Jimmy Ryser

Jimmy Ryser (b. Cleveland, January 31, 1965 -- ) – Singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Born with Spinal Bifida, Jimmy Ryser moved to Indiana by the time he was a teenager and started playing in bands. After one of his demo tapes reached John Mellencamp, Ryser soon had a record deal with Arista Records. Ryser’s eponymous LP in 1990 produced one hit “Some Old Look,” which reached #26 on Billboard. Due to health reasons, he left Arista in 1992. Since then, he has released additional albums with the help of John Mellencamp, who has let him borrow his recording studio as well as his band members. In addition, Mellencamp invited Ryser to be a part of two of his albums (Dance Naked and Mr. Happy Go Lucky). Performance highlights for Ryser include opening for the Moody Blues on a 1990 tour, singing the national anthem at Indy’s Brickyard 400 in 2002, and performing at Far Aid in 1993. Ryser also did studio work for Hall & Oates and Tracy Chapman. Aside from his music endeavors, Ryser has devoted himself to helping others deal with chronic pain. Currently, he resides in Plainfield, and he manages the Pain Services and Chemical Dependency Program at IU Methodist Hospital. After recovering from a drug addiction to pain killers in 1999, Ryser has had a passion for helping others overcome addiction.