Ryan Sheeler
Ryan is a musician, composer, and singer-songwriter based in Central Iowa. Born and raised in Ames, Ryan starting playing classical guitar at age 9. Soon after hearing Chuck Berry, The Ventures, Eric Clapton and Van Halen, he was hooked. :) From a very young age, Ryan showed an interest in writing. In his youth he heard songs by Dan Fogelberg, The Beatles, and Billy Joel, and soon tried some songwriting of his own. In college he performed with Flying Taxi, while studying musical composition, classical guitar, and tuba. He also studied theory/composition, conducting, musicology, low brass, and saxophone at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa.
After many of years of playing bands and other groups, Ryan decided to strike on his own as a solo artist in 2006. In that short time he has released 4 solo albums, Prayers and Promises (2006), Letters From North of Town (2008), Light In The Rain (2009) and Polk County Line (2011). With a soulful blend of country, rock, pop, blues R&B, and Gospel/CCM styles, Ryan's music defies easy categorization. But he has begun to make his mark as solo artist on the Central Iowa scene. In late 2009, he was a guest on the weekly "Scented Vinyl" show at Mars Cafe in Des Moines. In January 2010 he was the featured local artist on Capital 106.3FM's "Capital Backyard" show.
Through it all, Ryan remains a committed Christian, fully aware of his own need for the Grace that Jesus offers freely. Ryan's songs are stories about real life events, his relationships with God and the people God puts in his path.
Musical influences:
Songwriters: Dan Fogelberg, Billy Joel, Don Henley, Richard Marx, Jimmy Webb, The Beatles, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Springsteen, Steven Curtis Chapman, Bill and Gloria Gaither, Bob Carlisle, Matthew Ward, David Phelps, Greg Ferguson, Rory Noland, Scott Dyer
Guitarists: Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eddie Van Halen, Chuck Berry, The Ventures, Eddie Chochran, BB King, Albert King, Albert Collins, T-Bone Walker, Jonny Lang, Gary Moore, Albert Collins, George Benson, Chet Atkins, Brent Mason, Glen Campbell, Roy Clark
Singers: Don Henley, Dan Fogelberg, Steve Perry, Vince Gill, George Benson, David Ruffin, Dennis Edwards, Mel Carter, Bob Carlisle, Michael Sweet, Matthew Ward, Michael English, Guy Penrod, David Phelps, Greg Ferguson, Mark Schultz
Composers/Others: Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Chopin, Wagner, Schoenberg, Rimsky-Korsakov, Sousa