‘Catch of the Day’ – Ryan Kinder – “Close” [AUDIO]

Today we feature a singer, songwriter an multi-instrumentalist who was born in Knoxville, TN and raised in Birmingham, AL whose original path led him to a diamond, but in the end, his passion for music won out.

Ryan Kinder grew up playing baseball and hunting as a kid in Birmingham, but when he listened to John Mayer's debut album Room For Squares, he picked up a guitar, learned to play, and from then on, music was his passion. While in high school, he began gigging at local clubs, frat parties, fairs, theme parks, any place that would let him play. During his senior year in 2006, Ryan played the Alabama Theater in Birmingham, where his interaction with the crowd made it apparent where his path was heading.

He continued playing any and everywhere when he moved up to the University of Alabama, taking the same stages where artists like Dave Matthews and Kenny Chesney had played. In 2009, through a series of mutual friends and acquaintances, Kinder's music found its way to producer Keith Stegall, who has worked with Alan Jackson, Randy Travis and the Zac Brown Band as they were making their way early on in Nashville. While still attending Alabama, Kinder began making regular trips to Nashville to collaborate with seasoned songwriters like Jen Ketner and Luke Sheets, honing his songwriting skills.

Kinder made the move to Nashville permanent in 2011, working on writing and playing all around the area, as well as touring through out the south. He signed with the Bigger Picture Music Group in 2013, followed soon after by his signing with Warner Brothers Records, and Kinder began putting together music for his debut project, working with Stegall, Ketner and John Kelton on the project. A five song EP, The Deconstructed Studio Sessions, which features his debut single "Tonight" was released in 2014.

Ryan is back in the studio, working on another release, and his follow-up single is in today's spotlight. Ryan Kinder and "Close" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll wanna hear it again.