Michael J. Ryan, was born in Lawrence, MA, where he began studying the piano at the age of eight. By the time he was 16 he was performing professionally as a pianist & lounge entertainer in night clubs and restaurants in New England. On the night of his 17th Birthday he performed GershwinÂ’s "Rhapsody and Blue" for legendary band leader, Count Basie at Edmund's Supper Club in Middleboro, MA. A graduate of Taunton High School in Massachusetts, Mr. Ryan served as Musical Director for the Miss Taunton Pageant in 1971 and 72 also performing live on local radio station WRLM. He moved to Drexel Hill, PA in the early 1970s studying modern harmony with premiere jazz educator, Jimmy Amadie (former accompanist for Mel Torme.) He began performing all over the city of Philadelphia often accompanying his Father John as a Father and Son musical team. Appearances at Palumbo's, The Ben Franklin Hotel, and Le Bon Franquette would follow. In the 1980s he served as Musical Director for "We the People 200" as well as the American Theatre Arts for Youth. It was at this time that he studied advanced music theory at Temple University with George Sementovsky as well as teaming up with local singer, Rene Goodwin performing throughout the region including Miami, Florida and as far away as Fukuoka Japan. As a professional pianist, entertainer & vocal accompanist since 1966, he has performed in supper-clubs, hotels, casinos, restaurants and cabarets from Maine to Florida including the Catskills, Poconos and Atlantic City. In 1997 he was billed as "King of the Keyboard" at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA where he entertained thousands of visitors from all over the world with his expansive repertoire of music ranging from classical, jazz, show tunes, standards and popular songs. He suffered a stroke in 2002 taking away his ability to perform but lived comfortably in the care of his loving parents and family until his death last week from complications following a second stroke. He is survived by his parents John and Modestina Ryan of Drexel Hill, PA. Three brothers, two sisters, two nieces and two nephews, dozens of aunts and uncles, cousins, hundreds of musicians and performers not to mention thousands of fans who had the pleasure of hearing Mike play. If you would like to leave condolences or remembrancesces for Mike's family please do so by clicking on COMMENTS below. To read Mike's Eulogy click on the link to the right.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
1954 - 2006
Michael J. Ryan, was born in Lawrence, MA, where he began studying the piano at the age of eight. By the time he was 16 he was performing professionally as a pianist & lounge entertainer in night clubs and restaurants in New England. On the night of his 17th Birthday he performed GershwinÂ’s "Rhapsody and Blue" for legendary band leader, Count Basie at Edmund's Supper Club in Middleboro, MA. A graduate of Taunton High School in Massachusetts, Mr. Ryan served as Musical Director for the Miss Taunton Pageant in 1971 and 72 also performing live on local radio station WRLM. He moved to Drexel Hill, PA in the early 1970s studying modern harmony with premiere jazz educator, Jimmy Amadie (former accompanist for Mel Torme.) He began performing all over the city of Philadelphia often accompanying his Father John as a Father and Son musical team. Appearances at Palumbo's, The Ben Franklin Hotel, and Le Bon Franquette would follow. In the 1980s he served as Musical Director for "We the People 200" as well as the American Theatre Arts for Youth. It was at this time that he studied advanced music theory at Temple University with George Sementovsky as well as teaming up with local singer, Rene Goodwin performing throughout the region including Miami, Florida and as far away as Fukuoka Japan. As a professional pianist, entertainer & vocal accompanist since 1966, he has performed in supper-clubs, hotels, casinos, restaurants and cabarets from Maine to Florida including the Catskills, Poconos and Atlantic City. In 1997 he was billed as "King of the Keyboard" at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA where he entertained thousands of visitors from all over the world with his expansive repertoire of music ranging from classical, jazz, show tunes, standards and popular songs. He suffered a stroke in 2002 taking away his ability to perform but lived comfortably in the care of his loving parents and family until his death last week from complications following a second stroke. He is survived by his parents John and Modestina Ryan of Drexel Hill, PA. Three brothers, two sisters, two nieces and two nephews, dozens of aunts and uncles, cousins, hundreds of musicians and performers not to mention thousands of fans who had the pleasure of hearing Mike play. If you would like to leave condolences or remembrancesces for Mike's family please do so by clicking on COMMENTS below. To read Mike's Eulogy click on the link to the right.
Many of you expressed interest in a printed copy of the Eulogy I delivered at Mike's viewing. Here is the text as written.
On behalf of my father and mother, John & Modestina Ryan, my sister Betty, my brother Joe, my brother John, my sister Donna and I, …I would like to thank you all for journeying here today to help us celebrate the life of my big brother Mike. I’ve always referred to my eldest brother as “my big brother Mike!”
