Musician versed in beating the odds

AMERICAN FORK -- In at least one aspect, the LDS music industry differs little from the mainstream music business -- it relies heavily on advertising and name recognition.

On one hand, there are the well-known and heavily-marketed names like Michael McLean, Cherie Call, Jericho Road and Kurt Bestor. On the other hand, there are the talented -- yet relatively unheard of - - artists like J. Ryan Moody.

Who?

Exactly.

Moody is an aspiring musician and BYU grad who has learned at the feet of some of the better-known names in the LDS music industry including Bestor. But he's yet to land a major recording deal.

That's not to say that he hasn't released an album yet. His first CD, "Sunshine From My Soul," was released last summer by Juel Productions, a small label created by Moody and his family.

Juel Productions hooked up with a distribution company, Sounds of Zion, to make the CD available, as the commercial goes, "wherever fine LDS products are sold."

As it is in the mainstream book and recording industry, LDS products marketed by the "biggies" (in this case, Deseret Book, Covenant, etc.) tend to sell better than those that aren't. Preferential

positioning and display privileges go to products marketed by the big publishing and recording companies. In other words, if one of the "biggies" isn't behind your product, chances are it's not going to get noticed and, consequently, will not sell very well.

This doesn't bother Moody much. He's faced bigger challenges than that in his 34 years.

Moody, born with spina bifida, dreamed of being a BYU quarterback. His parents, however, steered him toward music.

As with most young children, getting him to practice was a problem because there were other things he'd rather be doing -- like throwing passes to friends from his wheelchair.

Even learning to play the piano presented problems.

"I was told Ryan should steer clear of the piano because he could not touch the foot pedals," his mother Connie said. "But I disagreed. I liked the sound he could get from the piano without (touching) them. Ryan's music has a very pure, sweet and individual sound."

By the third grade, Ryan was able to play movie themes by ear. As he started studying violin, his mother realized he had perfect pitch (the ability to identify any note heard).

His inability to reach the piano pedals are a result of his physical condition, the same physical condition that he feels gives him a unique musical perspective.

"I love the musical world. It takes me places where I can't (physically) go. I'm in another sphere where I can do anything on the piano," he said. "I'm sure I look at music differently because of my condition, and I think that comes through in the music."

Ryan graduated from BYU with a music degree in 2000 and has worked with other well-established LDS recording artists since.

"Cherie (Call) and I did a song together for an Especially For Youth CD," Ryan said. "It wasn't chosen, but I think it was a pretty good song."

Call agrees with Moody's assessment of their song and is quick to comment on Moody's musical ability. "Ryan is a very persistent, dedicated, hard-working and good musician and songwriter . . . and a cool guy," she said.

According to those who know him, Moody's cheery disposition and ability to make friends are a couple of his better-known characteristics.

Sam Cardon, another well-known LDS musician, was taken by Ryan's musical talents and agreed to work on "Sunshine From My Soul" by performing all of the string arrangements.

"Ryan has an unusual talent. He has developed a technique to compensate for not being able to use the pedals and make it sound as if he does use them," Cardon said. "He really does have a gift. His composing, arranging and performing talent is not just a fluke. Ryan is the real deal, and I'll be glad to work with him again."

Moody and Cardon indeed will work together again. They are planning to record a compilation of Christmas music for a forthcoming CD to be released later this year.

"Sunshine From My Soul" is available at most LDS bookstores . . . you'll just have to look for it.

E-mail: kmartinez@desnews.com

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