Tory Christensen learned to love guitar as a boy while listening to his dad play cowboy songs.
Now the Richland man uses the instrument to write tunes of his own -- gentle melodies with a subtle country lilt that remind kids to say please and thank you, believe in themselves and have a little fun.
"You've gotta wiggle like a fish, slither like a snake, turn yourself around, do what it takes," Christensen sings on the title track of his new children's' album, Wiggle Like a Fish.
During the day, Christensen, 36, works as a counselor at Hanford High School in Richland. He sees his music as a tool to encourage and empower kids.
The whole family is in on the act. Christensen's wife, Wendy, doubles as his publicist, and their three children -- Kade, 11, Kaleb, 9, and Lauren, 5 -- travel to shows and often appear on stage.
Christensen's dad, Chris Christensen, a retired engineer from Richland, dons a green, red and yellow fish costume created by Wendy's mom, Jill Lichfield.
He has the stage name Wiggles the Fish.
"I dance around, clown around. (Tory) talks to me and I answer him in sign language. I never talk. I just try to respond in a way the audience will be able to interpret," Chris Christensen said, laughing.
The family has talked about cutting arm holes in the Wiggles costume so Chris can play the mandolin as Tory sings and strums the guitar.
That hasn't happened yet, although Chris is teaching Kaleb to play the instrument. The little boy said he wants to be able to perform with his father someday.
Inspiring kids to dream and do the right thing is the whole point of the act, Christensen said. Each of the 11 songs on Wiggle Like a Fish has a positive message.
"It's time to help your sister, it's time to help your brother, all you need is to want to, and love for one another," goes the bouncy song Feel Good Stew.
On Please and Thank You, Christensen sings, "If you want something you ask please, if you get it the answer is thank you, if you hurt someone you say you're sorry, seems like good advice to me."
Lauren's voice can be heard at the end of the whimsical tune Playing Pretend, and that one's her favorite, the 5-year-old said. Kane and Kaleb like the track The Monster Under My Bed -- which talks about asking for help -- because of the cool sound effects, they said.
Christensen has developed school curriculum to go with each song. He's been invited to put on a workshop for teachers in Utah this summer.
There's also talk of creating a children's book to go along with each tune.
"I'm a big believer in dreams. Tory and I both. If it's inside you, a dream, you've got to try. So here we are," Wendy Christensen said.
Her husband nodded. "It's really amazing how much you can do once you (try) something," he said.
Wiggle Like a Fish is available at Aunt Franny's Toys and Hastings Books Music & Video, both in Richland, and at www.wigglelikeafish.com.
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