DANVILLE — When Thaddeus Holmes was growing up in Covington, Ind., being a rock singer and song writer was only a dream.

He attended Indiana University where his major was philosophy. He also holds a black belt in martial arts.

But today he is a well-known singer for kids where he and his 7-foot dinosaur friend encourage kids to read more. He has been doing this for eight or nine years.

Holmes, known as Thaddeus Rex, will be featured at “Ronald and a Rock Star,” a luncheon for kids on Nov. 15 at the Festival of Trees at the David S. Palmer Arena.

Ronald and a Rock Star will combine fun and food from McDonald’s with a rock concert just for kids to inspire them “to read like a rock star and roar like a dinosaur.”

Every child will receive a McDonald’s Happy Meal toy, and each family will receive a Thaddeus Rex CD.

With a black belt, Thaddeus thought he could do anything.

“It physically pushed me to start writing,” he said in a telephone interview from Chicago where he is based.

“I’ve always been an avid reader with a passion for writing but lacked focus,” he said. “Martial arts provided that focus. Books provided the inspiration, and I learned to channel my passion into a career.”

While at IU, Thaddeus had the opportunity to create, write and star in a regular segment for the Emmy Award winning PBS Kids show “The Friday Zone.”

In fall 2003, he left PBS to write, record and perform full-time. It was at a Borders book store in Las Vegas where he was performing that his career took off.

“A teacher came up to me and asked me to consider promoting reading,” he said. “I loved the idea. Reading is a passion.”

He started marketing the concept, but doesn’t do only schools.

“I share reading in song,” he said. He and Rock the dinosaur present a message aimed at reading as they share singing. He travels all over the country and makes more than 220 performances a year.

“I spend more than 100 nights a year in motels,” he said.

He attended Covington High School, where he played trombone in the marching, symphonic and jazz band.

“I played a little piano,” he said.

Thaddeus remembers a little boy with his grandmother coming up to him in Indianapolis when he was setting up for a show at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

“He said he had something to tell me,” Thaddeus said. “’I saw your show two months ago at the mall,’ he said. ‘Now I have read five books.’”

Thaddeus sponsors a poem contest for K-6 students every year, and he takes the winning entry and develops it into a song.

“I am very excited about coming home,” Thaddeus said. “My wife and kids are coming, too.”

His parents are Richard and Sue Holmes of Covington.

Deanna Witzel, owner of the five McDonald’s in Vermilion County, said the restaurants are happy to sponsor the children’s event.

“We went and saw one of his shows,” she said. “We saw how talented he was.”

Witzel said McDonald’s always sponsors the children’s event at the Festival of Trees.

“He has a great message about reading.”

FESTIVAL EVENT

McDonald’s will sponsor Ronald and A Rock Star at the Festival of Trees on Nov. 15 at the David S. Palmer Arena.

Cost is $12. Tickets must be bought in advance at the arena box office, online at http://www.palmerarena.com or by phone at (877) 77-CLICK.

Seating starts at 11:45 a.m.

Visit http://www.thaddeusrex.com/festival-of-trees to download free music from Thaddeus Rex.