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Press
Storyteller Returns Home to Perform at Library
The Daily Corinthian (Corinth, MS), June 4, 2004 - Jebb Johnson
After five years as a professional storyteller at the Orlando Public Library, Richard Peeples is coming home for a performance at the Corinth Library.
Originally from Shreveport, La., Peeples grew up in Corinth and graduated from Corinth High School. He well tell stories and perform songs at the library Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.
Peeples said he is embarking on a two-month road trip after completing a CD, "Might As Well Sing," and preparing to become a freelance storyteller.
Librarian Ann Coker said Peeples appeared at the library in 1999 and was a big hit. "We're very pleased to have him back again," said Coker. "We hope everyone who knew him when he was younger will come and enjoy it."
Peeples recorded the album in Clarksdale with fellow CHS graduate Jimbo Mathus, founding member of the now-defunct Squirrel Nut Zippers, which became one of the hottest alternative bands in 1997 with the album "Hot."
Peeples said Mathus has returned to Clarksdale and now performs with Buddy Guy. "He mixed the record and played on almost everything," said Peeples. "One of the songs sounds kind of like a Zippers song."
Another CHS alum, Matt McWhirter, was also involved in recording the album. The three used to play together in a band called Void Where Prohibited.
While the album is aimed at children, "I tried to make something adults could listen to as well," said Peeples. "The lyrics are silly, but the instrumentation is not really what you think of as children's music."
Among the songs are one about his dog who passed away a couple of years ago and one about a pilot he worked with at the Orlando Library.
Peeples attended Lambuth College on a theater scholarship and has worked at Walt Disney World and as a National Park Service ranger in Colorado--all gigs that helped him find his voice.
"I always seemed to get jobs where I was doing public speaking," he said. Storytelling "was kind of a natural extension."
Peeples will also appear at Waldron Street Market from 2 until 4 p.m. today.