TJ McCloudとは 意味・読み方・使い方

TJ McCloud is an indie/folk singer and songwriter. Born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in 1980, he lived in Perry, Oklahoma until 1990, then moved with his family to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he finished high school. In 1999, he co-founded the group Doubting Thomas with Jenks High School buddies Ab Colby and Rockwell Ryan Ripperger. While a student at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, McCloud and Ripperger later morphed into the successful indie group Stephen Speaks. The band's album "No More Doubt" did well, spreading through college campuses and the newly formed Internet sharing service, "Napster". Through word of mouth, the singles "Out of My League",and "Passenger Seat", were picked up internationally and both songs went to #1 on Filipino radio stations throughout the Spring of 2003, breaking all previous pop music records for that country.The album,then signed and distributed through Warner Bros,went certified platinum for that market. A music video for "Passenger Seat" was also produced and went to #1 on MTV-Asia. For the Filipino tour,the McCloud/Ripperger duo was expanded to include Ripperger's brother Dain Samuelson(percussion), Amber Sturges(vocals), Blake Howard(bass), and Blake Farmer(drums). After the surprise radio and music video success in Manila, Philippines, Ripperger and McCloud disbanded Stephen Speaks, and McCloud relocated to Nashville, TN in order to pursue a solo career as an indie singer and songwriter. Ripperger(who then became known as Rockwell Ryan)began performing once again under the Stephen Speaks name in 2004, releasing several albums to date.