Mike Ryan with Haley Cole

Mike Ryan

Mike Ryan is a singer/songwriter with a knack for pairing lyrics with music that breathe life into a song. Though Mike would tell you “I’ve still got some road to travel as a writer,” many will argue he’s already established himself when it comes to penning clever new tunes.  Smooth and soulful, he has uncommon vocal ability. With the upcoming release of his sophomore album, Bad Reputation, Ryan proves his ability to craft a good lyric in addition to breathing life into a song in a way that no other voice can.

Surrounded by the musically inclined from a young age, Mike’s never been a stranger to notes or rhythm. Early on, Mike was greatly influenced by his grandfather Paul, who directed the Texas National Guard Band for over 20 years. “Gramps was the first person to teach me about the relationship between love and music,” says Mike. “He was very passionate about making music, as well as teaching it, and that passion was infectious.” Additionally, two of Mike’s uncles are currently band directors and Mike’s Father, Ted also has a passion for music and the performing arts. “I have great memories of my dad performing in plays and musicals as I was growing up,” Mike recalls, “and he still plays bass with his blue grass band every time he gets the chance.” Mike honed his own talent early as a member of his middle school and high school choirs.

The talent Mike has been blessed with as singer/songwriter has certainly not been ignored. After releasing his first full length album in the Fall of 2012, Night Comes Falling, Mike grabbed the attention of Sea Gayle Music, one of the top independent publishing companies in country music, out of Nashville, Tennessee. Mike strengthened his team again with APA Talent of Nashville coming on board to oversee tour booking in January of 2014.

Since May of 2013, Mike frequently travels to Nashville for writing sessions. Mike’s second full length album, Bad Reputation, showcases ten new songs, all written or co-written by him. The songwriting and vocal talent that so many have come to recognize shine brilliantly with this new project. The single, “Dancing All Around It,” grabs you with the first line and keeps you hooked as the story unfolds. “Easy,” reminds you of the smooth classic country hits of the 80’s, and “Wasting No More Whiskey” is an artfully written country composition. “I had some trouble narrowing it down to just 10 songs out of all the new ones we had written, but that’s a nice problem to have,” says Mike. “It’s a great feeling when you have more good songs than space on an album.”

The past success of The First One and Night Comes Falling coupled with his current momentum as an artist has developed high-anticipation for this new album. With his first 4 radio singles from the previous albums all landing in the top 25, Mike has high expectations for Bad Reputation.

Mike Ryan’s Website 

Haley Cole

The truly transcendent figures in American Music all share a common instrument, and a great number of them have had that instrument shaped and consecrated in the most venerated wellspring in all of song. That instrument, that source, is the human voice lifted in praise in the gospel tradition. No other musical tool has the capacity to bring every nuance of human experience and emotion to bear on the ribbon of sound as does the voice. Down thru time it’s been the foundation of all music, and it’s how Haley Cole will build a kingdom in your heart.

And with wisdom and humility far outweighing her years Haley realizes that her voice is a divine gift, that it has a purpose and a promise to fulfill and fortunately for us she has decided to let it shine. With the same glowing intensity found in her singing she softly but insistently pounded the top of a picnic table outside Gruene Hall on an autumn afternoon and said “I was given a voice, I was given this voice, and I have to sing… I know deep down that is the reason for my being, to try to relate to people in song. It’s what I’ve been called to do and I’m not going to deny it.”

Moments later the conviction, passion, and honesty in that voice thoroughly captivated the typically polite yet casually passive weekend tourist crowd of Gruene Hall. Each of her songs were received with the kind of rapturous applause that even celebrated headliners of that hallowed dancehall can find a bit challenging to summon. But Haley’s gentle command of that space subtly reveals a history of channeling the secret forces that lay hidden within music.

Her magnetism on stage and her ability to hold an audience spellbound is the natural harvest of years spent singing spirituals with her family at church gatherings and small revivals surrounding her tiny hometown of Birch Creek, Texas. There she witnessed the magic that moves in music and felt its healing power for the first time.

Haley Cole’s Website