Ryan Orr - Early Life

Early Life

Orr was born in Phoenix, Arizona where he lived up until the age of 6. Before, during and after high school, Orr played in several bands, worked part time at several jobs and then married. His family moved to St. Joseph, Missouri where he went to grade school at Saint James Parochial School. He was in the same class as Steve Walsh (musician), who later became the lead singer and keyboardist in the band Kansas (band). Orr played the piano and bass guitar four almost four years and during the 6th grade introduced several members of the class including Walsh, to live music. Steve Walsh ultimately took up the keyboards and went on to fame. Both boys sang in the church choir and had a knack for speaking and singing in Latin.

Orr, while in the fifth grade, wrote a short story called the Little Tin Shop, this story led to writing for the high school paper. Orr graduated from High school and attended several colleges and universities while traveling around the world and settling back to Arizona.