Michael Ryan
Literary Arts: Author/Writer, Playwright, Poet; Multi-Disciplinary: Performer and Writer; Performing Arts: Actor, Composer, Director, Musician, Storyteller, Vocalist/Singer; Teaching Artist/Instructor
I am an independent singer-songwriter, bandleader, and recording artist from my beloved city of San Antonio. I received a B.A. in Sociology from U.T.S.A and did all my graduate studies at Ram's Tacoland. I was one of the principle songwriters and front man for the eclectic, experimental roots-based band Coyote Dreams. We were recipients of numerous S.A. Current Music Awards for my songwriting, as well as band and album of the year in the late 90's. I've composed music and performed in numerous plays at the Guadalupe Theatre the Instituto de Mexico de San Antonio as well as for independent movies. My latest project Los San Patricios, is a Celtic, Mexican, and South Texas concatenation with a historical and cultural connection to the land and people that is rebellious by nature.
I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas but traveled frequently throughout the country due tomy father being in the Air Force. I grew up in a musical household, my mother always played thepiano and my older brother had a vast record collection. I listened to blues, rock, jazz, classicalmusic, gospel, country and Irish ballads. When I was in fourth grade, my friends and I wouldborrow makeup and pretend we were in the rock band KISS. I started teaching myself guitar atage 13 when my stepfather left us and his cheap guitar behind. It was a right-handed guitar but Irestrung it to fit my left-handed ways. In the 7th grade I started playing in garage bands with mymates from Kitty Hawk Jr. High. By age 16, we had our first professional gig under the nameNewspeak. We were hired to open for a break-dance fashion show that same year at the MajesticTheatre. While on stage waiting for the curtain to rise, the show was cancelled. I continued mymusic education at UTSA where I was introduced to social justice causes through AmnestyInternational and graduated with a degree in Sociology. I’ve always felt a strong connection to theland in South Texas and Louisiana. Because of this I became very fond of both Native Americanand Mexican cultures and would go on long trips whenever I could to travel throughout Mexicoand Europe and live with locals whenever possible. In 1995 I formed the band Coyote Dreams.We won an impressive four San Antonio Current Music Awards - Best Band and Album for Vuela,Best Alternative Band, and I won Best Songwriter. We toured France that summer and performedat the Fête de la Musique in Paris. In 1999, I headed out to San Francisco to pursue the travelingtroubadour life out of my old Volkswagen van, but was coaxed into an administrative job offer inLos Angeles working in the music industry for SESAC. I went from living out of my van toattending the 2001 Grammy Award ceremony in a stretch limousine. After a truly exciting year, Ifound myself disillusioned with the plastic personas of L.A. and broken hearted from the tragedyof September 11th terrorist attacks. I decided to return to my beloved South Texas. I soon wasrestless again and spent my summers working in upstate New York to reconnect with my Fatherand to work stage production for large outdoor summer music festivals. I moved to a devastatedNew Orleans following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina and played regular gigs at Irish pubsand did extra work for the HBO series Treme and was a cardholder in the IATSE 36 StagehandUnion. I helped friends rebuild their houses and watched an amazing city come back to life.Following the unexpected passing of my Father, I made the decision to return back home to SanAntonio to take care of my biggest fan…my mom. With a fire in my belly and songs in my head -and the help of dear friends at both Blue Cat Studio and Spanish Dagger Studio, I recorded andreleased my first complete solo album in 2013. The Fury was co-produced by myself andfour-time Grammy award winner Joe Trevino, owner of the legendary Blue Cat Music Studio.Many of my original compositions were accompanied with the multi-Grammy Award winningsongwriters, Augie Meyers (Texas Tornadoes), Al Gomez (The West Side Horns, Sir DouglasQuintet). In 2017, I became a guitar instructor to south side teens for the after school musicprogram at the IDEA School - which provides free musical lessons to Junior High and HighSchool students from underprivileged communities. I was chosen as a finalist for last year's AFaward and my project was picked for the commencement ceremony of Luminaria 2019 at thehistorical San Jose Mission. I continue to play regular music gigs in South Texas and NewOrleans, while advancing my new project, Los San Patricios. This last year we were scheduled toplay the Tobin Center for St. Patrick's Day Celebration 2020, but Covid had other plans.
