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Ryan Key
Ryan Key
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Key Information

William Ryan Key (born December 17, 1979) is an American musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Yellowcard. He is the owner/operator of a recording studio in Jacksonville, Florida, called The Lone Tree Recordings. He is currently writing music under his full name, William Ryan Key, as a solo acoustic act and electronic act. He is also one half of JEDHA, an electronic duo consisting of himself and lead guitarist of Yellowcard, Ryan Mendez.[1] He has recently toured as guitarist/vocalist/keyboardist for New Found Glory. In late 2018, he played as a supporting act on Mayday Parade's Sunnyland tour along with This Wild Life. During 2021, he live-streamed his songwriting process on Twitch full-time.

Early life

[edit]

Key was born William Ryan Key on December 17, 1979, in Jacksonville, Florida. He first used a piano at the age of 7 and a guitar at age 13. He attended Episcopal High School of Jacksonville before transferring to Douglas Anderson School of the Arts from which he graduated. Ryan then attended Florida State University together with fellow musician Dan McLintock from the local pop punk band Inspection 12, inviting Ryan to perform guest vocals on their 1999 album Step into the Fire for the song "Nothing to Lose". They majored in theater for a short while before dropping out to go to Santa Cruz, California and audition together for the Tooth & Nail punk rock band Craig's Brother, which was looking for two guitarists and backup vocalists. They were successful, but after touring for a while, at one time representing the band as an acoustic duo at the Cornerstone Festival, the band's van broke down and with the tour abruptly cancelled, Ryan moved back to Jacksonville and took a shift at Chili's with bandmate and friend Sean Mackin.[2]

Music career

[edit]

Yellowcard

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Key contributed to Yellowcard, although he was not yet a member at the time due to performing with Craig's Brother,[citation needed] by providing backing vocals for their first album. Key came back and replaced Ben Dobson as Yellowcard's lead singer in 2000 after being asked by guitarist Ben Harper. The band then released the Still Standing EP in early 2000. Shortly after the release of their EP, Todd Clary left the band. Key then became rhythm guitarist as well. The band then moved to Camarillo, CA after being signed to Lobster Records. They then began working on their next album.

Ryan Key in 2015

The group released their third album, One for the Kids, in 2001 and followed up with The Underdog EP[3] in 2002. After the release of The Underdog EP, Warren Cooke left the band for personal reasons. The band later asked close friend Peter Mosely from Inspection 12 to become the band's new bass guitarist. After Yellowcard released The Underdog EP the band signed with Capitol Records, who were looking to sign pop punk bands at the time. Yellowcard then began the recording of their major-label debut album Ocean Avenue in late 2002, gaining the band major success. Mosely left during recording of the album due to personal problems. The band then asked Alex Lewis to join as the bass guitarist. Yellowcard released their album Ocean Avenue on July 22, 2003, reached No. 23 on U.S. Billboard 200, the album was a commercial success in the United States with the hit singles Way Away, Ocean Avenue, and Only One.

In late 2004, Lewis left the band after Peter Mosely rejoined as the band's bassist. In 2005, Parsons went with the other band members to Los Angeles while Key and Mosely moved to New York City to create new material for their next album. Lead guitarist Ben Harper left the band in April after finishing guitar tracks for the album. The band then asked Ryan Mendez from the band Staring Back to become the new lead guitarist.

The album Lights and Sounds was released in January 2006, unlike their last album Ocean Avenue, Lights and Sounds broke away from the band's pop punk sound to a more alternative rock album. The album peaked at No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard 200. The title track, "Lights and Sounds", was the first single, released a week before the album. It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks. Lights and Sounds did well on the charts and reviews, but failed to match the 2 million sales of the band's previous album.

On October 16, 2006, the band re-entered the studio to begin pre-production on their next album. Paper Walls was released in the U.S. on July 17, 2007, the album debuted at No. 13 on the U.S. Billboard 200 selling about 40,000 copies in its first week. The band spent the rest of the year promoting their new album nonstop since its release while touring with Linkin Park and Blue October. Yellowcard released their live album Live from Las Vegas at the Palms on January 22, 2008.

In April 2008, Yellowcard officially announced an "indefinite hiatus" canceling their European and acoustic tours. The band stated the reason why they went on hiatus was to focus on their personal lives for the time.

