Ian profile picture

Ian

About Me

Ian Rhett wrote his first song at the tender age of almost 40. Despite being a lifelong improvisational pianist, a severe creative block kept him from ever completing a phrase, much less an actual song. Then a late night epiphany in the earliest hours of 2004 changed everything, and songs started pouring out of him.His first public performance landed him an invitation to the Democratic National Convention in 2004, where he closed the Kucinich Presidential campaign. His first music video, "(Didn’t Know I Was) Unamerican" was passed on by TrueMajority and eventually the Kerry campaign saw it and invited Ian to perform in Florida in the last days of the ’04 election.Since then, he has been performing at events, recording, writing and developing a 4 octave voice rich with grab and vibe with overtones of soul, blues and Cash-style country.Focusing on using the Internet as a platform for independent music and viral media, he has grown his mailing list thousands strong and is about to release a new cross-over media project to generate awareness and support for organizations serving families of missing persons.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 23/05/2005
Band Website: www.ianrhett.com
Influences: Marvin Gaye, Jeff Buckley, Ray Charles, John Lennon, Johnny Cash, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Admiral Ian C. Eddy, and "some kind of Divine Providence, shining its heavenly light down on me"

See also: Beck, Radiohead, Elvis Costello, Ani, Aimee Mann & Michael Penn, Steve Earle, Trent Reznor, Steve Reich, Tom Petty, Chris Isaak, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Bonnie Raitt, SRV, Dwight Yokam and Prince. Very big lately on Solomon Burke, Eddy Floyd, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke

Inspired by: Dylan's story, Jeff's voice, the way Jesus lived, the willingness of so many of our brothers and sisters (one of whom is my own) willing to die for the cause of our defense, peace marches, the global unity I felt for a few days in the middle of September, 2001 - A dream realized just enough to make me long for it AND to know it's possible. Activists, nonprofit workers, artists committed to making a difference in the world (see Michael Franti, Billy Bragg) and giving up the comfort and convenience that comes with working FOR the system, instead of within it for change. Kristen Eppley, Marla Ruzicka (founder of civicworldwide.org who was killed in Iraq helping civilian casualties), Rachel Corrie, my mom, brothers and sisters.
Sounds Like: ... I might be on to something.

... every week and every performance puts more polish on my chops and more soul in my singin

... I've got a plan

Record Label: UNSIGNED AND INDIE

My Blog

No Myspace love at ALL!!

Yeah, i've been totally called out for the myspace lack of updatedness. Stagnant, I think, was the word. YES, I confess. Here's what I've been up to!The Missing Song,Working on getting to sustain ...
Posted by on Sun, 27 Jan 2008 21:18:00 GMT

argh! where'd my music go?!

It's a very long, frustrating story involving cdbaby, snocap and myspace but the bottom line is that the music I've had on myspace since I joined is now gone. i've just re-uploaded tracks to basically...
Posted by on Thu, 31 May 2007 01:19:00 GMT

Demos on the rise...

I'm uploading my first demo to myspace, sonicbids and will be sending a newsletter out announcing three tunes available now!
Posted by on Sun, 27 May 2007 18:30:00 GMT

Playing on the Capital Steps in Montgomery, Alabama

I got flight confirmation that i'll be heading to the Capital steps in Montgomery, Alabama to perform a 30-minute set. I'll be playing "Semper Fi", "(didn't know i was) unamerican", "What Kind Of Amaz...
Posted by on Wed, 18 Oct 2006 01:04:00 GMT

About "Semper Fi - DRAFT VERSION"

This is a very rough draft of a song I'll be releasing online as a flash video in September. The song is inspired by my sister, who has worked her way through the enlisted ranks of the US Marine Corp...
Posted by on Mon, 22 Aug 2005 20:56:00 GMT

Myspace Noob

Just posted my first song to Myspace. I'm pretty psyched to have finally a) discovered it and b) found the time to play. I'll be working out my profile and stuff soon. Thanks for stopping by, and as ...
Posted by on Wed, 22 Jun 2005 17:06:00 GMT