The New York Daily News recently stated that Cathie Ryan is "firmly in the upper echelons of Irish music singers." For the fans who have been following Cathie since her early days with Cherish the Ladies, this is proof of what they have known for years: that she is a major artistic talent, equally at home amid the deepest strains of the Irish tradition or the cutting edge of the contemporary songwriter movement. She is recognized for the alluring purity of her mezzo soprano, her insightful songwriting and intelligent vocal styling.

The daughter of Irish immigrants, Cathie was born in Detroit, Michigan. Her father was a tenor and very much in demand at the Gaelic League, where her family spent much of their time. As a child she often visited her grandparents in Ireland. They had a profound effect on her singing and songwriting. Her paternal grandmother, Catherine Ryan, was a fine fiddler and singer and her maternal grandfather, Patrick Rice, was a gifted storyteller who mesmerized Cathie with tales of Irish myth and history.

For as long as Ryan can remember she sang. From the age of seven, she was a popular fixture at Gaelic league sesiuns. She learned the rudiments of sean nos competing in feis' in Detroit. After moving to New York, she began to study with legendary sean nos singer Joe Heaney. "I appreciated every minute I spent with Joe, singing and talking about songs." Ryan says Other musical influences came from growing up in an American city ripe with music to absorb. Her bestfriend's parents brought their musical tradition from Appalachia. And all around her were the burgeoning sounds of Motown whose influence can be heard in the groove of many of her uptempo numbers, and in her complex, undulating bodhran playing.

In 1987, Cathie was invited to join the Irish traditional women's ensemble Cherish the Ladies. Her seven year contribution to the group helped place them in the vanguard of Irish music.

Since leaving the band in 1995 to pursue a solo career, Cathie has not looked back, "It was a tough thing to strike out on my own, but it has been the best thing for me as a singer, a writer, and a person. I am free now to express my own music. It's been a very creative and fulfilling time." To date has released three solo albums to critical acclaim: the self-titled Cathie Ryan, The Music of What Happens and Somewhere Along the Road.

Cathie performs with three stellar musicians who have each distinguished themselves in the traditional music field. Greg Anderson on guitar and bouzouki; Brendan Dolan on piano, keyboards, flute and tin whistles; and Hanneke Cassel on fiddle.

http://www.cathieryan.com/