‘A Way I Can Add Joy and Fun to the World’

‘Rainbow Jeff’ exists somewhere between Raffi and ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic. He is not interested in becoming Paul Simon—or Taylor Swift. He’s there for people when they need him, to be there for people who just want to get together and have a good time. His motto is “Life’s a song. Sing it loudly!”

Rainbow Jeff started out in response to requests from parents asking if I knew anyone who did music with kids. Would I come sing a few songs at their daughter’s birthday party? During COVID, friends with young kids asked if I would put together something resembling a weekly singalong. That way, for at least part of their time spent online, the kids would know the person on the screen. I didn’t have to think twice about that. When we couldn’t meet up, it was a wonderful way to bring people together, even if it was only in little boxes on Zoom. It was as important for my mental health as it was for any of the families who joined.

I live by the ‘Sesame Street’ model. I pick songs that are geared toward kids but also interesting for adults. I’ve been to plenty of children’s performances with the parents bored out of their minds, wishing they could be off having a scotch or something. When I do a song parody or tell little stories and jokes between songs, it’s all appropriate for kids but engaging to the adults.

Music is a way I can add joy and fun to the world, whether it’s with a couple of friends in the living room or in Distler Performance Hall. My philosophy is it doesn’t matter how good you are at music. What matters is to do it and to have people to share it with. That’s why I’ve never been interested in being a soloist or pursuing a music career. (After I forgot my song’s lyrics halfway through my freshman year Beelzebubs audition, I knew a capella was not in the cards for me.)

But my Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tufts Chorale? I display that proudly on my desk.

Jeff Rawitsch, A04, AG09 (aka Rainbow Jeff), is the manager of the Granoff Music Center on the university's Medford/Somerville campus.

Our Tufts is a series of personal stories shared by members of the Tufts community and featured on both Tufts Now and Instagram.