your Tune proudly donates a portion from our CD sales to support Hear Here.

Jessica Margaritis and Mario Margaritis
About Name Your Tune Jessica and Mario complete the Name Your Tune management team from their offices in Vancouver, British Columbia. In addition to taking care of customers on the west coast, they maintain the Name Your Tune post-production studio and oversee our digital music programs. With a background in the Lifestyle and Hospitality Industries, and a love of music and computers, audio-production they are bringing Name Your Tune to a new level. In July 2009 they became parents as they welcomed their daughter Beth and now fully understand the joy of music for young children.

Jessica and Candace met on the first day of nursery school when they were three years old and have been best friends for more than 35 years. Now each with daughters of their own, along with their husbands Eric and Mario, they are an example that sometimes it is ok to go into business with your friends.

The People Behind the Microphone

Name Your Tune | Name Your Tune 2

Lenny Graf
Lenny Graf is a Parent Choice Winning and Juno Award nominated, children's performer that brings a one-of-a-kind talent for entertaining to Name Your Tune. One of children's best-loved artists, his kind and generous spirit is witnessed though his charitable work across the country. Lenny is a singer, songwriter, musician and impressionist, known for his sense of humour, goofy onstage antics and his Noise and Gadgets Machine. Children will enjoy learning through Lenny's ability to freshen up the music we grew up with. Lenny can't just sit still - he plays the piano, piccolo, flute and clarinet (just to name a few) making him an essential part of the music you hear all over both volumes of Name Your Tune.

Paul Humphrey
Paul Humphrey brings a dynamic vocal performance to Name Your Tune. His happy-go-lucky and heart-warming interpretations of the classic songs will have children and their families singing along with him in delight. Paul has several top-10 hits as the lead singer of Blue Peter in the 1980s and has had much critical acclaim for his involvement in Broken Arrow throughout the 1990s. Paul continues to write and record music from his home base in Toronto.

Barbara Vermeulen
Barbara Vermeulen is a classically-trained opera singer from Toronto. Her diverse experience in all genres of music had made Barbara's performance and contribution to Name Your Tune an amazing experience for children and adults to listen to. Her background includes working with special-needs children, and her improvisational feel on Name Your Tune gleans something from this experience. She is ultra-feel good, funny and charming in every way, making her versions of old and newer classic songs worth the price of the CD alone.

Dana Glickman
Dana began performing in plays and musical theatre with various local Toronto companies at the age of 10 and continued training and performing throughout her adolescence and early twenties. After completing her education in Broadcasting for Radio and Television Arts and working at a few Toronto radio stations she decided to pursue her childhood dream... Voiceovers. Amongst her work, Dana is proud to have had the opportunity to be the voice of Bunwin on Treehouse TV's "Wee Three". Dana joins Name Your Tune with a fun and lively performance that without a doubt, is inspired by her children, Samantha and Tanner

Erica Ehm
Erica Ehm has gone from rock'n roll to rock'n the cradle as she joins Name Your Tune with an energetic, fun and light-hearted performance on Name Your Tune 2. As Canada's first female Much Music Host, Erica Ehm was the voice of her generation. Today, Erica continues to inspire her peers with her playful online magazine YummyMummyClub.ca - one of Canada's best known online destinations for women with children. She is an award-winning songwriter. Erica has also co-authored the children's book Mischievous Mom at the Art Gallery published by Key Porter Books. Erica's son Josh, daughter Jessie and husband Terry have made her a Yummy Mummy for life.

Jennifer Valentyne
Jennifer, mother Jackson and Georgia, started her career in 1987 at CITY TV as a weekend intern while attending school and performing as a cheerleader for the Toronto Argonauts. As the Live Eye Host on CITY TV's Breakfast Television, the city of Toronto wakes up to find out what the curious and vibrant Jennifer is located next - she could be building a house with Habitat for Humanity, repelling down a building in support of Easter Seals or jumping in Lake Ontario for the Polar Bear Dip in support of World Vision. Her soulful voice can be heard on her debut album of love songs, Jennifer Valentyne's Wedding Album where she performs jazz standards, contemporary and original selections. Jennifer now adds Name Your Tune to her bio, and we are so happy that she has shared her talents with us.

Scott Stratten
Proving that sometimes your friends can make any project even better, Scott Stratten does a cameo on Name Your Tune 2 that is just perfect for him as doles out advice as the wise-doctor. He's an expert in other areas, too - Viral, Social, and Authentic Marketing which he calls Un-Marketing. Formerly a music industry marketer, national sales training manager and a Professor at the Sheridan College School of Business, he now has over 65,000 people follow his daily rantings on Twitter and was voted one of the top influencer's on the site with over 100 million users. It's the only time he's felt comfortable being compared to Ashton Kutcher, P Diddy and Justin Bieber.

Tracey Erin Smith
Tracey Erin Smith brings her comedic character voices and gentle lullabies to Name Your Tune. She is an award-winning actor, singer and playwright who performed her hit one-woman show ‘The Burning Bush!’ Off Broadway in New York City and across Canada. The play was selected Best of the Toronto Fringe Festival and won an Audience Choice Award at New York City’s Frigid Festival. Tracey was nominated for a Jessie Richardson Award for her performance in the world premiere of ‘The One That Got Away’ at Vancouver’s Chutzpah! Festival. She is a theatre instructor at Ryerson University’s ACT II STUDIO and has taught improvisation and solo show creation at Toronto’s famed THE SECOND CITY. Tracey has seen first hand the joy that Name Your Tune brings to people of all ages.