Ralph's World, the creation of indie rocker and songwriter Ralph Covert, now takes its rightful place in the Disney universe with "Welcome To Ralph's World," a two-disc CD/DVD set that contains fourteen classics and one brand-new song, plus six music videos that are currently being shown on "Playhouse Disney." Covert is taking his Ralph's World four-man rock 'n' roll band on a House Of Blues tour. With the help of Kellogg's® Rice Krispies®, he's bringing kindie rock to venues previously reserved for adults.

The leader of Chicago's top local pop-rockers of the last decade, The Bad Examples, takes the same high energy and super-melodic approach to children's music – basically only the lyrics are changed for the ears of the innocent. His McCartneyesque style (both musically and his sense of charm) has won him hundreds of thousands of three-feet-and-under fans and their parents. The critical acclaim is universal from The New York Times to NPR to Parents magazine naming his debut DVD as Video of the Year. His last all-new studio album (his sixth), now on Disney Sound, was nominated for a Grammy as Best Musical Album For Children.

As Ralph wrote in his most recent Bad Examples album, "the transition from The Bad Examples to Ralph's World would not have been a big leap of the imagination… it took a series of happy accidents to get things started in that direction… " Having toured internationally behind a half-dozen or so records since 1991 released (on his own Waterdog Records) and scoring a few radio hits here and abroad (most notably "Not Dead Yet"), it was birth of his daughter Fiona that changed the course he was on.

Having already been teaching a songwriting seminar at the venerable but perhaps now misnamed Old Town School of Folk Music, he was asked if he'd be willing to try running one of their toddler classes, Wiggleworms. He agreed, but only if it was done his way: playing his own work and music he loved such as The Who. "That was a perfect situation for me as performer and writer – in seconds you'd know if your audience loved the song."

When it was time to start the Ralph's World series of albums, the concept was and is making great records, period. He used members of The Bad Examples, plus fellow Chicago musicians such as drummer Matt Walker (Smashing Pumpkins, Filter), harmonica ace Corky Siegel, multiple-Grammy nominee and polka king Eddie Blazonczyk Jr., legendary bluesman Sam Lay, jazz vocalist Kurt Elling, banjo master Michael Miles, saxman Mars Williams (Psychedelic Furs, Liquid Soul), and Deb Lader of Sons Of The Never Wrong. The regular live Ralph's World band is anchored by Ralph's longtime lead guitarist Tom O'Brien and bassist Brian Sheridan of Middle 8. The touring band's infectious camaraderie adds to the revival atmosphere where thousands of young voices shout along and dance with near-reckless abandon.

Besides ruling Ralph's World and trying to be the best Bad Example he can be, Ralph Covert has also won trophies as a playwright for his first two produced dramas (along with G. Riley Mills): "Sawdust And Spangles" and "Streeterville" (both earning Joseph Jefferson Awards as "Best New Work"). The pair's subsequent collaborations include "The Flower Thieves" and perennially produced children's musical "A Nutcracker Christmas," the classic E.T.A. Hoffman tale updated to the Wii age. The first of several books will be coming out this autumn. He's also composed specifically for dance and was commissioned to provide the soundtrack for an exhibit at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. His vocals and songwriting have been heard in a number of television shows (including "Six Feet Under") and independent films. His new ode to Winnie The Pooh ("With A Friend") has been heard everywhere in this 80th anniversary year of A.A. Milne's beloved bear. While it has been a while since he's trod the boards or been captured on film as a dramatic actor, his Ralph's World seems big enough to include all the colors of his many talents.

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