Jim Ryser Interview – Music Composer for MidwestWhitetail TV and MidwestWhitetail.com

For those of you that follow Midwest Whitetail TV and MidwestWhitetail.com – you probably are aware that Jim Ryser has been creating music for them, the last couple of years. In this blog Bill Winke says “I’m guessing Jim inspires everyone he meets”. From my recent dealings with him – I can certainly agree. Jim seems like a fun loving and caring dude who just loves the outdoors. This guy has an interesting life story, and seems to fit right in with deer hunters across the country. We caught up with Jim and asked him a few questions about his personal life, hunting, his music career, and working with the great folks at MidwestWhitetail.com. In Part One of this Two Part Series, Jim will address the Hunting and Musical Parts of his life with us! Tune in tomorrow for Part Two – his personal life and MidwestWhitetail.Com.

Hunting

OF – How long have you been hunting and enjoying the outdoors? How’d you get started?

JR – I actually got started when I was 14 years old.  My dad’s buddy Arnie was a WWII hero and he was also a gun nut.  He had a Browning Sweet Sixteen (as do I now), and he got me with the hunting bug when he took my dad and I hunting  for grouse in upstate New York.  He gave me my first .22 and I killed a woodchuck with it.  I took pictures and felt pretty manly but when I went to bury it I cried.  I still have that type of respect for the animals I hunt.  If I lose that I will quit hunting.  Arnie also had an Ithaca Deerslayer (I also own one!) that I killed my first deer with.

OF – Where do you do most of your hunting?

JR – I have a lease here in Indiana.  A very dear friend owns a nice place and I take care of it the best I can, give him some cash, and I have 140 acres to call my own.

OF – Do you prefer to deer or turkey hunt?

JR – That depends on when you ask me.  When it is turkey season I cannot fathom liking anything better; when it’s deer season I cannot fathom liking anything better!

OF – Tell us a little about your camera setup – what kind of video equipment are you using?

JR – Like you, I have the Sony AX 2000.  Heaven.  No tape. I think I have a 701 fliud head by Manfrotto, and a very light carbon Manfrotto tripod.  Since I am the music guy and am picky about sound, I use a shotgun mic as well, a Sony ECM-678/9X. I prefer that over wireless so I have less to think about when hunting or filming.    Got it last year and my stuff is not half bad.  I actually used it at my job for videos that have been seen by 15,000 people for dealing with violent and threatening patients.  I work in a large hospital system in Indiana and my licenses to practice are in mental health and addictions.

OF – I’ve seen your Frigid Forage video you made. What will you be planting this for this coming year?

JR – I already have Monster Magnet down.  I will go back to the Autumn Quick plot and beans.  Both work great on keeping them healthy after season’s end.

Music

OF – I understand that you used to play with John Mellencamp. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

JR – I lived in Indiana for quite some time and as things go, connected with John in the early 80′s.  His dad co-managed me along with Champion Entertainment, and I signed a deal with Arista Records under the legendary Clive Davis in 1988.  The CD produced a minor hit song in 1990 called “Same Old Look” that paid for my education and then some!  I continue to play on John’s stuff only not so much in the past 5 years.  He was very good to me and I have great memories of working with him and his amazing band.  His band plays on a lot of my CDs.

OF – On average, how long does it take for you to create a song from start to finish?

JR – Depends.  My latest and best song was written in Scott Prucha’s bathroom after our turkey hunt this year.  Yep, droppin’ a deuce and writing songs!  Scott is on prostate for midwest whitetails as you know!  Anyway, I wrote that very quickly.  Scott inspired it…Others simmer for years and then pop out, like the one I am doing now.  It is a violin “anthem” I am going to put on my next CD.

OF – What is your favorite musical instrument to play?

JR – Right now my keyboard/piano. But mostly I love all aspects of guitar – from acoustic to electric to lead.  My favorite all time sound is the Hammond B3, and I have one and love it.

OF – What do you consider your greatest musical accomplishment?

JR – Singly, singing the National Anthem at the Brickyard 400 here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2002.  Right now it is honestly the stuff I do for Bill and the gang, because it has brought me an incredible amount of joy and satisfaction.  Bill and I were working on next year’s TV theme for weeks, emailing mixes back and forth, and when it was done we both knew it…

OF – What kind of music to you listen to? Do you have a favorite band?

JR – I like Country, which is relatively new for me.  Contemporary Country mind you – the old stuff is not my style.  Most “Country” folks call what is hip today rock and roll!  But it is very similar to the pop of the late 80′s (not the hair band stuff!).  I also LOVE Pink Floyd.  Always have, always will.  Heaven.

OF – What kind of musical equipment do you use in regards to audio, guitar, etc?

JR - Everything you hear is me, albeit the drums are samples from my keyboard.  I have a Yamaha XF Motif, their top of the line workstation, and that has some incredible sounding stuff on it.  I play drums with Kenny Aronoff in mind; he is one of the premier rock and roll drummers in the industry today and a very good friend.  He has always been my drum programming inspiration and when he says, “Yeah baby!” I know I have it.  I love playing new intruments to me – the dobro recently, the mandolin, violin I have always played, and of course the guitars – love to play the bass as well!

OF – Do you have a favorite piece that you’ve written?

JR – Probably a song called “Home” that I wrote some of at the tail end of my addiction and finished three months into sobriety.  I finished it 12 years ago, the same length time I have been sober.  I have chronic pain and got hooked on pain pills. (OF Note: Check back tomorrow for more on this stage of Mr. Ryser’s life)

To read part two of this great interview – click here!