The East Orange, New Jersey native started college as a pre-med student at Rutgers, but he transferred to Beloit College in Wisconsin, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in music in 1975. After several years of performing as a solo artist, he became a member of the folk group The Limeliters, replacing Glenn Yarborough. He was the guitar playing lead tenor with the group from 1981 to 1988. Grammer is best known for his music for children, having recorded songs made up for his young sons. His songs teach human values including truthfulness, gratitude, integrity, kindness and fairness. His album Be Bop Your Best was nominated in the 2005 Grammy Awards for Best Musical Album for Children. cELLAbration: A Tribute to Ella Jenkins,won a Grammy Award on which Red was a featured performer. "Teaching Peace," named by The All Music Guide as “one of the top five children's recordings of all time,” was the recipient of a rare Parents' Choice Classic Award. Though it did not win any awards the year it was released, it is now considered one of Grammer's best albums. Other albums for children include: "Circle of Light: Songs for Bucket Fillers", Hello World, Down the Do-Re-Mi, Can You Sound Just Like Me? and "Red Grammer's Favorite Sing-along Songs." Albums for adults are Soul Man in a Techno World and Free Falling. Grammer has performed in every state in the U.S. as well as in 22 other countries around the world, including China, Russia, Ukraine, and Israel. He is often a keynote speaker and performer at national and regional educational conferences in the United States and Canada. Grammer is a member of the Baháʼí Faith. He met his wife, Kathy, when they were students at Beloit College. They have 2 children, including pop singer Andy Grammer.
Discography
Children
Can You Sound Just Like Me?
Teaching PeaceParents' Choice Classic Award; named One of the top five children's recordings of all time by All Music Guide
Down the Do Re MiParents' Choice Gold Award, Best Children's Recording of 1991 Pulse Magazine
Red Grammer's Favorite Sing-Along SongsEarly Childhood News Director's Choice Award
Hello WorldParents' Choice Gold Award, USA Today Kid Pick, Early Childhood News Director's Choice Award, NAIRD Award
Bebop Your BestGrammy Nominated
cELLAbration: A Tribute to Ella JenkinsGrammy Award for Best Musical Album For Children, 2005
"Circle of Light: Songs for Bucket Fillers" Won an award in 2015