Ryan Rucker

Ryan Fitzgerald Rucker was born in Glens Falls, NY on August 14, 1986. Raised by a single mother in the town of Queensbury, NY Ryan grew up as normal as the next kid taking part in sports such as Basketball, Baseball, Track, etc.

As a kid Ryan never showed too many signs of having an outstanding musical talent. “I was scared. I didn’t think people would like me if I could sing. Don’t ask me why, it’s just what I thought. I’ve always loved to sing though,” Ryan said about growing up in New York. Although people didn’t know he could sing people always knew he could perform placing in Queensbury schools popular “Air Band” competition 3 years in a row. This was a lip syncing contest in which students would perform to their favorite songs on stage in front of hundreds of fellow students and faculty members. This opportunity would serve as a great opportunity to get used to the stage which would come in handy a few years later.

Ryan moved to Vacaville, CA in early 2001 following his freshman Basketball season with the Queensbury Spartans. The move was not what Ryan wanted. “I was 14 and at the time I thought Queensbury was where I was supposed to be. I mean I had all my friends there, ya know? I didn’t want to make new friends.”

Ryan made a few friends in California and was put on his new schools (Will C. Wood High School) homecoming court 2 years in a row, winning title of Homecoming King in his senior year. Senior year was also when Ryan started getting into music. Being a part of his school’s student government class, Ryan would produce music for different projects and take the music that wasn’t used and write lyrics to them. He would continue to do this as a hobby until Ryan was asked by fellow classmate Brittany Cooper to sing a duet with her at their graduation. The two sang “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and Ryan became a singer.

“I didn’t even want to! I just wanted to get my diploma but looking back I’m so glad I did it. I mean, for 3 minutes I had a couple thousand people watching me and listening to me and singing along with me. Imagine if that was my song they were singing to.” Ryan began to work on his own musical project. Between work and school Ryan found some time to write and record material but it wasn’t until September of 2006 when Ryan decided to make it official.

In September of 2006 Ryan began working on his debut album. “Once I heard Justin Timberlake’s ‘FutureSex/LoveSounds’ I knew this is what I wanted to do, to me it’s what I had to do.” 43 songs and 7 months later Ryan had finished his debut album “Upstate, NY” and would put it out in mid May. The album contains 22 tracks that follows the story that ultimately leads to Ryan leaving for Upstate, NY, a concept not tried by many on an album.

“I’ve always seen my life as a movie so I wanted to show that with my first album. ‘Me and My Babygirl’ is kinda like the beginning of it all. It’s also the first song I recorded for the album with the intentions of being on the album so I pretty much based ‘Upstate, NY’ off of ‘My Babygirl.’ and the story surrounding that.” Ryan’s known for writing from his heart within the industry which makes him stand out from a lot of artists. “It’s the reason I got into music, to write, I love the creation of music. I love to dance just like the next person but as much as I love to party that aspect of my life is so minimal compared to everything else.”

Since the release of his album Ryan’s been working on several projects with bands such as Fate of a Nation, Protagonist;Antagonist, Love Above Glove, Child Stars, and producer C.E.O. Also Ryan spent some time on tour opening up for Sister Hazel and Daniel Lee Martin.

Ryan is already working on his next project. “I’m definitely gonna take my time on this one, there’s no rush. I’ve already put out one album at 20. This one will sound a little different than ‘Upstate, NY’ in regards to me working with other artists and sounds. A little R&B, some live instruments, unique lyrics, more fun.”