After Years On The Road – Curt Ryle Changes Gears

After Years On The Road – Curt Ryle Changes Gears

By David C. Lannan for Country Music News International Magazine

 

From humble beginnings in Duncan, Oklahoma to a whirlwind career as a singer, songwriter and studio musician Curt Ryle finally landed in Clarksville, Tennessee where he took on new challenges and opportunities. Humble is something he practices and preaches to the artists he is helping develop through Clarksville Creative Sound.

 

Ryle started playing guitar at age 7 but never took formal lessons. His Dad was a guitarist and showed him the basic chords. “Everyday after school I would spend hours practicing,” Ryle said. “By the time I was fourteen, I had turned pro and was playing in clubs and dance halls around the Duncan, Lawton Oklahoma area.”

 

He does not tour any more and may do 4 or 5 shows a year because of his new responsibilities as co-owner and producer at CCS. In his twenties he toured with Ray Price, Fiddling Frenchie Burke, Vern Gosdin and others. There were times in those days he would be on the road for up to 6 months at a time.

 

“My favorite artist to work with was definitely Mel Tillis. Mel was a fun guy to be around and had an awesome sense of humor. I thought he was extremely humble to be such an icon in music,” Ryle said. “Mel treated me more like a son than an employee. If I needed something, no matter what, he was always first to provide.”

 

His favorite part of the music business is no longer just playing an instrument on recordings, but being able to arrange and produce. “I enjoy arranging the big band swing songs of Steve Marwardt. The arrangements are complex and require a lot of thought. Being able to write out parts for all musicians is a challenge yet a rewarding one. It’s the creative process I love,” he said.  His least favorite part of the music business is the hours of editing it takes to get a song ready for mix. “Tedious work but must be done correctly. It involves raising and lowering volume levels on each instrument and knowing when to remove an instrument or add one along with a host of other things,” he explained.

 

Ryle spent many years managing and leading sessions in other studios in Nashville and had a huge following of people who liked to record with him. He would bring them into whatever studio he was managing. “After 15 years I realized I was making everyone wealthy and happy except myself, so, I started my own studio in Clarksville, Tennessee in 2007,” he said.

 

NEW DIRECTIONS

 

In 2022, he knew he “had a stable of the best young recording artists in the world.” He didn’t have the time to promote them, so he brought in Steve Markwardt to be his partner. “In two years time, he took the Clarksville Creative Sound record label to a whole new place,” Ryle explained. “He secured a reality TV show on the ACN network for my artists and myself called ‘Small Town Sound’ which should be released in (early) 2025. Thanks to Steve, these artists are now performing in huge venues and getting the recognition they deserve.”

 

He started the studio to earn a living recording other artists and songwriters around the world “but, many of the artists that came to me were so gifted, I knew I had to start a record label. I also knew to sign these young artists to a major label would not necessarily be in their best interests. Many artists end up with huge debts they can never pay off. Many succeed but they start out in the hole and it can take years to make money,” he said.

 

He was determined to start a label and change how Nashville was being run. He knew there was money enough to go around but “greed destroys many things in the music business. I’m still working on this yet, I can see the light. I believe we are on the right track to give artists the promotion they need to make them successful without bankrupting them.”

 

SONGWRITING

 

“There was a time as a songwriter that I could only write a song through some kind of divine intervention. I needed to be inspired to write.However, after signing as a songwriter to companies like, Mel Tillis Enterprises, Charlie Daniels, Warner Chapell music and other publishing companies, I was introduced to a whole new style of songwriting where you team up with a writer from another publishing company, meet in a room and write songs from 9 to 5 like any other job,” he said. “Today if I need to write a song, I simply come up with a title and usually within an hour, the song is written. I don’t need inspiration to write anymore, just desire.”

 

His favorite song he’s ever written was a song he wrote with Jadyn Rylee who was 9 years old at the time. “I’ve had people ask me why that one? After all, I’ve written songs for George Jones, Billy Ray Cyrus, Gene Watson and many others. So why Jadyn’s song?”

 

The song he wrote with Jadyn was called “Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover”. (You can hear it on YouTube). He said that what made this song special to him was not just the fact that it was written about people who bully other people. “What made it special was, that after the song came out and was viewed by 4 or 5 million people, we had at least 15 children who listened to the song and posted that they had contemplated suicide UNTIL they heard this song,” Ryle said.

 

“They felt the song inspired them and gave them the strength to fight back against these attacks therefore, literally saving lives!! That made the song special. How many songs honestly have the ability to save lives? This is when I realized the power music can have on others,” he said.

 

Rylee was the first artist signed to the label. “Jadyn has over 125 million views just on YouTube alone. She has starred in movies. One with Sean Penn called ‘Flag Day’. She had a starring role in that movie,” Ryle said. “Jadyn is truly one of the most talented artists I’ve worked with in my career and I have worked with everyone from Taylor Swift to George Jones. Jadyn is second to none.”

