About Mr. Richard

Richard Peeples plays over 300 shows a year for children and their families. Richard was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and moved to Corinth, a small town in Mississippi, in sixth grade. He played in rock bands for many years, through high school and past college.

Richard worked at Walt Disney World in Orlando, and also spent two summers as a ranger for the National Park Service in Colorado. For five years, Richard was a storyteller for the Orange County Florida Library.

Richard now appears regularly with The Pound Hounds (Rachel Webb on bass/vocals and Harley Smith on drums) for full-on rocking for the kids.

Check out the Calendar or Facebook for upcoming shows!

“At age fourteen I wanted to learn the drums, but my mom said, 'Not in my house,' so she got me a guitar instead.”

Might As Well Sing

With the help of Jimbo Mathus of Squirrel Nut Zippers/Buddy Guy fame, Mr. Richard recorded his first children's album, "Might As Well Sing."

  • Chosen by the New York Post as one of six new kids' "Platters That Matter"
  • Parenting magazine chose the album as the "Parenting Pick" for 5-8 year-olds in the May 2005 issue
  • In October 2005, "Might As Well Sing" won the Children's Music Web Awards: Best Recording for Children Ages 5-8
  • The album also won the Children's Music Web Award for Best Song ("Underwear") for the same age group.
Buy

Tummy Talk

Richard was also featured in the Kid's Tent at the 36th annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in April 2005, and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston in 2008.

His second kids' album, "Tummy Talk", was released in September 2006 by 219 Records and was featured in "Cookie" magazine. It yielded the infectious "Bobo Baby Jay", "Cry Baby" and the dance-along favorite, "Loopy Doop".

Buy

Polka Dot Puzzle

"Polka Dot Puzzle" appeared in December 2007 and was reviewed (favorably, of course!) in Chattanooga Parent, Zooglobble, Cool Tunes For Kids and School Library Journal. The video clip for "Cheese" won Zooglobble's 2008 Kid Vid Tournament over such worthy artists as They Might Be Giants, The Jimmies, and Gustafer Yellowgold.

Buy

Backyard Astronauts

"Backyard Astronauts" is Richard’s fourth album of wacky tunes (and first with the Pound Hounds), and “Garbage Man” and “The 5-Second Rule” are crowd favorites. Zooglobble.com, the place for all things kiddie rock, says “…musical earworm(s)…it’s his best album yet,” and Out With The Kids.com says Backyard Astronauts is “full of witty childhood observation…fun stuff."

Buy

Merry Christmas!

The Pound Hounds also released an EP of Christmas tunes in 2012 called simply "Merry Christmas!", with favorites like "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Jingle Bells" along with four new Yuletide originals.

Buy

Feather, Bone and Stone

The Pound Hounds' latest album! Songs about stinkbugs, feral chihuahua gangs, boring adult conversations, and a flagpole-sitter are some of the subjects of these rocking new tunes. Give 'em a listen on the "Music" page!

Buy