Warren Ryd Keyboards Nickname: Grizzly Children: Emma (10) and Chandler (8) Date of Birth: July 16, 1963 Height: 6' 3" Hair: Yup. Very. Current Residence: Out of town, CO Hometown: West Bend, WI Instruments played: Piano & keyboards, cornet, tuba. First Music Experience: I can remember sitting at the piano when I was maybe 3 or 4 years old. My feet couldn't reach the pedals, but I wanted so badly just to play like my older sisters did... First Instrument: Piano, age 5. Favorite Movie: Star Wars Favorite place to go: Mountains... (why else would I live in Colorado?) Favorite Quote: Life is like a piano - what you get out of it depends on how you play it. (I play loud!) Favorite meal: T-Bone steak, mashed potatoes, corn. Hobbies: Music, sports, music, hiking, music... Past Bands: Freedom, Silver Streak, The Stand, John Dough (He kneads you...) Musical Influences: Chuck Girard, Billy Joel, Geof Barkley, Steve Winwood, Phil Madeira, David Bryan, Elton John, Yanni. Memorable Music Experiences: After school, when no one was around, I would sneak into my older sister's room and borrow her sheet music for "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and other songs. Formal Music Training: Piano lessons from age 5 thru 12, and periodically in college. Cornet lessons and band in middle school. Tuba in high school and college band. Degree: B.S. in Computer Science. (I am such a geek...) Favorite Links: The center of the known universe... The best cheese you can find (say Hi to Tony for me). And check out my own page too. Background: My life as a musician began with piano lessons from age 5 to age 12. Everyone in my family had to take them, and no, we didn't always enjoy it. I did develop an appreciation for classical music, but I often grew restless with Beethoven and Brahms, so I tended to create my own renditions, such as "Sonata in Bb Blues". I can still hear my piano teacher saying "Warren, you're playing notes that aren't on the page!" As a teenager, I played for my church's youth choir, and by the end of high school I was delving into rock 'n roll bands. Since then, most of my adult life has been spent in some form of amplified music, from blues to rock, praise music to Run With It...