Member Since: 02/02/2006
Band Website: www.TheReaganYears.com
Band Members:
Sy Seyler - Regionally noticed and nationally endorsed, Sy has over 15 years of experience on stages throughout the East Coast. While performing original music in groups such as Aislynn, SHOCK LaRue and Return To Zero, Sy was endorsed by Slingerland drums and PureCussion R.I.M.S. Today, he is still on the active endorsement roster for Vic Firth drumsticks. In TRY, Sy plays electronic drums, programs samples and sequences to duplicate the sounds of the 1980s. In addition, he sings the eclectic new wave selections by bands like B-52's, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Midnight Oil and Depeche Mode. His singing talents are displayed both behind the drum kit and while co-fronting the band.
Karen Ellison - This keyboardist was one of the founding members of TRY. She has also performed throughout the East coast with David Moreale's Busload Of Faith and Aislynn where she first met Seyler. Karen sings hits by 80's diva's, Madonna, Nena, The Bangles and Pat Benatar. She plays a key part (pardon the pun) in recreating the processed sounds of the 80's since many of the era's chart toppers were keyboard oriented. Karen's musical merits were confirmed as she placed in Music Monthly's annual Reader's Polls and when she performed at the 1995 Cutting Edge Music Business Conference in New Orleans, LA. Karen is affectionately known as TRY's "secret weapon", audiences everywhere adore her.
Michael Leigh - During TRY's short hiatus, Michael accompanied Sy in a project called Members Only (or MO-80's). Michael's heart is fond of 80's geared rock music. He entered the Mid Atlantic club scene at 17, fronting & co-founding the Glam Rock group Neglektid Toyz. Later Michael joined Mona Lisa in 1988 and IROC in the early 1990's He has regularly placed in the Mid Atlantic Music Monthly Magazine's Readers Poll in categories for Best Rock Vocalist & Male Front Person. Michael's uncanny vocal reproduction of Steve Perry solidified his role in Midnight Blue, a Journey tribute. In 1999, Michael briefly fronted a classic rock band, Stiff Richard. Michael adds another dimension to The Reagan Years by fronting the band and working the crowd. He replicates the vocal traits of 1980's icons, such as David Lee Roth, Jon Bon Jovi and Simon LeBon.
Glenn Riley - Glenn is a professional musician and guitar instructor that has been playing guitar since his teens. This truly blessed artist is a graduate of the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT). His prior project, Dr. Brillyant, dissolved only a few days before joining Sy and Michael in Members Only. Glenn has authored three guitar instruction books for Alfred Publishing and played on Tobias Hurwitz's CD, "Painted Sky". Signature guitar licks in 80's classics and complex guitar works by Eddie Van Halen, Steve Stevens and guitar gods from all eras, flow effortlessly from his fingers matching the original recordings. On stage, his antics and flashy style are captivating. Glenn often will play solos with his teeth, with the guitar behind his back or over his head. Skills like this are seldom seen outside of arenas.
Glenn Riley
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Jody Lewis joined the presidential cabinet in January 2007. Several attributes made him the ideal candidate for the seat vacated by Lenny Everett. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, Jody’s band, Enforce, shared the stage on several occasions with both Sy’s and Michael’s heavy metal bands; Shock LaRue and Mona Lisa respectively. Throughout the years, he took part in Mid-Atlantic’s leading bands such as Bigger Better Faster More, Crushing Day and Right Foot Red. One project even featured a set of 80’s tunes in the same flavor of TRY. Although new to the line-up, Jody fits the groove like a long time band mate.
In addition to playing bass, Jody also offers strong vocals ability to the quintet. Singing lead and harmony vocals, his talents help compose the band’s strongest vocal roster ever. His influence from artists such as Rush, Iron Maiden, Queensryche, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers help create a new facet for the band.
Influences:
Myspace Contact Tables
Sounds Like:
uncanny similarity to the original artists like
AC-DC, A-Ha,
Animotion, Autograph,
The B-52's,
Bananarama,
The Bangles,
Toni Basil,
Beastie Boys,
Pat Benatar,
Big Country,
Blondie,
Bon Jovi,
David Bowie,
The Cars,
Belinda Carlsile,
Dead Or Alive,
Depeche Mode,
Devo,
Def Leppard,
Dexy's Midnight Runners,
Duran Duran,
The Fixx,
Flock Of Seagulls, Lita Ford, Foreigner,
Frankie Goes To Hollywood,
The Go-Go's, Guns 'N' Roses,
Corey Hart,
Billy Idol,
INXS,
James, Rick James,
Journey,
Joan Jett and ther Black Hearts,
J. Geils Band,
Katrina and The Waves,
The Knack,
Huey Lewis and the News,
Kenny Loggins,
Loverboy,
Madness,
Madonna,
Men Without Hats,
Men At Work, John Cougar Melloncamp,
Midnight Oil,
Missing Persons,
Modern English,
Nena,
New Order,
Gary Numan,
The Outfield, Robert Palmer,
Pet Shop Boys,
Prince,
Poison,
The Police,
The Pretenders, The Smithereens, Ratt,
REM,
The Romantics, The Ramones,
Simple Minds,
The Smiths,
Rick Springfield,
Bruce Springsteen, Split Enz,
The Talking Heads,
Til Tuesday
Tommy Tutone,
U2,
Van Halen,
The Vapors,
The Violent Femmes, Warrant, Whitesnake,
Wall Of Voodoo
Record Label: