Personalized Pet Songs
On October 16, 2003 (no, not quite as fateful or momentous a date as July 20, 1969), the creation of the world’s first “Personalized Pet Songs” was reported in the Los Angeles Daily News. The New York Times Wire Service immediately picked up this earthshaking story [humor is mine], and within weeks this news was reported in no less than one hundred American newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Portland Oregonian, Washington Post, Boston Globe, and Oklahoma City Business Journal. How do I know this? Because according to all the published articles, a certain “Benjamin Rzepka created this unique music CD for pets and their owners.” That happens to be MY name. Yes, Wilbur and Orville Wright flew the first plane. Henry Ford set up the the first automobile assembly line. Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon. And (drum roll, please) I wrote, sang, and recorded the world’s first personalized songs for cats and dogs! I guess that makes me some sort of “pioneer”–step aside, Misters Lewis and Clark. All of these famous people’s exploits could not match the “buzz” generated by Personalized Pet Songs!
The headlines shocked the world: New York Times–”Yes, he is singing to YOUR pet”; Oklahoma Journal–”Minstrel to your pooch”; Cleveland Plain Dealer–”Something to howl about…a pet serenade”; St. Louis Dispatch–”CDs pay tribute to dogs”; Seattle Times–”Man composes personal odes to animals; Chicago Tribune (which ran the story TWICE)–”Songs put a howl in your heart”; Dallas Morning News–”Music for pets to purr and bark along with”; and Tampa Tribune–”A song for your best friend.” All of a sudden, “Man walks on the moon” seemed uneventful in comparison!
What was the selllbinding text in all of these explosive articles? Can you handle it? “Whether the name is Buddy or Ginger, Puddles or Binx, songwriter and music producer Benjamin Rzepka of Cleveland, Ohio has a melody just for your pet. Rzepka created “Personalized Pet Songs,” a unique musical album for animals and their owners featuring six personalized pet tunes.
He includes your pet’s name throughout the verses of very catchy melodies. The songs range from classical and soft pop to country and children’s songs. The title of the CD depends on the name of whatever animal it is being made for, whether you have a canine companion, feline friend, a bird in the hand, or a bunny in the bush. He also sings and performs the elaborate music on each CD.
‘It’s so far out and cute and different,’ said Billie Rich, a cat owner from Rzepka’s home state of Ohio. ‘It’s a marvelous idea, and I think he is on to something big. To love your pets and have personalized songs about them, what could be better?’ ” –Jaime Spangrude, Los Angeles Daily News / New York Time News Service (October 16, 2003)
Virtually overnight, I became the Mick Jagger of the animal kingdom. Almost everywhere I go, people come up to me and ask me if I’m HIM? This is NO JOKE ! Since I’m an honest guy, I politely reply, “No, I’m NOT the real Mick Jagger, but your dog can’t tell the difference. To your dog, I’m as good as a rock star.” For more information, contact Mick, I mean Ben Rzepka at ben.rze@gmail.com