History
Stephen Speaks first album No More Doubt was recorded in 2000. Speaks' music has been distributed through various online retailers, including Awarestore.com, CDbaby, and Tunecore, who offer them digital distribution through outlets such as iTunes, Amazon MP3, Rhapsody, and Napster. No More Doubt's two biggest singles, "Passenger Seat" and "Out of My League" both went No. 1 on Filipino radio stations. No More Doubt was released in the Philippines on February 4, 2003, through a licensing deal negotiated with Warner Music, in conjunction with Ripperger's label, Rippley Records Inc. The album was declared platinum ten days later by Warner Music, on February 14, 2003.
Speaks' second album was recorded in Ripperger's home studio and printed on CD in 2003. Most popular tracks include "The Leaving Song", which features Grammy winning artist Ryan Tedder on vocals, "First Glance", and "On My Way". Ripperger digitally remixed and mastered One More Day for release on iTunes in 2006.
In 2006 Ripperger teamed up with producer Chad Copelin, the band's first effort outside of their own studio, "Symptoms Of Love". "Disappear demo" was released on MySpace in 2006, and gained over a million internet plays before the album was finished being recorded. In February 2007, Speaks' made the top 100 artists for CDbaby due to their jump in iTunes sales. Symptoms Of Love was released on January 7, 2008.
In December, 2010, Stephen Speaks released Christmas With Friends 2, which was available for free on the band's website. Christmas With Friends 2 features only acoustic guitars and vocals, with guest vocalists Lindsey Sandella, Ben Kilgore, Noelle Kilgore, Julia Frej, and Jay Lashley. The guest guitar players featured on the album are Jesse Aycock, Jeff Coleman, Matt Cox and Ben Mosier.
Live performances vary from solo to a five piece band consisting of lead-singer and acoustic player Rockwell Ryan Ripperger, with a rotating lineup of guitarists, drummers, bass players, and key players. Speaks' is represented by two booking agents, Box Talent Agency and Event Recources Presents.
Stephen Speaks' first major studio album, Age Of The Underdog, was recorded in summer of 2010 with producer Brady Blade, who also played drums on the album. A documentary was also filmed about the making of the record. Both the DVD and record are set to release in 2011.
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