Cedar Family presents Ralph's World
Fans of great melodic pop-rock are missing out on some of the more inspired songs the genre has to offer if they aren't hanging with the toddlers at Ralph's World gigs. This is children's entertainment for parents who remember psychedelia, the first Woodstock, Ruby Tuesday before she was a restaurant, and that the walrus was Paul. Ralph Covert's new CD, "Rhyming Circus," is catchy, funny and frankly brilliant. For proof, you can stream all 13 songs at the Ralph's World website. (Tom Surowicz, The Big Gigs 1/15/10, Minneapolis Star Tribune)
These days there may be lots of rockers making kid-friendly records, but there’s only one Ralph Covert, an irrepressibly enthusiastic performer who rocks just as hard for kids as he does for grown-ups. Perma-grin on his face, lime-green Chuck Taylors on his feet—even at the Grammy's! —his traveling circus of catchiness known as Ralph’s World is equally loved by cool-seeking parents as it is by children, fortunate to be living in an era where their music both rocks and respects their intelligence and curiosity.
Ralph’s World brings grown-up values of resonant songcraft (with wry, inventive wordplay), musical sophistication and energetic, rock ’n’ roll performances to children’s music. It’s an approach that’s gotten the attention of the Recording Academy, which nominated 2005’s Green Gorilla, Monster & Me for a Grammy. Ralph’s most recent release, The Rhyming Circus (Disney Sound), lets a cow take the singing spotlight, and bugs, elephants, royalty and inanimate objects occupy the center ring. As it should be.
“...a rock-'n'-roll headbanger for the kindergarten set.... Mr. Covert’s songs, in contrast, tap into the collective unconscious of parents who grew up with rock and want to share it with their children... It is possible though, that Mr. Covert will turn out to be that genre’s Elvis Presley, or at the very least its Elvis Costello.” – David Edelstein, The New York Times (January 30, 2005)
“One of America’s finest pure-pop singer-songwriters has transformed a genre known for pap into priceless pop. Covert's six perfect albums of children’s music sport an incredibly diverse array of musical styles — punchy rock, wistful folk, giddy pop — that bring to mind the most enjoyable and playful aspects of Paul McCartney's melodic solo work “ – Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Daily News, February 16, 2007.
Tickets are on sale now from the Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), Cedar outlets, and online at Ticketweb
These days there may be lots of rockers making kid-friendly records, but there’s only one Ralph Covert, an irrepressibly enthusiastic performer who rocks just as hard for kids as he does for grown-ups. Perma-grin on his face, lime-green Chuck Taylors on his...
