Fresh, Fun Music for
Whole Family Music Spotlight Interview with Chip Richter By Lisa M. HendeyThe gift of music is a wonderful thing to share with our children and musician Chip Richter makes it even better. I was so happy to discover Chip’s music, which I’ve been sharing lately with my own family. Chip Richter and his family live in Ohio, and for past ten years he’s spent his summers at a family resort called Lakeside, creating and sharing type of music you’d be pleased to share with your children. A far cry from Barney or even those Disney sing-along type things you may have at home, Chip’s music is great in that it appeals to both kids and grown ups! Recently, Chip has been at work recording his new CD, Lost in Lakeside. Additionally, this summer he will be promoting literacy and music with several library tours, as well as an appearance at Annual Conference of California Reading Association.
I had a chance to catch up with Chip and am pleased to share his comments on his music and sharing music with our families.
Q: Chip, could you please start off by telling our readers a bit about yourself and your music?
A: Well, I’m a husband and father of three… I’ve always said that being a dad is best thing I’ll ever do. I’m also a singer-songwriter and musician. I was born and raised in Ohio, lived a few years in New York and then southern California and now I’m back in Ohio where we’re raising our family. I started playing guitar when I was 13 years old and started writing songs in college.
Q: How did you get started in music and how have you headed towards a focus on recording "family" music?
A: My music career really begins as a church musician and worship leader. I really never have played clubs and bars like you read about others doing. As a teenager I became a committed Christian and began leading others in worship and playing special music in church. I never started out thinking I would be writing and performing music for kids and families. When I released my first album, People of Destiny, an album I recorded for adults… I started hearing from parents telling me how much their kids enjoyed some of songs, which surprised me but I was glad to hear it. At about same time I was offered a summer gig at a Christian family resort singing and playing music for a weekly kids program. Out of necessity I needed to write some songs for that first summer and I discovered a brand new audience. I’m still just writing what’s in my heart to write but I have to confess kids and families have captured my heart and I love sharing my music with them. Q: How has your own faith journey impacted on your music?
A: I continue to grow in my faith and in my musicianship and songwriting almost simultaneously… for me two have always been intertwined. I’m not really interested in being labeled as a “Christian artist” but it’s pretty hard to separate my faith from my music so I don’t try. I write about stuff that moves me and inspires me. I can’t think of anything or anyone who moves and inspires me more than God… creator of all things! I believe God is sovereign and over all things so I see Him in all of my songs and in every aspect of life, especially family life. Q: Can you give us some suggestions on how parents can share gift of music with their children while helping them to make appropriate listening decisions. A: One of things I would encouraged parents to do is listen to music “with” their children. Introduce your kids to classics as well as lots of different styles of music including some of music that you like… it doesn’t have to be Barney and Romper Room for kids to enjoy it and get something from it. I think we sell kids short sometimes. I’ve discovered children to have a depth and capacity that has surprised me. Here’s a real life example. Over Christmas holiday my son and I were in car with radio on. Karen Carpenter was singing White Christmas and my son Austin commented that he really liked her voice… “Me too,” I said. So I looked around and found a “Best of Carpenters” album and gave it to him for Christmas… he’s eleven and he’s becoming a Carpenters fan… go figure!
I think most important thing for parents is to not just assume that because music is being marketed to children that it’s really good for your kids. I’ve seen and heard some pretty awful stuff made for kids. Some of it’s awful because of production values and some of it’s awful because of message in music! So that means parents need to listen for themselves, which can be a harrowing experience at times. I know there’s some pretty cheesy, shallow stuff out there that passes for kids’ music that most parents would want to toss out car window after just one listening, but there’s also some great stuff out there too. One of my goals has been to write and produce music that parents will enjoy as much as their kids. I’m trying to write songs that will encourage, build up and reinforce those values and dynamics that are important to families. I’m not only one writing music with that goal in mind. There’s so much out there that parents can take advantage of when it comes to music for their kids but it requires some looking. Several artists and bands that I would recommend (both Christian and secular) Zak Morgan, Alan Root, Mary Rice Hopkins, Dan Zanes, Trout Fishing in America, Dean-O and Dynamos, Tom Chapin and Glenn Colton. You may not find our music in record stores or Christian bookstores because we are considered such a small niche but internet has made it possible for us to distribute our music all over world and that’s been very exciting for all of us. You’ll find all of these artists online. Q: I loved watching DVD and listening to CD of "Live at Lakeside" with my boys. How did this project come about? Tell us about your family concerts. A: Lakeside is “family resort” I mentioned that first invited me to play for kids during summer. That was ten years ago and I’ve played there every summer since… it’s been a great place to do what I do. The DVD was shot when I did a family concert with my band The Munks… (Chip and The Munks, get it?) Anyway… we had this concert booked and thought let’s capture it on DVD and record a “live” album as well. So did that and it really all came together so well. In addition to concert we also included some special features on DVD like a tour of Lakeside and a look at what goes on at a sound check before a concert as well as some music videos.