In the literal sense he was my big brother, he was the oldest and I am the youngest of the six siblings that make up our family. My brother Mike was also a big man in size, but when you have a heart as big as Mike’s … well, that‘s to be expected.
But perhaps the biggest thing about my brother Mike, was his immense musical talent. A piano teacher of Mike’s once told him …“I think there is a bit of genius in you Michael!” Well, for me, my family and just about anyone whoever heard him play, we new that for a long, long time.
When he began taking piano lessons from Sister Dolorosa at the St. Francis School in Lawrence, MA he was only 8 years old. Sister Dolorosa was so taken with his natural ability that she gave our family a piano so Mike would have an instrument to practice on at home. The first song Sister Dolorosa taught him to play was “Snug as a Bug in a Rug”. Only eight years later at the age of 16 my brother Mike was performing professionally in night clubs and restaurants and playing Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” on local radio.
Over the next 35 years my big brother Mike made music his life. His repertoire was truly impressive. Classical, jazz, show tunes, popular songs of the day were all at his fingertips, as they waltzed across the keys on his piano. No one ever stumped him with a request he didn’t know. He once took up the task of making a list of all the songs he knew how to play, but by the time he had filled up three legal pads with song titles, (on both sides of the page mind you) he realized it was a futile experiment.
Once when I was watching him perform at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA, I saw just how effective his vast knowledge of music could be. A group of World War II veterans from England had introduced themselves to Mike shortly before sitting down to hear him play. Without skipping a beat Mike launched into a heartfelt rendition of “We’ll Meet Again”. The sentimental song made famous in England during the war …it brought tears to the eyes of his newest fans.
As Mike’s musical abilities were surely impressive, his unique sense of humor was equally as large. Whether it was the silly faces he would make or his uncanny impressions of certain relatives who shall remain nameless, Mike always kept us in stitches. He was great at telling stories, one of my favorites was about the time he was being robbed at gunpoint while working at a hotel. While the wood-be thieves were pillaging the hotel safe, Mike called the police ……from the phone booth they had just locked him in. Even following his first stroke four years ago he still could break us up with just a look or a single word or two. The laughter he brought to us was such a big part of our lives. Even Mike’s own laughter was bigger than life. Remember his laugh? Remember that big deep breath he would take? Then that tiny pause before the eventual explosion of trumpet-like laughter that could wake the entire neighborhood. I’ll never forget it.
It’s hard to list all of Mike’s accomplishments in his long career as a musician. Time does not afford us the opportunity to do so. And although I could mention his performing for Count Basie on his 17th Birthday, or the many places he performed throughout the years, where would I start. Japan, New York, Philadelphia, Florida, Virginia the list goes on and on. But I must say and perhaps it’s a bit selfish on my part, that to me and my family we always preferred to hear him play at home. The music in our house when we were growing up was extraordinary. It was romantic, playful, festive and certainly impressionable on all of Mike’s younger siblings, I know it was for me. And when my Dad sang and Mike played, well, those precious moments and the songs they performed together shall echo in our hearts and memories forever.
My big brother Mike was by no means a perfect person. He could be opinionated and at times impatient, but who among us can claim exemption to those proclivities in life.
When I look out at those gathered here this morning I see faces of folks, who have at one time or another performed with Mike in plays or cabarets and many other musical venues. With only twelve years between us I have on occasion encountered many of you, who, not knowing I was Mike’s brother, mistook me for him. And when you finally realized I was the younger better looking brother…all of you always said the same thing. I think your brother is a musical genius. Well, I know I am biased but I heard that so many times over the years that I knew it had to be true.
In the end when Mike left us one day before my 40th Birthday many of my friends and family made additional expressions of sympathy to me because of that fact. But to be honest, my big brother Mike gave me and my family the greatest gift ever…peace of mind. None of us wanted to see Mike suffer the way he did over the last four years. How he made it that long having lost the ability to create such amazing music, is truly inspirational to anyone who had the pleasure of hearing him play.
But thankfully, these last few years were made comfortable for Mike through the love of his family, and the 24 hour unconditional love and care by a true angel on this earth …in the form of our dear mother.
So, although we are saddened today because of our great loss, let us rejoice in the promise that somewhere up above Mike is a whole person again, playing the biggest concert grand piano in all the heavens. And in the audience listening… sits his beloved cousin Albert. At another table sits Noni and Nonima, Aunty Clara and Uncle Art, and Aunty Grace. Uncle Emil, Uncle Bobby and Aunty Gilda are all there too. Applauding right along with Grandma Ryan, Aunt Maggie, and Uncle Mike. Oh how lucky they all are. To hear those sweet songs by Gershwin, Kern, Rodgers and Hammerstein. The songs that became the soundtrack of our lives. As only my big brother Mike could play.
Thank You.