On August 1, 2010, it was confirmed that Yellowcard had ended their hiatus and was working on a new record, titled When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes to be released on Hopeless Records in early 2011. The band toured Europe in March 2011 alongside All Time Low. Yellowcard released three more albums, Southern Air (2012), Lift a Sail (2014) and the eponymous Yellowcard (2016), before disbanding in 2017.

Yellowcard reunited at Riot Fest on September 17, 2022. The band then embarked on tour to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of Ocean Avenue in 2023. The band released the EP, Childhood Eyes, on July 21, 2023.

Other work

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During the Yellowcard hiatus that began in 2008, Key also started singing in a side project entitled "Big If" with singer Sean O'Donnell of Reeve Oliver in February 2009.[4] Big If has released several songs on their MySpace page, but have not yet released a record. They are not currently signed to a record deal. Although they have never officially announced their break-up, all members of the band are now in Yellowcard and the band's Twitter and MySpace pages have been removed.

Key recorded a song entitled "Stop Right There" with Hollywood-based pop-punk band Assemble the Skyline. The track was released on January 7, 2011, with Assemble the Skyline's new EP "Right Here. Right Now".[5] Ryan also collaborated with the Michigan pop-punk band Every Avenue. He has co-written their songs "Girl Like That" from their album Picture Perfect,[6] and "Tie Me Down" from their album Bad Habits.[7]

He also worked with Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas, contributing vocals on his song "Gotta Get it Now".

Key also contributed guest vocals on a new Silverstein song, entitled "Stay Posi", released in early 2011.

Key and fellow Yellowcard member, Ryan Mendez, spent May 2012 producing and recording the Like Torches album Keep Your Head High.

In January and February 2015, Key stayed in Stockholm, Sweden where he produced a new album for Like Torches.

In August 2015, Key started a Kickstarter campaign for his new project The Lone Tree Recordings. The goal was to reach $75,000 by September 20 so that Key could start his record label, and he ultimately raised $106,372 to make that happen. One of the first bands to record was his side music projects Will & The Whiskeymen. He stated on the Kickstater page that the band's EP would be a Kickstarter-backer exclusive.

In September 2017, it was announced that Key would perform with Linkin Park in the Linkin Park and Friends – Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington, to celebrate late Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington. He was featured in the songs "Shadow of the Day" and the U2 song "With or Without You".

In October 2017, Key announced that he would produce a new Like Torches record in his newly built Lone Tree Recordings Studio.

On January 16, 2018, it was announced that he will be touring with New Found Glory on their "SICK TOUR" beginning in May 2018, as their second guitarist, keyboardist and "whatever other tricks songs call for", according to the band.

On May 18, 2018, Key released the first single, "Vultures", from his EP, titled Thirteen.

On September 14, 2018, Key released "The Bowery", from his upcoming EP, titled Virtue.

In December 2020, Key announced that he was working on an album of reimagined Yellowcard songs in his new musical style. The first of these songs released exclusively for his Patreon subscribers was Ocean Avenue. [8] He later revealed that he was working with Post-Rock Band Hammock on remixed versions of his reimagined tracks. He has since allowed his Twitch viewers to vote on which songs he works on for the project live on stream.

On May 31, 2021, Key announced, alongside Mendez, their new electronic project named JEDHA, with new music slated to release that same year. On June 7, 2021, the duo released the first song from the project, titled "Dividing Pair". [9]

On December 15, 2021, Key signed to record labels Equal Vision and Rude and announced his new EP, Everything Except Desire, which was released on February 11, 2022.[10]

Non-musical projects

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In 2008, Key worked with Patrick Stump and Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy in a film called Moustachette.[11] He has appeared as a Made coach on the MTV series MADE and featured in MTV Cribs.[12] He also had an appearance as a partygoer in the 2008 film Cloverfield, and appeared in the film How to Make Love to a Woman in 2010.

Discography

[edit]
Solo
  • Thirteen EP (2018)
  • Virtue EP (2018)[13]
  • Everything Except Desire EP (2022)
with Yellowcard

Personal life

[edit]

In 2012, Key became engaged to Alyona Alekhina. They married in 2013 in a hospital intensive care unit after Alekhina injured her spinal cord.[14] The couple later separated.

