When Rob Smith was a teenager playing guitar, writing and singing gospel songs around Botetourt County, he had no idea that one day he'd be performing educational lyrics while entertaining families.

But that's what Smith and other members of the former Leon Milmore band from Richmond have done with the "Silly Bus" project that includes a CD and video.

The Silly Bus creators are trying to prepare elementary school students for the state's Standards of Learning exams by introducing them to English, math and science through the beats of rock, rap and the blues.

They're hoping their music will entertain not only the children but also their parents, said Smith, a James River High School graduate.

The Silly Bus project represents the artistic versatility of each of its six creators who stopped performing as a rock 'n' roll band to launch the project.

Their music interests run the gamut; their career choices vary from lawyer to financial analyst to graphic artist to accountant.

Just more than a year ago, Smith, 32, and his band mates -- John Hennerberger, Sam Bennett, John Black, Lee Brooks and Justin Laughter -- were performing before college audiences along the Eastern shore. They also had produced a few CDs, and their music had been used as film score.

But after a discussion about children and learning, the members, most of them in their 30s, decided they needed to do something beneficial and entertaining, Smith said.

Because the band members have seven young children among them -- Smith is a bachelor -- they decided to work on a musical project for children, Smith said.

"We thought it would be cool to record songs that they could learn from while listening to music their parents could also enjoy," said Smith, who wrote and sings three of the songs for Silly Bus.

Silly Bus characters and songs are being introduced at PTA meetings, educational workshops and school activities throughout the state, Smith said.

The characters -- Chloe, Nicholas, Lincoln, Sol and Benjamin -- learn from songs with titles such as "The Blues," "Earth and Sun," "Alphabet Eyes" and "It's All Just Numbers."

The CD has received raves from the 200 educators, children, parents and pediatricians who were initially asked to give feedback, Hennerberger said. The highest accolades, he said, have come from adults who listened continuously to the CD on long-distance trips with their children.

Hennerberger said 85 percent to 90 percent of the feedback has been positive, much better that the 50 percent to 60 percent he had expected.

"We are definitely excited... we are working on something interactive for young kids," said Smith, who has written gospel music, majored in jazz at Virginia Commonwealth University and played in rock bands and the U.S. Marine Corps Band.

He also teaches private bass and guitar lessons, and directs music and plays in an Irish band at the Ireland attraction at Busch Gardens.

"Rob is a driving force," in the Silly Bus project, Hennerberger said. "He's one of the most prolific songwriters and [bass and guitar] players I know."

Smith "can hear a song and pick out the tune" and has a rare ability "to play by ear and music and be a great singer," Hennerberger said.

And, Hennerberger said, Smith is modest about his musical abilities and doesn't have "lead-singer syndrome."

Smith admits to being versatile, but claims he sings only "when I have to."

The Silly Bus project, he added "is my choice and something I enjoy doing" even though he and other creators often worked as many as 12 hours a day to launch it.

For more information, e-mail rob@robsmithmusic.com or go to www.sillybus.net.