Melodic, smart, easy-to-learn songs for children ages newborn through elementary school; a good match with the artist's lilting soprano voice. Great for ELL/ESL, the lyrics evoke strong visual imagery. Soothing for both napping babies and frazzled parents

Funny how something that is done on a lark can grow and take on new meaning and purpose. In

Melodic, smart, easy-to-learn songs for children ages newborn through elementary school; a good match with the artist's lilting soprano voice. Great for ELL/ESL, the lyrics evoke strong visual imagery. Soothing for both napping babies and frazzled parents

Funny how something that is done on a lark can grow and take on new meaning and purpose. In 1998, I was challenged to write songs to accompany an ESL program for children in Brazil. "Colors" was the first song completed. I sang it for the 4-6 year-olds at the day care where I worked, and they quickly embraced the song and its activities. By summer's end I had seven songs ready, a studio located, but no further commitment from the ESL program.

January 1999 arrived. At a goal-setting seminar, friends encouraged me to record a children's album anyway - an idea I had been mulling over already. The next week several co-workers independently suggested the same project. In three weeks I had six more songs for the album. With not much more than a dream in my pocket, a half-written goal, and $500 in savings I began to record. Obstacles inevitably arose: a case of laryngitis, scheduling difficulties, allergies, lack of funds, and discouragement; but the songs, singers, and musicians endured and here is the fruit of our labors.

Circle Round Me is dedicated to my son, Michael Dene, resident of heaven. It begins to fulfill my life mission: to discover, create, and reflect true beauty in the world, in others and in myself. Parents, teachers, and children of ALL ages, may you be encircled with Love and beauty as you listen to and sing these songs.

Rhonda "Rhonni Nightingale" Pletcher Songbird Cottage, December 2017

Note: Circle Round Me was originally released on cassette tape. This new release is set for the first day of spring 2018. My two-year-old niece, Adeline, insists on it being her naptime background music. When her caregiver tried to substitute a different album, Addy cried out, "No! Rhonni! Rhonni!" May your response be the same : ) .

Rhonni's songs are original musical theater with some pop and folk; if you like Andrew Lloyd Webber, you'll like Rhonni.

This is not your teenager's music! If you're looking for shallow love songs and lyrics without substance, you won't like Rhonni's music. If you want hard-driving drumbeats and repetitious guitar licks - you won't find them here.

Rhonni's songs are original musical theater with some pop and folk; if you like Andrew Lloyd Webber, you'll like Rhonni.

This is not your teenager's music! If you're looking for shallow love songs and lyrics without substance, you won't like Rhonni's music. If you want hard-driving drumbeats and repetitious guitar licks - you won't find them here. If you want music that is overproduced with layers and layers of orchestration - nope, this isn't it.

BUT...you will like Rhonni's music if (1) you still love the oldies from the 50s, 60s and 70s, (2) you're into musical theater and especially love Andrew Lloyd Webber's compositions, and (3) you think multi-tasking is overrated!

Rhonni began writing songs at age 36 and now, several years later, she has a style that is crafted and refined, with mature lyrics, beautiful melodies and harmonies. The orchestrations of Once Upon a Crime are simple: keyboard, piano, flute and now and then some strings, oboe, organ with a few special effects to enhance the mood and the lyrics. You will love the personification she uses in "Gift of Sorrow" and the metaphor of the "Tin Man". "Another Ordinary Day" was written in commemoration of the bombing in Oklahoma City of the Murrah Building, but anyone who has been faced with loss will relate. Although most of "What's Wrong With Me" was taken directly from her own divorce experience, she wrote it tongue-in-cheek.

Nicknamed after the rare nightingale that sings through the night, Rhonni Nightingale lives to bring hope, beauty and music into the dark places of life.

Lyrics excerpt from "Tin Man"

Don't want my heart to be broken, Don't want to topple and fall, Damaging words that are spoken, None of them touch me at all.

I've gotta be a tin man Always protecting myself. I've gotta be a metal me, I don't know anything else.