Chip & the Munks seek local recognition

By John Benson

The Columbiana resident makes his Main Street Theater debut Saturday.

COLUMBIANA — A star across the country, a stranger in his homeland is where Chip Richter, a Columbiana resident and Warren native, finds himself these days.

The singer-songwriter, who has created his own children’s musical universe with his act Chip and the Munks, makes his Main Street Theater debut Saturday.

While he plays more than 150 national dates a year, including a summertime residency at Lakeside along Lake Erie, Richter remains somewhat unknown, or at least unheralded, in Northeast Ohio.

“I think it’s like that old saying, a prophet has no honor in his hometown,” Richter said. “If you travel far away, all of a sudden you’re a pro but if you’re a local guy then you’re just a local guy. It’s kind of a weird thing. It’s funny, I have a lot of people who many times will say, ‘We’re looking for something for kids, I couldn’t find anything and then we found you.’”

What those people have found is an engaging family style artist that blends equal parts Mister Rogers with Mr. Lennon and Mr. McCartney. However, change is in the air for Chip and the Munks. On the act’s recent album “Chip’s, Bits and Pieces,” which includes a cover of Paul McCartney’s “Put it There” that was produced by Youngstown’s finest — Phil Keaggy. Richter for the first time eschewed recording any Christian-themed tunes.

“The reason was I was playing more of those mainstream venues like schools and libraries and festivals, and I needed a product I could put out in those places,” Richter said. “All of my CDs had songs that could play anywhere but there were always two or three songs that are obviously Christian, so they’re in the mix. I just couldn’t put it out on a [merchandise] table in a public library or in a public school because I didn’t feel it was responsible to do it that way.”

Stylistically speaking, Richter said think James Taylor and you’re getting to the heart of his folk sound, which is positive, up-tempo material that takes on a bluesy feel when performed with the band. When Richter is prompted to cite a similar artist to his career, the list isn’t too long.

“It would probably be like Raffi, who was doing it a long time ago, but we’re much cooler than Raffi in a sense that’s not just a preschool thing,” Richter said. “Also I think Tom Chapin, Harry Chapin’s brother, is someone who is doing it in a similar way. He’s kind of playing both to kids and also pulling grownups into it to. He’s pretty focused in the folk world more than mine is, but it’s comparable.”

He added, “My show is for people who are just looking for a really fun evening to do with their kids. It’s live music, which I think is pretty special. I know grown-ups appreciate it, but I think kids need to have an opportunity to experience live music. So this is something that their kids will love and they’ll like, too. And I think we can deliver that.”