Bob Dorough, the guy who wrote many of the songs for the 3-minute educational animated segments of the Schoolhouse Rock series, including "Conjunction Junction" and "Three is a Magic Number", passed away on Monday, April 23 at age 94.
Here is the link:
Bob Dorough dead: Schoolhouse Rock composer who wrote 'Conjunction Junction' and '3 is a Magic Number' dies aged 94 | The Independent
Schoolhouse Rock was traditionally aired on ABC twice every Saturday morning on the average during the 1970s and early 1980s, mainly focusing on core subjects normally taught as early as third grade, such as multiplication, grammar, U.S. history and politics, and science. By 1984, four new segments were produced, teaching about microcomputers, under the title "Scooter Computer and Mr. Chips".
After nearly a decade off the air, Schoolhouse Rock made a comeback to ABC's Saturday morning lineup in 1993 when two new "Grammar Rock" segments were launched, and in 1994, a new series of animated segments, focusing on money and finances, was launched, titled "Money Rock". The return of Schoolhouse Rock was probably done in the wake of FCC regulations that require many TV networks to air educational programming in some form every week. It is believed that the series was dropped - possibly due to the FCC strengthening the law where networks have to air a minimum of three hours of educational programming designed for children every week, a law which stands to this day.
A final series of new segments, educating children to be more aware of the environment, titled "Earth Rock", was launched in 2009, though it is uncertain if these segments were broadcast on television, or released only to DVD.
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