Ryan Benjamin Tedder Location: Tulsa, OK & Colorado Springs, CO Age: 21 Ryan Tedder is the twenty-one year-old finalist from Tulsa/Colorado Springs. He is currently in his senior year of college and is working as a demo singer. Ryan began singing at the age of seven and continued through church, school, and personally formed groups. He has not had any formal training in voice, but he plays piano, guitar, drums, and bass. Ryan compares himself to Babyface because of his shared ability to write, sing, and play various instruments to express his pop/rock/folk style. He is also influenced by Sarah McLachlan, Peter Gabriel, Brian McKnight, and Boyz II Men. Ryan believes that, "a mix of musical influences flows through [his] music," in his tendency to mix musical styles, from British pop to soul/R&B.