On May 14, 2022, Key announced to his Discord community that he became engaged to Laura Gillway while on a trip to Walt Disney World. Ryan and Laura married in December 2022, and live in Jacksonville, Florida. On July 24, 2023, the couple announced they were expecting their first child. Their son Callan was born on December 11, 2023.[15]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
William Ryan Key (born December 17, 1979) is an American rock musician, singer, songwriter, and , best known as the , rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter for the band . Born and raised in , Key co-founded the band in 1997 and served as its frontman for two decades, contributing to its signature sound that blended punk energy with orchestral elements like . Beyond Yellowcard, he has pursued a multifaceted career as a solo artist, producer, and composer, releasing introspective indie-folk and alternative recordings while occasionally acting in films and television. Yellowcard achieved mainstream success in the early 2000s with their platinum-certified album Ocean Avenue (2003), which featured the titular hit single and tracks like "Way Away," solidifying their place in history through high-energy melodies and the innovative use of played by bandmate Mackin. The group released ten studio albums overall, including (2006) and (2012), and toured extensively, amassing a dedicated fanbase amid the and revival. After announcing their disbandment in 2017 following a farewell tour, Yellowcard made an unexpected return in 2022 with a performance at in , sparking a full reunion that led to new releases such as the EP Childhood Eyes (2023) and their tenth studio album Better Days (2025), produced in part by Blink-182 drummer . In the wake of Yellowcard's initial split, Key adopted his full name for solo endeavors, debuting with the acoustic EP Thirteen in 2018, followed by Virtue later that year, and Everything Except Desire, initially shared with supporters in 2020 and commercially released in 2022, which explored ambient and textures. These works marked a departure from toward more personal, genre-blending songwriting, often performed live in intimate acoustic sets. Key has also produced for other artists and composed for media, while the band's 2025 album reunion has seen him balance solo touring with Yellowcard's revitalized momentum, including festival appearances and a North American headline run.

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

William Ryan Key was born on December 17, 1979, in . Key's family has roots in Georgia, where his maternal grandfather worked as a carpenter, mason, and bricklayer. The grandfather also pursued writing, composing poetry on unconventional materials like gum wrappers, which his family later compiled into a before his death. Key's early exposure to music began around age seven when he started piano lessons, though he quit after a few months due to disinterest and later regretted not continuing. He picked up the guitar at age 13, marking a more sustained interest in the instrument.

Formal education and early influences

Key attended Episcopal High School in Jacksonville, Florida, before transferring to the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, a magnet program focused on creative disciplines including music and theater, from which he graduated in 1998. At Douglas Anderson, he developed his artistic skills amid a vibrant community of aspiring performers, laying the groundwork for his musical aspirations. Key showed early interest in theater, performing as Tiny Tim in a production of at age six. Following high school, Key briefly enrolled in the theater program at in Tallahassee, studying for about a year as a theater major. However, he dropped out in the late to prioritize his growing interest in music, reflecting a pivotal shift toward a professional creative path. Key's early musical influences drew heavily from the pop-punk and rock scenes of the era, particularly bands on labels like and , such as , , and , which inspired his energetic songwriting style. The local Jacksonville music further shaped his exposure to collaborative punk environments and reinforced his commitment to the genre. In the late , Key made the decision to relocate to to pursue music full-time, initially attempting a solo venture before briefly returning to . This move marked a deliberate step away from formal education toward immersive involvement in the West Coast music scene, ultimately influencing his professional trajectory.

Musical career

Yellowcard

Ryan Key joined in 2000 as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, replacing previous frontman Ben Dobson and bringing a new creative direction to the band, which had originally formed in 1997 in . His arrival marked a pivotal shift, as the group transitioned from independent releases to signing with , with Key emerging as a primary songwriter alongside violinist Sean Mackin and other members. Key's songwriting played a central role in Yellowcard's breakthrough with the 2003 album Ocean Avenue, which he co-wrote and which achieved platinum certification by the RIAA, driven by the hit single "Ocean Avenue" that peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album's success propelled the band to major label prominence, including extensive tours and MTV exposure, followed by Key's contributions to the 2006 release Lights and Sounds, where he handled lyrics and co-composed music for tracks exploring themes of personal growth and relationships. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Yellowcard enjoyed sustained success with multiple albums, international tours, and festival appearances, though challenges like lineup changes and shifting music industry dynamics led to declining ticket sales and the band's announcement of a final self-titled album in 2016, culminating in a farewell tour and hiatus in 2017. In May 2022, Key spearheaded 's reunion, initially announced for a performance at in , reigniting fan interest and leading to further festival bookings. Under his leadership, the band released the EP Childhood Eyes on July 21, 2023, via , featuring five tracks that blended their signature sound with mature reflections. This momentum carried into their eleventh studio album, Better Days, released on October 10, 2025, through and produced by of Blink-182, who collaborated on demos and fostered a high-energy recording process at his studio. Key's vision for the reunion emphasized recapturing the band's original vitality while addressing contemporary themes, as evidenced by performances at events like the Vans Warped Tour in Orlando on November 15-16, 2025, and the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas at the on December 13, 2025.

