Ryan Key

Ryan Key
Key with Yellowcard
Background information
Birth name	William Ryan Key
Born	(1979-12-17) December 17, 1979
Origin	Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Pop punk, punk rock, alternative rock, acoustic
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, vocalist
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, piano, violin
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Hopeless, Capitol, Lobster, Fueled By Ramen
Associated acts	Yellowcard, Big If, Inspection 12, Craig's Brother, Silverstein
Website	www.yellowcardrock.com
Notable instruments
Gibson Les Paul Studio Gibson SG Gibson Explorer

Ryan Key (born December 17, 1979) is an American rock musician. He is best known for being the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the American pop punk band Yellowcard, and one of the two lead singers in his side project Big If. Key is known and often praised by music critics for his honest and self-reflective lyrics, as well as being considered one of the 'best and most distinctive voices in pop-punk'.

Early life

Key was born William Ryan Key on December 17, 1979. He grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. He began to play piano at the age of 7 and guitar at 13. He attended Episcopal High School of Jacksonville before transferring to Douglas Anderson School of the Arts from which he graduated. Ryan then attended Florida State University together with fellow musician Dan McLintock from the local pop punk band Inspection 12, inviting Ryan to perform guest vocals on their 1999 album Step Into the Fire for the song "Nothing to Lose". They majored in theater for a short while before dropping out to go to Santa Cruz, California and audition together for the Tooth & Nail punk rock band Craig's Brother, which was looking for two guitarists and backup vocalists. They were successful, but after touring for a while, at one time representing the band as an acoustic duo at the Cornerstone Festival, the band's van broke down and with the tour abruptly cancelled, Ryan moved back to Jacksonville and took a shift at Chili's with bandmate and friend Sean Mackin.^[1]

Music career

Yellowcard (1997-2008, 2010-present)

After Ben Dobson left the band, Key replaced him as the band's new lead singer, who joined after being asked by guitarist Ben Harper. The band then released the Still Standing EP in early 2000. Shortly after the release of their EP Todd Clary left the band, Key then filled in as the rhythm guitarist. The band then moved to Camarillo, CA, after being signed to Lobster Records. They then begin working on their next album.

The group released their third album, One for the Kids in 2001 and followed up with The Underdog EP^[2] in 2002. After the release of The Underdog EP, Warren Cooke left the band due to personal reasons. The band later asked close friend Peter Mosely from Inspection 12, to become the band's new bass guitarist. After Yellowcard released The Underdog EP the band signed with Capitol Records, who were looking to sign pop punk bands at the time. Yellowcard then began the recording of their major-label debut album Ocean Avenue in late 2002, gaining the band major success. Mosely left during recording of the album due to personal problems. The band then asked Alex Lewis to join as the bass guitarist. Yellowcard released their album Ocean Avenue on July 22, 2003 hitting at number 23 on U.S. Billboard 200, the album was a commercial success in the United States with the hit singles Way Away, Ocean Avenue, and Only One.

In late 2004 Lewis left the band after Peter Mosely rejoined as the band's bassist. In 2005 Parsons went with the other band members to Los Angeles while Key and Mosely moved to New York City to create new material for their next album. Lead guitarist Ben Harper left the band in April after finishing guitar tracks for the album. The band then asked Ryan Mendez from the band Staring Back to become the new lead guitarist.

The album Lights and Sounds was released in January 2006, unlike their last album Ocean Avenue, Lights and Sounds broke away from the band's pop punk sound to a more alternative rock album. The album peaked at number five on the U.S. Billboard 200. The title track, "Lights and Sounds", was the first single, released a week before the album. It peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks. Lights and Sounds did well on the charts and reviews, but failed to match the 2 million sales of the band's previous album.

On October 16, 2006, the band re-entered the studio to begin pre-production on their next album. Paper Walls was released in the U.S. on July 17, 2007, the album debuted at number 13 on the U.S. Billboard 200 selling about 40,000 copies in its first week. The band spent the rest of the year promoting their new album nonstop since its release while touring with Linkin Park and Blue October. Yellowcard released their live album Live from Las Vegas at the Palms on January 22, 2008.

In April 2008 Yellowcard officially announced an "indefinite hiatus" canceling their European and acoustic tours. The band stated the reason why they went on hiatus was to focus on their personal lives for the time.

On August 1, 2010, it was confirmed that Yellowcard had ended their hiatus and was working on a new record, titled When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes to be released on Hopeless Records in early 2011. The band toured Europe March 2011 alongside All Time Low.

Other work: 2008-present

During the Yellowcard hiatus Ryan also started singing in a side project entitled "Big If" with singer Sean O'Donnell of Reeve Oliver. Big If has released several songs on their MySpace page, but have not yet released a record. They are not currently signed to a record deal. Although they have never officially announced their break-up, all members of the band are now in Yellowcard and the band's Twitter and MySpace pages have been removed.

Ryan Key recorded a song entitled "Stop Right There" with Hollywood based pop-punk band Assemble the Skyline. The track was released on January 7, 2011 with Assemble the Skyline's new EP "Right Here. Right Now".^[3] Ryan also collaborated with the Michigan pop-punk band Every Avenue. He has co-written their songs "Girl Like That" from their album Picture Perfect^[4] and "Tie Me Down" from their album Bad Habits.^[5]

He also worked with Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas, contributing vocals on his song "Gotta Get it Now".

Key also contributed guest vocals on a new Silverstein song, entitled "Stay Posi", released in early 2011.

Key and fellow Yellowcard member Ryan Mendez spent May 2012 producing and recording the new Like Torches album 'Keep Your Head High'.

Non-musical projects

In 2008, Key worked with Patrick Stump and Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy in a film called Moustachette.^[6] He has appeared as a Made coach on the MTV series MADE and featured in MTV Cribs.^[7] He also had an appearance as a party goer in the 2008 Monster film, Cloverfield and appeared in the film How to Make Love to a Woman in 2010.

Personal life

Key married Alyona Alekhina, a Russian snowboarder, on May 6, 2013.

Discography

• Still Standing (2000)
• One for the Kids (2001)
• The Underdog EP (2002)
• Ocean Avenue (2003)
• Lights and Sounds (2006)
• Paper Walls (2007)
• Live from Las Vegas at the Palms (2008)
• When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes (2011)
• Southern Air (2012)
• Ocean Avenue Acoustic (2013)

References