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When was the last time you thought about taking a spin on your own banana seat bike with "a mean green racing stripe," or sang a whimsical tune about bears dancing the tango, "twisting in the wind like a black umbrella." If you are Ralph Covert, leader of the children's music project, Ralph's World, your answer to that is: almost 365 years days of the year! The inimitable Ralph Covert, whom Family Fun magazine called "one of our finest children's musicians," is back with his groundbreaking brand of exuberant children's music. When you listen to the fourth and latest CD, Peggy's Pie Parlor, from Ralph's World, available on Mini-Fresh, the children's division of Minty Fresh Records (home to Ivy, Tahiti 80, Komeda, Papas Fritas, and others), you will be treated to wonderfully crafted music with clever lyrics. As founder of the acclaimed Chicago based rock band, The Bad Examples, the singer/songwriter/guitarist has impressively transcended the boundaries that have seemingly existed between grown-up rock 'n' roll and traditional children's music. "I'm not trying to make kids records, I'm trying to make a great rock 'n' roll record that connects with the things that kids are passionate about," Ralph declares. Ralph is noted for writing exceptional original children's songs, and the new 14-track CD is no exception! From the title track, "Peggy's Pie Parlor Polka," featuring current Grammy nominee Eddie Blazoncyk, Jr., on concertina; to "Caveman," the firmly tongue-and-cheek Broadway musical parody, and to the jubilant "The Mighty Worm," Ralph once again delivers his signature pop songs, overflowing with great pop hooks and harmonies. The Windy City native also possesses a distinctive flair for taking great American standards and putting his own refreshing twist on them. From his spirited take on the Carl Sandburg arrangement of "Yon Yonson," to the silly "Go Go Pogo" (from cartoonist Walt Kelly's 1948 album based on his Doonesburyesque cartoon character); and, to the frolicsome '30s era novelty song, "I Never See Maggie Alone," Ralph is guaranteed to get your feet-a-tappin' and your hands-a-clappin'. Ralph first performed for children six years ago, shortly after his daughter, Fiona, was born. Already a songwriting teacher at Chicago's venerable Old Town School of Folk Music, he began teaching Wiggleworms, classes for children aged 6 months to 3 years. He began writing kids songs about the same time, realizing the need for music that both children and parents could enjoy. Many of Ralph's early memories revolve around music. "As a child, I loved the song 'Go Go Pogo,' from Walt Kelly's record so much, that I brought the album into my kindergarten class for show-and-tell," he laughs. "When I was nine, I went off to summer camp, and the counselor played Sgt. Pepper's non-stop for two weeks," Ralph recalls. "When I got back from camp, I knew what I wanted to do with my life!" Since the time of that revelation, he's written hundreds of smart, intelligent pop/rock songs and has performed all over the world, both as Ralph's World, and with his former band, The Bad Examples. When approached by Minty Fresh Records owner, and parent, Jim Powers to create an album of children's music, Ralph was enthusiastic. ''My goal was to make a record that would appeal to both parents and kids. I wanted to bring to the record the attention to songwriting, and caliber of musicianship, I would put into a record for adults.'' The debut CD, Ralph's World, received critical acclaim from the press and media. Billboard Magazine called it "one of the finest kids' audio releases of this or any year." Ralph toured to support the album in cities across the U.S., both solo and with the Ralph's World Band, featuring many of the all-star musicians featured on the CD. Between tour dates he wrote the new songs featured on the follow-up, At The Bottom of the Sea, a magical landscape of existential spiders, psychic cats, ghostly circuses, and even caffeine for the parents! Amazon.com raved, "Ralph Covert may have sunk to the bottom of the sea for his second release, but he swished the sophomore slump aside in his wake...Somewhere, clans of fulfilled yet fantastically kooky families thrive, and if they had to choose a champion, it'd be Ralph Covert." September 2002 marked the release of Ralph's third children's album, Happy Lemons, featuring more Ralph's World-style fun: trombone-playing basset hounds, dinosaurs that play fetch and alligators that ride escalators. Ralph's talent for writing fun, quirky and accessible songs is evident in all of these wonderful recordings. His live performances engage children, entertain adults and energize the room. Welcome to Ralph's World -- a place where kids and parents connect through the shared love of music!
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