Solo career

Following the disbandment of in 2017, Ryan Key launched his solo career under the name William Ryan Key, marking a shift toward more introspective and folk-influenced songwriting. His debut EP, Thirteen, was released on May 25, 2018, through his own label, The Lone Tree Recordings, and featured co-production with of . The EP, consisting of five tracks including the lead single "Vultures," explored themes of personal reflection and sonic redirection from his pop-punk roots, receiving positive reception for its acoustic intimacy. Key followed Thirteen later that year with the EP Virtue, released on November 30, 2018, also via The Lone Tree Recordings. This six-track collection built on the folk elements of his debut, delving into emotional aftermaths of relationships with poetic and subtle , such as the opening track "Mortar and Stone." The release demonstrated Key's growing creative control in a solo context, emphasizing raw vulnerability over band dynamics. Key next shared material exclusively with Patreon supporters in summer 2020, including early versions of tracks that would form his subsequent release. In 2022, he issued the EP Everything Except Desire on February 11 through and Rude Records, after refining the project with collaborators. Comprising five songs, including the ambient opener "The Swim Back" and the introspective "Face in a Frame," the EP experimented with atmospheric and experimental sounds while maintaining his melodic core, reflecting a bold evolution during the pandemic era. Key owns and operates The Lone Tree Recordings, a professional studio he founded in , which serves as the hub for his production work and solo recordings. Established through a 2018 Kickstarter campaign to fund its construction with state-of-the-art equipment, the studio has enabled Key to maintain independence in his creative process, including producing material for his own projects and select collaborations. Key's songwriting process in his solo era has emphasized direct audience engagement, particularly through live-streamed sessions on Twitch starting around 2021. After signing a six-month deal with the platform, he streamed full-time from his home studio, sharing real-time composition and refinement of new material, which fostered a community around his evolving artistry and influenced tracks on Everything Except Desire.

Collaborations and side projects

In the late 2000s, during Yellowcard's hiatus, Key formed the Big If alongside vocalist of Reeve Oliver. Active from 2008 to 2010, the duo released several demo tracks online via platforms like , blending elements with introspective lyrics, though no full album materialized. Key has made notable guest contributions to other acts, including providing guest vocals on Silverstein's track "Stay Posi" from the 2011 compilation Take Action Vol. 10. He also co-wrote songs for , such as "Girl Like That" on their 2009 album Picture Perfect and "Tie Me Down" on their 2011 release Bad Habits. In 2018, Key joined New Found Glory as a touring , vocalist, and for their "Sick Tour," supporting the band alongside acts like Bayside and . In 2021, Key launched the electronic duo JEDHA with former guitarist Ryan Mendez, drawing inspiration from the Star Wars universe—specifically the planet Jedha from —to explore instrumental EDM and ambient soundscapes. The project debuted with the single "Dividing Pair" on June 7, 2021, marking the start of their experimental output. JEDHA later contributed to soundtracks, including composing music for Disney's Parade nighttime spectacular at in 2025. Beyond performances, Key has taken on production roles for emerging artists, notably helming Like Torches' albums Shelter (2016) and Loves and Losses (2019), where he emphasized their melodic rock style and even featured as a guest vocalist on the latter. These efforts highlight Key's versatility in shaping pop-punk and alternative sounds outside his primary projects.

Other endeavors

Acting and media appearances

Key's interest in acting stemmed from his early training at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in , where he pursued theater and performance seriously during his high school years, developing skills that later influenced his on-screen work. In film, Key made his acting debut as an extra in Mike Binder's (2005), a dramedy starring and . He followed with a small role as a partygoer in ' found-footage horror film (2008). On television, Key served as a coach on MTV's reality series Made in 2007, guiding participants Jeremy and Chelsey through their transformations into rock stars as part of the show's format. That same year, he was featured in an episode of , showcasing his home and lifestyle alongside guests Joe and . These media appearances provided Key with visibility beyond his music career with .

