About Us

Susie Tallman & Friends present traditional (and original) songs with a twist: music that connects generations,bridging the years between grandparent, parent, and child with song. Our music & CDs can easily become the soundtrack to a young child's life. Rock Me Baby Records was founded in 1999 by Susie Tallman in order to unite her love for music with her love for the spirit of childhood.

Susie Tallman had been singing and performing professionally for many years when she discovered her current business calling while at a friend’s baby shower. She was holding two babies for a picture opportunity and the babies were growing fussy. When their fussiness escalated to all-out crying, Susie began to sing to them and as if on cue, both babies quietly turned to watch and listen. The other party attendants (particularly the babies’ mothers) were surprised. “You should record a CD for babies,” they all agreed. Susie did exactly that and Rock Me Baby Records was born.

"If parents can enjoy lullabies with their children they will share a very special time together," says Susie. "Children are educated by the music they are brought up with, and these songs will teach them about the bond they share with their parents, and about the warmth of the world their parents will share with them."

Rock Me Baby Records carves out a new path in the market of music for small children," says Susie. "The albums provide parents with a contemporary way to introduce the beauty and tradition of children's songs, nursery rhymes and lullabies." All the CDs contain original and interesting arrangements of mostly traditional songs. The lullabies are soothing and calming and the children's songs are fun, exciting and unique, with multiple voices and instruments.

Susie recently added a Spanish Songs CD to her catalog which has been awarded the prestigious Parents' Choice Gold among others. Susie has recorded 10 albums and has released 1 DVD.

Singer Susie Tallman graduated UCLA with a BA in voice performance. Susie followed her passion to work with musicians by working at A&M Studios with the producer Jimmy Iovine. She then left A&M with Jimmy Iovine and a few others to become a founding employee of Interscope Records. Susie was fortunate enough to work with world class musicians including NIN, Tom Jones, Dr. Dre, Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, Ron Sexsmith, A Very Special Christmas albums, Tracy Chapman and so many others. One incredible experience after the next provided Susie with the knowledge to venture out on her own to start Rock Me Baby Records.

Wanting to live and study abroad before recording, Susie further evolved her voice in France, singing with the Choeur International and the American Chorus in Paris. Upon her return to the states, Susie honed her classical training at the New England Conservatory Workshop in Boston and worked at the extraordinary indie label Q Division Records. She has sung backup for such acts as Ronnie Spector, Darlene Love and Cheap Trick, and has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Rose Bowl, the Los Angeles Forum and Pauley Pavilion as well as in commercials for Taco Bell, The Coca-Cola Reunion commercial and the movie Beaches. She is a former member of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus and The New Mexico Symphony Chorus. Susie recently worked with the talented director/actor Brendan Fehr on a set of new videos that accompany her Spanish album.

Susie is a Voting Member of the Recording Academy as well as a member of SAG/AFTRA and ASCAP. Susie serves on the board of Warehouse 508, a safe space for youth to explore urban arts and extreme sports. Susie is also raising three children (a high school freshman daughter & twin 5th grade boys), one dog and thirteen chickens while singing in the group Coro Lux, recording & teaching.

Irene Hardwicke Olivieri is the amazing painter on all of our CDs (except for Classical Baby and Who Stole the Moon). Irene has provided perfect, beautiful artwork since the very beginning when she painted the cover for Lullaby Themes for Sleepy Dreams. I have often felt that my music would not have reached the many families it did if it wasn't for Irene's artwork. I have been lucky enough to have Irene's paintings as the door to my music. You can see her incredible work or purchase a print from her website.

Voted Australia's best drummer, Peter Maslen is an extraordinary musician. A member of the rock band Boom Crash Opera, not only has Maz played on all of the Boom Crash Opera records, he is one of the most sought after session and touring drummers in the world. Maz has played and toured with such musical acts as Natalie Imbruglia, Men At Work and The Seekers to name a few. Maz performs his rendition of Hickory Dickory Dock, most kids' favorite track on Classic Nursery Rhymes.

Peter 'Bungie' Farnan is a producer, guitarist, bass player, songwriter & more. A founding member and one of the primary song-writers of Boom Crash Opera, Bungie contributes to several of Rock Me Baby Records' CDs. He is the producer, arranger, composer & musician on A Child's Christmas-Holiday Songs & Carols and Spanish Songs for Children and one of the two producers, arrangers for Let's Go! Travel, Camp & Car Songs. Bungie also co-wrote the title song "Let's Go" with Susie and Greg O'Connor.

Greg 'Spock' O'Connor is also a member of Boom Crash Opera. Spock wears the multi-talented hat of musician, song-writer and graphic artist. Spock provided many of the unique voices on Classic Nursery Rhymes, as well as lending his guitar and ukelele talents. Spock also co-wrote "Let's Go" and "Dino Dance" (also with his son Jordy) for the Animal Songs & Stories CD. Spock works as a graphic artist for his company Lone Wolf Design and designs many of the album covers you might see around Australia. Spock has contributed his graphic arts talents by designing the packaging on Animal Songs, Come On, Let's Go! DVD, Spanish Songs and A Child's Christmas.

