ENTERTAINER IS ON A ROLL TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

Byline: Katie Cooper Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Robb Zelonky may be a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, but the gig was just too good to pass up: a concert at the White House, a chance to meet the president, and a little press coverage to boot.

Just the sort of limelight a musician craves.

So come Monday, the Santa Clarita Valley children's songwriter will be on the South Lawn, performing for the thousands of youngsters expected for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.

The event, which also features an Easter egg hunt, dates back to 1878 and former President Rutherford B. Hayes. It's a favorite of the White House press corps, whose members stop by to see famous bureaucrats reading from storybooks or standing side-by-side with a character from a children's television show.

For Zelonky, who sings about the ups-and-downs of life from a child's perspective, it will be a return engagement. He performed at the nonsectarian event in 1993 at the beginning of the Clinton administration, and thought he would take a stab with the new first family.

``When I called them up, I told them right off the bat that I was a Democrat, and they still wanted me,'' said Zelonky, who has been working with a public relations firm that is organizing the day's events. ``I guess they're trying to reach across party lines.''

Ed Cowling, director of the Washington, D.C. office of Gordon C. James Public Relations, said Zelonky's party affiliation didn't matter in the least.

``This is for the children,'' said Cowling. ``And I was just impressed with his CDs.''

Once a struggling actor, Zelonky, 37, has been performing for children across the country for eight years. He also has four self-produced recordings under his stage name, Robbo.

His favorites include ``Blanket Kid,'' in which kids are encouraged to give up their dependency on a security blanket, and ``There's a Giant in My Closet,'' about overcoming the fear of that dark space in your bedroom.

``We love Robbo, he just seems to be so in tune with kids,'' said Ericka Carr, children's librarian with the Burbank Public Library, where Zelonky performs each year for the summer reading club. ``He packs the whole room out.''

Zelonky, a father of three, said he might have a chance to meet President Bush either on a VIP tour he has been promised or if the president steps out to the lawn to see the kids scampering about on a hunt for eggs.

In the event of the latter, he hopes to coax the commander-in-chief up on stage to accompany him.

``If it's time for the 'Milk and Cookie Rap,' maybe I can get Bush to put on the giant cookie costume,'' said Zelonky.

While he may not share many of the same political views as Bush, Zelonky said he's thrilled to be going back to the White House.

``I'm a political junkie and I love Washington,'' he said. ``And I am pleased that they responded so positively to me.''

Mark Sobel, rabbi at Temple Beth Emet in Burbank where Zelonky works as a part-time cantor, said the temple's staff and congregants have been teasing Zelonky about performing for a Republican administration since he is not shy about his liberal views.

``But you know, we're all excited for him,'' said Sobel. ``It's a pretty big deal.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) Robb Zelonky, who entertains children around the country, will perform at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.

(2) Robb Zelonky works on his Elvis costume at his home. Zelonky will perform at the White House Easter Egg Roll.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer