"My Mother, since I've been a kid has sung gospel music," Ryan recalls. "She never sang with a group on the road, but did some local country gospel things. So, I've grown up with gospel music, I'll Fly Away, and all those songs all my life."

Now, if you've been at one of their concerts, you've probably heard of Ryan and Ernie's similar testimonies, but it is true. Ryan told me, "When I was 15 years old, I went to see the Cathedrals Quartet at Bethel Temple in Evansville , and Ernie was singing with them then. I knew right then and there that this is what I wanted to do with my life." And Ryan is living out his dream since coming on board with Signature Sound last year.

Ryan is engaged to Krista,  but still looks forward to going home when they're not singing. He enjoys visiting with his Mom and Dad, and other friends. He likes sports, having once dreamed of playing baseball. Nolan Ryan was one of his childhood heroes. Off the road, he said he likes to play golf, and "go shopping." "I'm not embarrassed to say that," he added with a chuckle.

Signature Sound Quartet is a very youthful and energetic group. The energy and electricity they show on stage is rivaled by few others. Ryan wants to reach the youth of today with their presentation, their music, and their message. "It's a little difficult to get the youth to come see us, because for so long it hasn't been a youthful thing. But, the way I see it, if we can get the youth there, they're going to love it. They may not have the desire to do it, career-wise, but they'll just have a blast."

 "What do you want people to know about Ryan Seaton?" His answer was indicative of a young man with his priorities in order. He said, "I want them to know that I believe what I sing. I want people to see, when they look at me, that he's real."

Ryan began singing in the choir in high school of his sophomore year and had a part in "The Music Man". "That was the first time anyone in my family even had an idea I could sing," says Ryan. He went on to win first in the state voice competition and the National Choral Award while in High School. 
"I really loved singing and started singing in the choir at church right after high school and soon had solo parts," he said. "When I was about nineteen, my Aunt Beth and Uncle Clif talked me into going to a local church to hear the Cathedrals and my taste in gospel immediately changed from the contemporary style I had been singing to Southern Gospel and especially male quartet harmony." Ryan says he knew he wanted to sing gospel music, so until God was ready for him to join a quartet, "My mother and I started our own music ministry. We have been doing this for about two years now, singing mostly in churches around the Tri-State area."

Ryan says singing in church comes naturally since his great-grandma, his grandma and mom have all sung in church.  "A group of men at my church had started a male quartet to do some special singing at our church and asked me to sing lead/baritone with them. And even though it was only occasional, it helped me get a taste of what quartet singing would be like."  A little later he was able to hear and meet the Crossmen Quartet out of Morgantown, KY and became friends with them. They encouraged Ryan, and Jason Brooks (now with the Journeymen), has continued to encourage and inspire him to keep singing.  "This fall the Crossmen allowed me to travel with them one weekend to get a feel for life on a bus (they also let me sing some solos while I was with them). I knew then that if I had any doubts before about singing Southern Gospel full time, they were gone."

My biggest fans are , my parents.

From Ryan's Uncle:
When Ryan was about eighteen, he was singing contemporary music in church. His dad and I were both brought up on Southern Gospel but I always went to hear Ryan sing when I could. I called him one night and asked him if he was doing anything on Friday night. He said no, so I told him there was a group coming to town that I wanted him to hear. When I asked him if he would like to go, he said, "Sure." That group was the Cathedrals.

Since like most teenagers, he got there just before the concert started so we couldn't sit together. After the concert I asked him how he liked it. He pointed toward the stage and said in a very definite tone, "That's what I want to sing!" He stood back for over an hour for the crowd to thin out so he could talk to Ernie. Ernie spent a lot of time talking and encouraging Ryan. After that anytime the Cathedrals or Ernie when he went solo were anywhere near, Ryan was there. Ernie and Ryan talked at every concert and then Ernie would talk to Ryan on the phone from time to time to see if he was doing O.K.

Ryan auditioned for the lead with the Melody Boys Qt. and sang with them for about eight months. They happened to be on several programs with SSQ. When SSQ reorganized, Ernie asked Ryan if would be interested in auditioning and the rest is history. That's the Readers' Digest version.

Ryan was the lead singer for the Melody Boys Quartet out of Littlerock, AR since Jan of 2003. He joined SSQ in Oct 2003


The Sum Of The Parts - Ryan Seaton

Last month we started a series of interviews of the different members of Signature Sound Quartet. SSQ has literally burst on to the scene taking Gospel Music by storm, yet many of the faces are new to the industry and to the fans. So, this is an opportunity to get to know them better.

This month we spotlight SSQ's talented Lead singer, Ryan Seaton. Ryan is a dynamic young man who loves the Lord and loves singing gospel music. When I sat down to get to know him better, I asked him about his background, growing up, and getting started in gospel music.

