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Press
Musician Tells Children They Might As Well Sing
East Orlando Sun - Maya Lazarovitz, September 28, 2005
"You might as well sing, sing, sing/Sing, sing. sing/We're gonna be here for half an hour/So sing, sing, sing."
With that silly refrain, singer-storyteller Richard Peeples sends a clear message to an audience of bright-eyed children, while strumming an acoustic guitar. Like all of the Orlando artist's songs, "Might As Well Sing," the title track of his first CD, uses fun lyrics containing life's truisms to entertain both children and their parents at various East Orlando venues.
"My goal is to make songs that adults can listen to as well," he said. "They're not cutesy, Barney-type songs.
"A lot of children's music is beneath the children it's aimed at. Children are a lot smarter than adults give them credit for being. They're funny, and they make jokes just like grown-ups do. Some musicians forget that there are moms and dads who have to sit and listen to the music as well."
And Peeples, who goes by the name "Mr. Richard" when performing, should know what children like and don't like: he's worked with them for most of his professional life.
Growing up, the Shreveport, La. Native always had a love for music. "I always wanted to play (an instrument), and I had tunes in my head," he said.
When he was 14, he started playing acoustic guitar, and later electric guitar in a number of high school and college rock bands. He attended college in Jackson, Tenn., then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a music career before coming to Orlando in 1987. Working for Disney for eight years introduced him to children.
He then worked for the Orange County Public Library system for five years as a storyteller. It was during that time that he developed his musical style.
"Instead of just telling stories, I used music in my presentations," said Peeples, 44. "I'm a musician first and foremost, so it seemed like a logical thing to do. I had a great response, so as time went on I just started using music more and more in my storytelling."
At first he started playing classic children's songs, but then began to play around with the lyrics, which led to writing his own songs. "I was doing it for my own gratification, but it's really nice that the kids and parents liked it as well," he said.
A year ago, he left the library system to go out on his own as a singer/storyteller for children ages 3 to 8. He recorded his first CD, "Might As Well Sing", last year, and is now working on a second CD, named "Tummy Talk," which should be available in December.
Peeples has been featured in the New York Post and Parenting magazine, and he performs in a wide variety of venues—at birthday parties, elementary schools, churches, preschools and bookstores in East Orlando and Central Florida, such as Chickasaw Elementary School, La Petite Academy in Waterford Lakes and the Bithlo Community Center. His most recent East Orlando performance was at Seasons Garden & Gift on North Goldenrod Road.
He is also slated for performances at the Vista Lakes Community Center and the Barnes & Noble in Waterford Lakes, and another Seasons performance Oct. 15.
In addition, Peeples has performed in other parts of the state, as well as at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest and in Memphis, Tenn. "I've really stayed busy performing," Peeples said. "I thought it would be more of a struggle."
In addition to his live concerts, Peeples is a regular on Healthy Herb, a fitness and nutrition program for children, shown on Orange TV.
He describes his musical style as kids' rock, or pop rock with some folk influences. He is often compared to the music group They Might Be Giants.
"But I mostly try to sound like myself," he said.
Some of his songs tell stories from a child's point of view, others depict emotions. "Children have the same feelings grown-ups do," he said. "The subject differs but the feelings are universal."
One of his songs talks about owning a pet fish, and discusses all the things one can't do with a fish. "It ends up saying that a fish is good because it blows you kisses," Peeples said. "It's a way of saying there is love there, too."
Another song talks about the importance of underwear, and another about a lazy dog that the owner wouldn't trade for a million bucks. "Everyone feels that way about their pets, grown-ups or children," he said, adding that another song, "Zanyville," "is just silly for silly's sake. There's not much point to it, just absurd images and things."
One thing Peeples tries to steer away from in his music is imparting any life lessons. "A lot of children's songs are about brushing your teeth, going to bed early, and minding your folks," he said. "Those things are well and good, but I think kids just need to have a good time. My songs allow them to do that. They're just fun songs."
Although performing for children is a far cry from his youthful dreams of being a rock musician, Peeples feels it's what he was meant to do. "Ten to 20 years ago I would have laughed if someone said I would play for kids, but it would have made sense in a way, because I always liked children," he said.
"I love performing for children because I like to see them laughing and singing and having a good time. I just like the way they think. They call it like it is. Adults are very cautious about what they say, but kids just come out and say what everyone is thinking. That's why kids are such a great audience."
Adults, such as Jenni Hughes, a mother of three and co-owner of Seasons, loves Peeples' music as well. "He is great with kids, and he has a great personality," Hughes said. "Children love him, and my kids love his CD. Adults like him, too, because of the humor he puts into his songs. He's a good people person, and it shows in his performances. His music style is a lot of fun because he interacts with the kids and gets them to sing and clap their hands, and he likes talking to them about his favorite songs. He just has a warm, funny style that kids are attracted to."
His performance at Seasons attracted an audience of nearly 45 parents and children, half of which were "Mr. Richard groupies," Hughes said. "I have to say I'm a Mr. Richard groupie now too."
For more information about Peeples, his music or shows, go to www.mrrichard.net.