Daily Inspiration: Meet Ryan Perry

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Perry.

Hi Ryan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a singer and songwriter, I credit Travis Tritt, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, HARDY, and Luke Combs as my biggest influences. I also credit my parents as my guiding light providing “key lessons every single day and in everything I do.” They instilled a strong work ethic and taught me the importance of integrity, loyalty, respect, humility, and compassion. These lessons have been the driving force of my life.

I am a true outdoorsman and have spent time hunting and fishing since the age of three. I was also driven to make good grades so I could play football in high school. After high school, I aspired to be a wildlife officer/game warden and enrolled in community college in the Fish and Wildlife Program. My career path took a turn when I dropped out after a few years in college and chose to embark on a new journey pursuing my passion for music while I worked during the day.

Heeding the best advice I was ever given from my dad, “If you want something, then get off your ass and go get it,” I decided to pursue a career in music doing it my way. I had my bags packed and was ready to move to Nashville when I found out that I was going to be a father. My path forward changed and I realized I’d have to make “enough noise in North Carolina for Nashville to hear me.” And that’s exactly what I did. “I’m very thankful for my journey, it has seasoned me and with the love and support of my wife holding down the homestead, granted me the time to really figure out who and what I wanna be in the music.”

I have been on the road touring throughout the southeast honing my performance skills playing bars, clubs, and festivals. I have headlined my own shows and also opened for some of the country’s biggest stars including Toby Keith, Jamey Johnson, Ronnie Dunn, Tracy Lawrence, Matt Stell, and many others. “I thrive on a high-energy show and crowd — the rowdier the better. I love to write music that creates that environment at live shows or anywhere you’re listening to my music. But don’t get me wrong, I’m a sucker for a power ballad as well.”

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m not sure if any path leading to your dreams is smooth. Unless it is just paid for by mommy and daddy and served on a platter. But I believe the appreciation and humility come from the journey. It also allows you to develop confidence in the product you’re trying to create with your performance!

Some of the hardest struggles along the way have been maintaining momentum, dodging the people who only want something they don’t deserve out of your hard work, and the ones who don’t have your best interest at hand. Also, it took me years to land band members that stick and want to grind in the trenches with you so that we all achieve the same goal!

I’ve always been told by mentors and folks I’ve opened for, to not take advantage of the grind because that is where the best memories come from. I was told to sit back and enjoy it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work for many years while chasing the Music dream was hard labor construction. I work 50-60 hour weeks then hit the ground running on Friday to get to a show and play til 2 am and then again on Saturday. Travel most or half a day on Sunday home, visit with the family, and then back at it again at 6 am Monday.

I had to become an expert in time management. My calendar on my phone was and still is my best friend. I have daily checklists to get things ready for each day and the following upcoming shows. Managing the booking, promo, show info, and 5 other guys, plus family events and gatherings can be hectic if not managed correctly and organized.

Luckily now my full-time job IS my music. I have been blessed and fortunate to have been signed by an amazing Management/Booking company in Charlotte, NC! They have absolutely changed my entire career for the better.

I’m most proud of the fact that I can sit back and look at my house, my family that is happy, warm, clothed, and fed.

Realizing it’s because of all the hard work done by 4 hands. My own and my Wifes. I’m proud that even in the lowest and scariest of times we didn’t give up, we kept pushing forward. Even though I’m not rich and famous in music, I still consider that I’ve “made it” because I pay my bills and support this family by riding around with a crew of the coolest guys that are like brothers, playing good country music for awesome fans day in and day out and absolutely doing what I love! I never created a plan B therefore it left me with no choice but to succeed in my one and only dream.

What’s next?
My future plans are to continue to grind, work hard, write better songs, and listen and learn. Whatever comes of it ill be happy with but never satisfied. I’m always looking to be a better “me” every 10 years, that way I never get complacent. Hoping for bigger shows and meeting more and more of the greatest friends and fans on the planet!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.RyanPerryOfficial.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/officialryanperry
• Facebook: Facebook.com/officialryanperry
• Youtube: Youtube.com/ryanperryband 

Image Credits
Andrew Butko