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United States William Ryan Key is a versatile musician known for his work as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of Yellowcard, a pop-punk band. Following Yellowcard's hiatus and eventual disbandment, he embarked on a solo career, exploring new musical directions and expanding into electronic music projects and production, demonstrating his adaptability and continued presence in the music industry.
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Request A ShowWilliam Ryan Key partnered with Twitch, the live streaming service, to engage with his fans and showcase his musical process. He live-streamed his songwriting process full-time during 2021, and uses the platform to interact with his audience while working on new projects, sometimes inviting his viewers to vote on which songs he works on.
William Ryan Key signed with Equal Vision Records as part of his solo career, leading to the release of his EP, 'Everything Except Desire,' in early 2022. This partnership helped him expand his solo music reach.
Concurrently with Equal Vision, William Ryan Key also signed with Rude Records for the release of his EP, 'Everything Except Desire.' This dual record label partnership aided in the distribution and promotion of his new music as a solo artist.
Ryan Key and Ryan Mendes of Yellowcard teamed up for 'Hype Music and Disney Magic.' This collaboration involved 'Hype Music,' indicating a possible promotional venture or musical project tied to the brand, as suggested by an Instagram reel welcoming William Ryan Key as a 'Hype friend.'
William Ryan Key was born on December 17, 1979, in Jacksonville, Florida. His musical journey began early, learning piano at age 7 and guitar at 13. He honed his skills at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and Florida State University, where he briefly studied theater. His early career included guest vocals on Inspection 12’s 1999 album “Step into the Fire” and a short tour with the punk rock band Craig’s Brother. This foundational period led him to join Yellowcard, initially providing backing vocals, and later becoming their lead singer and rhythm guitarist in 2000, after Ben Dobson’s departure. This marked a significant turning point, setting the stage for Yellowcard’s rise to prominence.
With Key at the forefront, Yellowcard released the “Still Standing EP” in 2000, followed by “One for the Kids” in 2001 and “The Underdog EP” in 2002. The band achieved mainstream success with their 2003 major-label debut, “Ocean Avenue,” reaching No. 23 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and producing hit singles like “Way Away” and the title track. Key continued to lead the band through albums such as “Lights and Sounds” (2006) and “Paper Walls” (2007). After an indefinite hiatus in 2008, Yellowcard reunited in 2010, releasing “When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes” (2011), “Southern Air” (2012), “Lift a Sail” (2014), and their self-titled album “Yellowcard” (2016) before disbanding in 2017. He has since explored solo work, notably with his EPs “Thirteen” (2018) and “Virtue” (2018), and formed the electronic duo JEDHA with Yellowcard’s lead guitarist, Ryan Mendez.
Beyond his band activities, Key has demonstrated his versatility through various collaborations and projects. He co-produced the Like Torches album “Keep Your Head High” in 2012 and established his recording studio, The Lone Tree Recordings, in 2015, which he successfully funded through a Kickstarter campaign. In 2017, he participated in the “Linkin Park and Friends – Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington” tribute concert. He later toured as a guitarist, vocalist, and keyboardist for New Found Glory in 2018 and opened for Mayday Parade. He also live-streams his songwriting process on Twitch, interacting with fans and continuing to innovate within the digital space. His recent solo EP, “Everything Except Desire,” released in 2022, further solidifies his diverse musical evolution.
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