In the literal sense he was my big brother, he was the oldest and I am the youngest of the six siblings that make up our family. My brother Mike was also a big man in size, but when you have a heart as big as Mike’s … well, that‘s to be expected.
But perhaps the biggest thing about my brother Mike, was his immense musical talent. A piano teacher of Mike’s once told him …“I think there is a bit of genius in you Michael!” Well, for me, my family and just about anyone whoever heard him play, we new that for a long, long time.
When he began taking piano lessons from Sister Dolorosa at the St. Francis School in Lawrence, MA he was only 8 years old. Sister Dolorosa was so taken with his natural ability that she gave our family a piano so Mike would have an instrument to practice on at home. The first song Sister Dolorosa taught him to play was “Snug as a Bug in a Rug”. Only eight years later at the age of 16 my brother Mike was performing professionally in night clubs and restaurants and playing Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” on local radio.
Over the next 35 years my big brother Mike made music his life. His repertoire was truly impressive. Classical, jazz, show tunes, popular songs of the day were all at his fingertips, as they waltzed across the keys on his piano. No one ever stumped him with a request he didn’t know. He once took up the task of making a list of all the songs he knew how to play, but by the time he had filled up three legal pads with song titles, (on both sides of the page mind you) he realized it was a futile experiment.
Once when I was watching him perform at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA, I saw just how effective his vast knowledge of music could be. A group of World War II veterans from England had introduced themselves to Mike shortly before sitting down to hear him play. Without skipping a beat Mike launched into a heartfelt rendition of “We’ll Meet Again”. The sentimental song made famous in England during the war …it brought tears to the eyes of his newest fans.
As Mike’s musical abilities were surely impressive, his unique sense of humor was equally as large. Whether it was the silly faces he would make or his uncanny impressions of certain relatives who shall remain nameless, Mike always kept us in stitches. He was great at telling stories, one of my favorites was about the time he was being robbed at gunpoint while working at a hotel. While the wood-be thieves were pillaging the hotel safe, Mike called the police ……from the phone booth they had just locked him in. Even following his first stroke four years ago he still could break us up with just a look or a single word or two. The laughter he brought to us was such a big part of our lives. Even Mike’s own laughter was bigger than life. Remember his laugh? Remember that big deep breath he would take? Then that tiny pause before the eventual explosion of trumpet-like laughter that could wake the entire neighborhood. I’ll never forget it.
It’s hard to list all of Mike’s accomplishments in his long career as a musician. Time does not afford us the opportunity to do so. And although I could mention his performing for Count Basie on his 17th Birthday, or the many places he performed throughout the years, where would I start. Japan, New York, Philadelphia, Florida, Virginia the list goes on and on. But I must say and perhaps it’s a bit selfish on my part, that to me and my family we always preferred to hear him play at home. The music in our house when we were growing up was extraordinary. It was romantic, playful, festive and certainly impressionable on all of Mike’s younger siblings, I know it was for me. And when my Dad sang and Mike played, well, those precious moments and the songs they performed together shall echo in our hearts and memories forever.
My big brother Mike was by no means a perfect person. He could be opinionated and at times impatient, but who among us can claim exemption to those proclivities in life.
When I look out at those gathered here this morning I see faces of folks, who have at one time or another performed with Mike in plays or cabarets and many other musical venues. With only twelve years between us I have on occasion encountered many of you, who, not knowing I was Mike’s brother, mistook me for him. And when you finally realized I was the younger better looking brother…all of you always said the same thing. I think your brother is a musical genius. Well, I know I am biased but I heard that so many times over the years that I knew it had to be true.
In the end when Mike left us one day before my 40th Birthday many of my friends and family made additional expressions of sympathy to me because of that fact. But to be honest, my big brother Mike gave me and my family the greatest gift ever…peace of mind. None of us wanted to see Mike suffer the way he did over the last four years. How he made it that long having lost the ability to create such amazing music, is truly inspirational to anyone who had the pleasure of hearing him play.
But thankfully, these last few years were made comfortable for Mike through the love of his family, and the 24 hour unconditional love and care by a true angel on this earth …in the form of our dear mother.
So, although we are saddened today because of our great loss, let us rejoice in the promise that somewhere up above Mike is a whole person again, playing the biggest concert grand piano in all the heavens. And in the audience listening… sits his beloved cousin Albert. At another table sits Noni and Nonima, Aunty Clara and Uncle Art, and Aunty Grace. Uncle Emil, Uncle Bobby and Aunty Gilda are all there too. Applauding right along with Grandma Ryan, Aunt Maggie, and Uncle Mike. Oh how lucky they all are. To hear those sweet songs by Gershwin, Kern, Rodgers and Hammerstein. The songs that became the soundtrack of our lives. As only my big brother Mike could play.
Thank You.
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