No shushing, Lincoln Public Library a rocking place on Thursday morning [July 20, 2015]  LINCOLN - The theme of the Lincoln Public Library Summer Reading Program is “Read to the Rhythm.” What could be more appropriate for the program's entertainment than a musician? Rick Rayburn traveled from his home in Edwardsville to Lincoln to present his fast paced and very funny program on Thursday morning featuring his singing and guitar picking. He had just returned to Illinois from Kansas after performing at a library. He covers an eight state area giving his approximately eighty concerts a year at libraries and schools.

The Lincoln Public Library is located at 725 Pekin St., with adult nonfiction and reference materials in the historic Carnegie Building. The Annex directly behind houses adult fiction and the Youth Services Department. All library events are free and open to the public. Online, visit www.lincolnpubliclibrary.org. Hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Phone [phone] for adult services and 217-732-5732 for youth services.

While this is Rayburn’s first performance at the Lincoln Public Library, he is no stranger to Lincoln. “I performed at the Logan County Fair with my rock band back in the 70’s,” he said. Rick began his musical career while still a teenager, even being featured on KMOX in St. Louis. His repertoire includes blues, rock and roll, country and bluegrass. He began to specialize in children’s shows in 2002 with the release of his first CD for kids. “Ninety percent of my children’s music is my own creation,” he said.

Rayburn explained to his attentive audience that rhythm is defined in the dictionary as a steady or constant sound. He had the young readers listen as thunder and rain rolled across Lincoln during his performance saying that nature had its very own rhythms. It is not just found in music. “Rhythm is everywhere,” he said. He encouraged his young audience to use the library resources to find out more about music and rhythm.

Rayburn had his audience on their feet during his concert, responding to his challenge for them to sing as fast as he could during one segment. The library was the scene of the marching band that he formed with young volunteers playing buckets for drums, and plastic horns. The march took in the entire library as they weaved in and out of the stacks. He did four versions of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” in different rhythms to explain how a change in rhythm could change the meaning of the same song. He even presented his song “Are We There Yet?” Many parents in the audience could be seen shaking their heads as if to say, “Oh yeah, been there, experienced that.”

Rick Rayburn had the entire audience, kids and their parents moving to the music. His talent and diverse repertoire inspired appreciation in blues, rock, marching, and symphony rhythms.

The Lincoln Public Library Summer Reading Program will present one more Thursday morning concert next week. Contact Youth Librarian Melissa Oxborrow for details at 217-732-5732.

[Curt Fox]