The Surprising Singers Behind 'Schoolhouse Rock' Revealed in Resurfaced Clip
- - The Surprising Singers Behind 'Schoolhouse Rock' Revealed in Resurfaced Clip
Meredith GordonJanuary 9, 2026 at 11:32 PM
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Photo by ABC Photo Archives on Getty Images
Happy anniversary, Schoolhouse Rock!The iconic animated musical TV series that taught children of all ages about grammar, math, and civics in the 1970s just celebrated its 53rd anniversary. In honor of the beloved Saturday morning cartoon’s milestone, a resurfaced clip of a live performance of one of the series’ most celebrated musical numbers, "Conjunction Junction," reveals the real singers behind the song and some of the show’s most memorable musical lessons.
In the resurfaced Schoolhouse Rock! clip, singers Bob Dorough and Jack Sheldon can be seen performing a live version of "Conjunction Junction." Sheldon’s jazzy, deep baritone became central to the show’s sound and identity. With a style often compared to a swinging Randy Newman, Dorough’s voice is easily recognized by Gen Xers who grew up watching Schoolhouse Rock!
Now fans are thrilled, that’s an adjective, thank you "Unpack Your Adjectives," to finally put faces to the voices that helped shape their youth.
Why Schoolhouse Rock! Still Matters More Than 50 Years Later
For those of us who grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons before Shazam! and The Krofft Supershow came on, and before mom or dad turned off the TV and reminded us that there was an outside, Schoolhouse Rock! is as much a part of our family history as the family dog or a beloved pet rock.
Debuting in 1973 on ABC, Schoolhouse Rock! was created to teach children grammar, math, science, and civics through short, catchy songs set to animation that aired between Saturday morning cartoons. The series was created by advertising executive David McCall and produced by Tom Yohe, with music primarily composed by Dorough. When McCall noticed his young son could easily remember rock song lyrics but not his multiplication tables, he commissioned Dorough to put math concepts to music, leading to classics like "Three Is a Magic Number" and "My Hero, Zero."
McCall was inspired to pitch Schoolhouse Rock! to Disney executive Michael Eisner after bringing in animator Yohe to add the visuals that remain instantly recognizable today. The series received multiple Emmy Awards and is frequently cited as one of the most influential educational programs in American pop culture history.
Songs like "I’m Just a Bill," "Verb: That’s What’s Happening," and "Electricity, Electricity" became pop culture touchstones that still bring a nostalgic smile to listeners’ faces, not to mention the occasional assist with our kids’ homework.
If you grew up in the 1970s or early 1980s and know the difference between a conjunction and an adverb, or can explain how a bill becomes a law and where the Preamble came from, you likely have Schoolhouse Rock! to thank.
With Bob Dorough and Jack Sheldon’s voices serving as the soundtrack of our childhoods, Schoolhouse Rock! represents an innocent time before social media, when Saturday mornings were spent in pajamas watching cartoons, with Dorough’s swinging sound filling the house until mom and dad woke up and sent us outside.
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This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pop Culture section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