Podcasting and online content creation

In 2020, Ryan Key began co-hosting the Thank the Maker: A Star Wars Podcast alongside Adam Russell of , with additional hosts including Nick Ghanbarian of Bayside and Mike Forester. The show delves into Star Wars lore, character analyses, and cultural impacts, featuring discussions on films, series, and elements. Key and his co-hosts have conducted interviews with Star Wars actors, creators, and experts, while also covering live events such as in 2022, where they recorded on-site episodes. By 2025, the marked its fifth anniversary with a special episode reuniting Key with the team to reflect on its growth and influence within the . Key expanded his online presence in 2021 through live streams on Twitch, where he broadcasts his songwriting process in real-time from his studio. Under a with the platform, these sessions occur most weekdays, allowing fans to interact directly via chat, suggest ideas, and witness the creation of original music. Collaborations during these streams, such as with Ryan Mendez, have facilitated immediate feedback and co-creation, blending with audience engagement. This has enabled Key to connect with supporters beyond traditional releases, fostering a community around his creative workflow. Key's digital content often intersects with his personal interests in and Star Wars, which inform in his projects like the electronic music venture JEDHA, co-founded with Ryan Mendez in 2021 and named after the planet. Through Twitch and episodes, he shares insights into these fandoms, drawing parallels between in sci-fi media and his songwriting inspirations. This approach highlights Key's role in building interactive spaces for fans to explore shared cultural passions.

Discography

With Yellowcard

Ryan Key served as Yellowcard's lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist across all studio albums and EPs, while also acting as the primary songwriter for the majority of the band's material, often co-writing lyrics with Pete Mosely.

Studio albums

  • One for the Kids (2001)
  • Ocean Avenue (2003) – Key provided lead vocals on every track and co-wrote the title track "Ocean Avenue" alongside bandmates , Pete Mosely, and .
  • Lights and Sounds (2006) – Key handled lead vocals and throughout, contributing and composition to songs like the title track, which he co-wrote with Harper, Mosely, and Parsons III.
  • Paper Walls (2007)
  • When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes (2011)
  • Southern Air (2012) – Key delivered lead vocals and on all tracks, serving as the main songwriter and drawing from personal themes in compositions such as "Awakening."
  • Lift a Sail (2014)
  • Yellowcard (2016)
  • Better Days (2025) – Key provided lead vocals and guitar across the record, co-writing collaborative tracks with producers including .

Extended plays

  • The Underdog (2002)
  • Childhood Eyes (2023) – Key contributed lead vocals and guitar, also taking on production duties and writing introspective tracks like the title song.

Other releases

Key's involvement extends to various compilations and re-recordings, such as the acoustic re-recording Ocean Avenue Acoustic (2013), where he reprised his vocal and songwriting roles on reinterpreted hits, and the collaborative reimagining album A Hopeful Sign with (2024).

Solo releases

Key's solo discography consists primarily of self-released EPs recorded at his home studio, The Lone Tree Recordings, in , where he handles production duties.

Extended plays

  • Thirteen (May 25, 2018) – Acoustic tracks: "Old Friends," "Vultures," "Form and Figure," "Thirty Days," and "Great Unknown."
  • Virtue (November 30, 2018) – Tracks: "The Same Destination," "Mortar and Stone," "The Bowery," "Virtue," "Downtown (Up North)," and "No More, No Less."
  • Everything Except Desire (initially released exclusively to supporters in 2020; commercial release February 11, 2022, via ) – Experimental electronic and instrumental compositions: "The Swim Back," "Face in a Frame," "," "Heavens," and "Union Chapel."
  • Everything Except Desire / Reworks (July 15, 2022) – Remix versions of the EP tracks by jives.

Singles

Key has also issued standalone singles from his solo sessions, including "Vultures" (2018), "The Bowery" (2018), "Downtown (Up North)" (2018), and a cover of ' "Smoke Signals" (August 17, 2022). Additionally, he has premiered original songs during live Twitch streams, sharing acoustic performances and new material directly with fans.

Personal life

Key was previously married to from May 6, 2013, until their divorce around 2016. In December 2022, he married Laura Gillway, and the couple resides in . They welcomed their first child, son Callan Alexander Key, on December 11, 2023.

References

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