Merrie Amsterburg is an artist in the truest sense of the word. We are so lucky that she contributed to our first release, Lullaby Themes for Sleepy Dreams as well as A Child's Christmas. Merrie sings in her beautiful, ethereal voice, and also plays guitar on 4 songs. Merrie lives in Boston and has several CDs out on Q Division/Zoe/Rounder Records. Merrie has won 2 Boston Music Awards, been voted the Best Local Folk Act by the Boston Phoenix, Best Female Vocalist of the Year by the readers of Jam Magazine, she's been on NPR, sings the national anthem for the Boston Red Sox every year, and has opened for Paula Cole among other performers. You can buy her CD at your local store or through qdivision.com. She is amazing and can be found here.

Here's one of her reviews: "Haunting and pretty, Amsterburg's songs are like miniature worlds into which one may escape for three minutes at a time. The textures and word-pictures she creates let you fall as deeply into each tune as your soul requires. As if it isn't enough that Amsterburg sings like an angelic demon and writes poetic (yet accessible) lyrics with seductive melodies, she also plays acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, trumpet, banjo, harmonium, piano and organ. A classic over-achiever; I'd hate her if her work didn't make me feel so good." — G-Man, Immedia Wire Service.

Richard Pleasance

Producer, musician, songwriter Richard Pleasance displays his talents most especially on Lullabies for Sleepy Eyes, in which he produced 12 of the 16 songs. Richard lives in Melbourne, Australia where he has a successful solo career signed to Gotham Records as well as produces cutting edge rock bands, including Augie March for which he was nominated for an ARIA award (highest honors in Australia) as well Jon Stevens & Kate Ceberano.

Richard was a member of the Top 10 Australian band Boom Crash Opera as a musician, songwriter and co-producer. The bands' album These Here Are Crazy Times achieved double Platinum status. Richard has been nominated for the ARIA awards several times and won Best Producer for Deborah Conway's brilliant debut album, String of Pearls. He has toured in support of Elvis Costello in Australia as well as recorded with Suzanne Vega in the States. In addition, Richard has been the composer for 3 seasons of the popular ABC Australian drama, SEACHANGE, in which he received the prestigious award for best song composed for television.

Mark o'Connor

Best known for his piano and keyboard chops, Mark O'Connor also hails from Australia where he produces, performs and composes for various artists and soundtracks including James Reyne, Wendy Matthews and The Seekers. Mark has toured with many Australian bands in Australia as well as abroad. Mark produced the bulk of Classic Nursery Rhymes for Rock Me Baby Records and has signed up to produce the next CD of children's music.

Scott Duncan

Scottie co-produced our first CD, Lullaby Themes for Sleepy Dreams in San Francisco while on a break from touring with various international acts including Linda Perry of Four Non Blondes fame and Kula Shaker. Scottie was signed to a major label in his younger days and recorded and toured in London. He then went on to tour with The Pogues as a road manager and harmonica player. Scottie is a great musician and friend and now lives back home in Auckland, New Zealand with his wife and kids.

Ian 'Tilso' Tilley

Tilso is an incredibly talented bass player, singer and computer/multi-media champ. You guessed it, also a member of Boom Crash Opera, Ian plays bass and is the voice on Hey Diddle Diddle, This Old Man and Wynkyn, Blynkyn & Nod on Classic Nursery Rhymes.

Jayne Bayley

A talented Australian actress, musician and mother of Maudie Farnan who is featured on I'm A Little Teapot, Jane recites a lovely rendition (with American accent) on Three Little Kittens on Classic Nursery Rhymes.

Josh Lattanzi

Josh is a successful touring and session musician splitting his time between Boston, New York City and the road. Josh has toured and performed with the likes of Julianna Hatfield, Kristin Hersh, Ben Kweller among others, and played guitar on the first CD, Lullaby Themes for Sleepy Dreams.

Ed Valauskas

Ed, also from Boston and at one time Josh's roomate, is a member of the infamous Boston band, The Gravel Pit and has recently formed the already popular band The Gentlemen. The Gravel Pit won the Boston Music Award for Best Indie Band and one of Ed's career highlights was opening for Guided By Voices and Cheap Trick in DC. Ed plays on the first CD, Lullaby Themes for Sleepy Dreams. He continues to play music, work at Q Division Record and lives in Boston with his wife and daughter.

Nigel Harrison, the well-known, amazing bass player offers his talents on the Animal Songs CD. Nigel is best known for playing bass in the band Blondie as well as the band Checkered Past. Nigel has played on numerous CDs, films, and live performances. Nigel and Susie worked together at Interscope Records.

Michael Reily Burke, an actor from Los Angeles, lends his character voices on Let's Go, Travel Camp & Car Songs (Elvis and cowboy) as well as the Animal Songs CD performing as the turkey from Albuquerque.

Laurie Magovern, an award-winning storyteller wrote and performed two stories for the Animal Songs & Stories CD.

Shelly LeY, the extraordinary children's music teacher, shares a song on the Animal Songs CD. Shelly has taught in Albuquerque, Brooklyn & Hudson, NY and now sings and teaches back in New Mexico.