Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Eytan Ribner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Eytan, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I always wanted to be funny. Make people laugh and get some attention. Having 2 kids though I chucked that dream of being a stand-up comedian and left the mentorship of Stanley Myron
Haldeman (he was a regular on the Ed Sullivan show). After 30 years in business, I got the
irrepressible urge to explore my comedic leanings and a friend told me about the Upright
Citizens Brigade. But, improv was to dependent on my hearing others speak. I was 64 then and
my hearing was showing its age. Besides I always played Gramps or Uncle Joe. Stand up was
better; I only had to act spontaneously when I delivered my lines.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I had started playing guitar about 40 years earlier, but after a month or so I leveled off. But one night at an open mic at the Clown House, I played blues on my guitar through my whole set
while I delivered my shtick. I wasn’t a great musician nor a great comic, but combined, I was in
a league of my own. It wasn’t long before I started writing songs and with the help of Sue Fink,
of the Angel City Chorale, I was able to find my voice.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As an award-winning singer/songwriter and self-proclaimed video star, I have recorded over 30 songs. Such creative magic to work with professionals like Marty Rifkin (BruceSpringsteen, Dwight Yoakam, Jewel, and Weird Al) and his talented network of
musicians.
One of my most rewarding adventures was writing songs for my granddaughter and
recording her vocals. She’s adept at projecting her amazing personality. My newest release
features a collaboration with her on a single and companion video called American
Earthling. It’s about a little girl astronaut who meets up with a friendly alien.
The song was an attempt at getting an objective view of our world from an independent being (the alien) and his advice on cooperating to achieve common goals. It’s really cute. In retrospect, it reminds of a song by
The Youngbloods, called Get Together, a kind of anthem for the Sixties.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Having to perform live has pushed me to be a better musician. I not only had to be a better singer but had to listen to my back-up singers to make sure we sounded good together. As a rhythm guitar player, the band relied on me to bridge the sound of the rhythm section (drums and bass) with the lead guitar and voices. I had to also be aware of my band’s performance in front of a crowd and learn how to interact with them (my stand-up training was a great help in that regard.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eytanribner.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eytanribner/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eytanribnermusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/eytanribner
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChatRMWbGf_dk2hJa7WLj8w