"My Mother, since I've been a kid has sung gospel music," Ryan recalls. "She never sang with a group on the road, but did some local country gospel things. So, I've grown up with gospel music, I'll Fly Away, and all those songs all my life."

Now, if you've been at one of their concerts, you've probably heard of Ryan and Ernie's similar testimonies, but it is true. Ryan told me, "When I was 15 years old, I went to see the Cathedrals Quartet at Bethel Temple in Evansville , and Ernie was singing with them then. I knew right then and there that this is what I wanted to do with my life." And Ryan is living out his dream since coming on board with Signature Sound last year.

Ryan is single, but still looks forward to going home when they're not singing. He enjoys visiting with his Mom and Dad, and other friends. He likes sports, having once dreamed of playing baseball. Nolan Ryan was one of his childhood heroes. Off the road, he said he likes to play golf, and "go shopping." "I'm not embarrassed to say that," he added with a chuckle.

Signature Sound Quartet is a very youthful and energetic group. The energy and electricity they show on stage is rivaled by few others. Ryan wants to reach the youth of today with their presentation, their music, and their message. "It's a little difficult to get the youth to come see us, because for so long it hasn't been a youthful thing. But, the way I see it, if we can get the youth there, they're going to love it. They may not have the desire to do it, career-wise, but they'll just have a blast."

The time I spent talking to Ryan was very informative and enjoyable. I asked him, "What do you want people to know about Ryan Seaton?" His answer was indicative of a young man with his priorities in order. He said, "I want them to know that I believe what I sing. I want people to see, when they look at me, that he's real."

Check back next month for another interview of another group member, and be sure to catch Signature Sound Quartet when they are near you.

By: Bob Whitehead SoGospelNews.com

Congratulations 
Ryan, Krista, & Olivia On the new Arrival on May 20-2007

Ella-The girl's name Ella \e(l)-la\ is pronounced EL-ah. It is of Old German origin, and its meaning is "other, foreign". Also short form of Eleanor and Ellen. Elle (el) is a variant made familiar by supermodel Elle MacPherson. Singer Ella Fitzgerald. Ella has 7 variant forms: Elle, Ellee, Ellesse, Elli, Ellia, Ellie and Elly. For more information, see also related names Alla, Fredella, Luella, Rella, Cinderella and Helen. Baby names that sound like Ella are Eila, Elia, Eula, Olla and Ulla. Ella is a very popular female first name and a very rare surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the girl's name Ella. Click here to compare Ella with related baby names. Claire-The boy's and girl's name Claire \c-lai-re\ is pronounced clare. It is of French and Latin origin, and its meaning is "famous". French form of Clara. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, but then abandoned. This spelling was revived in the 19th century as a variant of Clare as in Saint Clare of Assisi (13th century), founder of a Franciscan order of nuns and one of the notable saints of the medieval period. Writer Clare Booth Luce; actresses Clara Bow, Claire Bloom, Claire Danes.Claire has 61 variant forms: Ceara, Cearra, Cheeara, Chiara, Ciara, Ciarra, Clair, Claireen, Clairene, Claireta, Clairette, Clairey, Clairice, Clairinda, Clairissa, Clairita, Clairy, Clara, Clarabel, Clarabelle, Clare, Clarene, Claresta, Clareta, Claretta, Clarey, Clari, Claribel, Claribella, Claribelle, Clarice, Clarie, Clarinda, Clarine, Clarisa, Clarissa, Clarisse, Clarita, Claritza, Clarrie, Clarry, Clary, Claryce, Clayre, Clayrette, Clayrice, Clayrinda, Clayrissa, Clerissa, Cliara, Clorinda, Klaire, Klara, Klaretta, Klarissa, Klaryce, Klayre, Kliara, Klyara, Seara and Searra. Baby names that sound like Claire are Klarra, Glaurea, Glaura and Klari. Claire is a very popular female first name and a very popular surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the girl's name Claire. Click here to compare Claire with related baby names.
Birth Verse 2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Sunday's Child Is Full of Grace Sunday's child is full of grace, Monday's child is full in the face, Tuesday's child is solemn and sad, Wednesday's child is merry and glad, Thursday's child is inclined to thieving, Friday's child is free in giving, And Saturday's child works hard for a living
God's Child So precious a little baby girl I know Soft and delicate Like a porcelain doll Ten tiny fingers Ten tiny toes Crying for attention Wanting to be held and fed Someone to rock her in the rocking chair Sing all her favorite lullabies That puts her back to bed Curly black silky hair Curves around the ribbons and bows Mama takes her time To make her smell unforgettable Dresses her up in her baby doll clothes Oh who can forget those big brown eyes? The rain will stop Flowers will grow When she opens those eyes the sun will rise Do you have a precious little someone you know? A little someone to take care of Watch them month by month inch by inch As they grow?