"as genuine as they come ... a very cool find to say the least"
Fuzz FM — Stoner rock radio
Fueled by perseverance and directed by a free conscience, Key writes from the soul.
With roots planted in Northwest Arkansas, the award-winning songwriter and record producer is recognized as a versatile and passionate vocalist. Branching out from humble beginnings in school band, his passion for arrangement and composition came alive once he discovered Led Zeppelin and the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Throughout 2020 Ryan invested his time into writing and recording New Old Stock during the pandemic. Leading in a new direction, the effort is a blended mix of soul, funk, roots, and rhythm and blues which fit the need of any given song. A tribute to classic soul music from Motown, Stax and Muscle Shoals. "The tracks are stunning. Exceptional!" per Betsie Brown, Blind Raccoon LLC of Memphis, TN. "This is the best Motown sh*t I've heard in years," said Bruce Bennett, a beloved, regional performing musician.
Fresh off the heels of New Old Stock, Pat Ryan Key released Pick Her Up on November 19, 2021. The track is a folk blues number inspired by Jimi Hendrix's acoustic version of Hear My Train A'Comin. Check out his playlist inspired by Pick Her Up on Spotify.
To date Pat Ryan Key has released four albums — New Old Stock (2021), his solo debut, Guncle (2016), A Rebel's Chance by i do declare (2011), and a collaborative project album with chief songwriter, Mike Townsend on Fly Again by The Casual Flyze (2017) — as well as a handful of singles.
In October of 2021, Key was endorsed by Hill Records. The record label is a student-run record label administered through the University of Arkansas. Messed Up was remastered and re-released on the record label's inaugural EP, From The High Ground. The album was released on March 1, 2022.
Many of his latest releases feature guitarist, Al Halpin, a respected bottleneck blues guitarist from upstate New York. PAL developed a unique “guitar weaving” style constructed purely by performing together live over the course of 400 shows. Their work can be best described as soulful rhythm and blues and roots. They continue to move forward with a new release, Stick To Your Guns, OUT NOW.
Stay tuned for more news and releases to follow soon.