Background
He grew up in a musical family.
He grew up in a musical family.
He is the director of the 2015 film Jug Band Hokum. He is best known as the co-creator of the Emmy Award winning preschool television show and brand, (The Zinghoppers). He co-directed and co-stars in the Public Broadcasting Service show, "Totally, Zinghoppers!"
Norton is of Dutch and French descent.
His baby sitter was Tiny Tim, who gave Norton his first ukulele.
After high school, Norton studied Early Childhood Education and his experience as a preschool teacher helped form the educational principals found in the Zinghoppers music Norton"s senior thesis (entitled, "The Childhood Dignity Movement"), helped form the Zinghoppers core goals of "educating, entertaining and engaging" young children.
While in college, Norton"s love of hip-hop culture and dance music led him to attend raves and underground rap house parties. Electro, hip-hop, Disney popular and dance music serves as the basis of Norton"s musical influences.
The Nortons moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 2009 to begin production of "Totally, Zinghoppers!", a series for public television
In 2015 Norton announced his directorial debut with Jug Band Hokum, a documentary film that stars Brooklynd Turner and Anne Baggenstoss and follows the lives of band members competing in the Minneapolis Annual Battle of the Jug Bands. Guests appearing in the film include Garrison Keillor (of Prairie Home Companion fame), Bone Thugs-North-Harmony and others