Barry Louis Polisar never expected to make a living as a songwriter, author and performer for kids. But he's been doing it for 50 years; his first concert was in March 1975. In 2007, Hollywood boosted one of his early songs, "All I Want is You," in the film JUNO. On Super Bowl Sunday, a cover of that song appeared in an ad for Lay's Potato Chips, created by one of Barry's favorite film makers, Taika Waititi:

Back in 1975, a teacher saw him with his guitar and asked him if he'd perform at the school where she taught. Barry reluctantly agreed and at that very first show, he heard another teacher yelling at her kids. He wrote down what she said and turned it into a song ("I've Got a Teacher, She's So Mean"). He never expected that teachers would hear about that song and call him up, asking him to sing it at their school!

His career has been one series of unexpected twists after another including:

• Having his songs banned (like "Don't Put Your Finger Up Your Nose") https://barrylou.com/on-censorship/
• Performing at The White House: https://barrylou.com/oh-the-places-he-did-go/
• Starring in a nationally syndicated TV show for kids: https://barrylou.com/barrys-tv-show/
• Writing and publishing poems and 19 books for children and adults: https://barrylou.com/books-directory/#books-for-children
• A 2-CD Tribute album recorded by many musicians who had his records growing up: https://barrylou.com/were-not-kidding-a-tribute-to-barry-louis-polisar/

And just when he thought things were winding down 30 years into his career, one of his oldest songs ("All I Want is You") was used in the opening credits of the award-winning movie JUNO. https://barrylou.com/juno-film/

This led to international exposure through commercials and song licensing. https://barrylou.com/videos/ 

He almost didn't record this song. He added it as "filler" on his second album, "My Brother Thinks He's a Banana and Other Provocative Songs for Children," released in 1977. He thought the album needed just one more song. He's written hundreds of songs on more than 16 albums. https://barrylou.com/cd-recordings/ 

Here is the full three-minute Lay's video, with the entire song:

Barry is also a passionate environmentalist who has cleaned up numerous trashed properties in Maryland, including on the Chesapeake Bay and Patuxent River. All his clean-up projects are now in either protective conservation easements or forest conservation plans. Here's one story: https://barrylou.com/tireless-efforts/

Many of Barry's songs and books for children—as well as all three of his books for adults—have their roots in his Jewish heritage: "Telling the Story: A Passover Haggadah Explained," "Retelling Genesis," a modern Midrash that gives voice to many characters left out of the biblical narratives, and "An Early Picking," a collection of Barry's earliest poetry which includes poems about family and faith.

It all goes back to that first performance in March 1975. He never expected it would lead to a career that has influenced millions of kids across the country. https://barrylou.com/author-programs-concerts/

Barry Louis Polisar is available for interview regarding his 50th anniversary. His contact information is available at his website, https://barrylou.com.