 

The second artist signed was his son Brayden “who has more knowledge of music than any other artist we have. He grew up in the studio and even produces most of his own recordings,” Ryle said. “He also is gifted as a guitarist to even play on his own recordings. He has performed on the RFD network and been on stage since he was 6 years old. He has performed in 15 states including NYC. Brayden has a gift like few others I’ve ever worked with and he’s only 18 years old.”

 

His favorite genre is country music. “Country music has the lyrical content to draw people in,” he explained. He worked with Jazz bands, Western Swing, Blues, Rock and other genres. “I even worked with Dr. Hook back in the day. I love all genres and having that experience has made me much more rounded as a musician and producer,’ he said.

 

THE CCS FAMILY

 

“I hope to teach my young artists that if they want something, they must go after it with a passion. Being successful is not always about who has the most talent,” he said. “I always teach them to give MORE than is expected of them. This is true in any business that’s successful.” Ryle not only helps with the songwriting and producing he also wants to teach the artists all aspects for success in music.

 

“My favorite part of working with Curt Ryle is his knowledge of singing and recording as he does this himself. He strives to bring out the best in me and he’s very patient and smart,” Ariel said. “I admire him for all of his work, he is a role model. We work very well together.” Franz, 13, so far is the youngest artist on their roster.

 

“I have a team of studio musicians that I love to work with and have used them for decades. It’s all about having fun and making history through music,” Ryle said. “If a musician is awesome yet, has an attitude, he or she will not work for me long. I also like musicians who are humble. I have never stopped learning and if I ever do, I will retire.”

 

What sets his label apart from any label in the world, he explained, is that “we are family. I treat my artists as if they are my family because they are. People don’t take advantage of their families, they instead want the best for them.” He focuses not on how much money he can make, but, how much can he help his artists. “How can I make their lives better? Clarksville Creative Sound is like no other label and it’s not easy to get on this label. Attitude is 50% and talent is 50%. It takes both. CCS does not recruit talent. They find us.”

 

BEHIND THE SCENES

 

“There was a time when I considered myself a musician/songwriter. Now I consider myself a producer first, engineer second and then the rest. Production is everything,” Ryle said.  “You can put 7 of the best musicians in the world in a studio and they will take the music in seven different directions at times. The producer has to know how to talk the language to get everyone on the same track. A producer who cannot play an instrument on a world class level is probably not going to have a lot of success.

 

“Being a producer is not just a title, it’s having a vision and the knowledge of music that can make a hit song. It’s having the respect of your fellow musicians to believe that your vision is correct and will follow that lead.”

 

Some of the songs CCS artists release come with videos shared on YouTube. He said the videos are tools  used to promote a song and artist. “Some videos are miniature movies while others are simply a singer looking into the camera and singing. Both can be useful in promotion but most of the time, the artist looking into the camera is most beneficial,” he said.  “If the singer is great and the song and production are great, then it’s up to the singer to sell the song to the listener through a video.” He explained that not all songs require videos. He has directed a few videos but for the most part, he lets their videographer handle those. “CCS has one of the best directors in Lucas Ciliberti. He will listen to ideas from the artists and if he agrees, he will use them.”

FROM RECORDING STUDIO TO TELEVISION

 

Ryle recently learned YouTube videos are usually not filmed to the standards of cable TV. He and Markwardt are working with the ACN network on a program which will feature Ryle and a handful of CCS artists as the main cast. “We found out that most of our videos were not up to their standards. When they film our TV show, the difference in quality is staggering usually because of their cinematic cameras, enhancing techniques and knowledge. We have upped our game recently by purchasing some of these cameras and our videographer is now cranking out some videos that could be used on the ACN network,” Ryle said.

 

“We started out with the ACN network with an idea for a reality tv show, ‘Small Town Sound.’  It would consist of a cast of five members. (Curt Ryle, Jadyn Rylee, EV Mae, Brayden Ryle and Noah Snyder). The show would allow the viewer to see what life is really like for independent artists,” Ryle said. “It would also show what it’s like to go behind the scenes and venture into the recording studio with these artists. The viewer will get to see the relationship between producer and artist and learn how hit songs are written and great recordings are made.” Other CCS artists are expected to make appearances on different episodes.

 

“The show has the potential to expand. We will have legends appear on the show,” Ryle said. “Great artists like Ronnie Milsap, Dolly Parton etc. Our relationship with ACN is growing.” ACN will have many TV shows on the network and Ryle believes some artists from their show will even cross over and appear on other shows. “For the first time, CCS artists will have the opportunity to be viewed by millions and millions of people around the globe,” he added.

 

“My advice to anyone thinking about going into the music business as a singer or songwriter is this, STAY HUMBLE! It does not matter how good you are, or how good you look. If you are not likeable your odds of success is ZERO.,” Ryle said. “I honestly will take someone who is average with a good attitude over someone who is great with a negative attitude. Success comes from a burning desire. You do not have to be the greatest singer to succeed, but you’d better be likeable. Don’t believe me? Turn on your radio!!!!”

 

Ryle said if he could be on stage with someone from the past “I would jump at the opportunity to go back in time and be on stage with Elvis Presley. The energy that came from that stage was unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed.”

 

David C. Lannan is a freelance writer from Indianapolis, IN USA

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