Ryan Whitt is a Nashville-based drummer with over a decade of experience performing and recording across a wide range of genres. His passion for percussion began in middle school, first with the snare drum in band class, then expanding to a full kit as he discovered bands like Avenged Sevenfold, Disturbed, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers online. Inspired by the music of Dream Theater, Snarky Puppy, and Frank Zappa, he honed his craft through collegiate studies at Berea College with percussionist Tripp Bratton while still in high school.
He co-founded his first bands, In Tune and Turning Age, with the support of his family. The group became the house band for the Roller Derby of Central Kentucky, performing regularly at Heritage Hall in Rupp Arena and playing festivals like the Black Gold Festival in Hazard, KY along with other venues across Lexington, Shelbyville, and Berea.
Beginning in 2019, he pursued a minor in music performance at the University of Kentucky, where he studied jazz drumming under Paul Deatherage. While balancing a rigorous academic schedule in Computer Science, he performed in collegiate jazz combos, big bands, rock ensembles, and theater pit bands, while also maintaining an active schedule of live shows, recording sessions, and private lessons outside of school.
In 2022, Whitt co-founded Friends Who Call, a post-punk band known for its high-energy performances and eclectic influences, leading to the release of their original track, Left Unsaid (2023).
The following year, he joined Dalton Kiser & The Downwind, a country-rock band that performed extensively throughout Kentucky and Ohio, leading to the release of their EP, A Cut Through The Wind (2025).
After earning his B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Kentucky in 2024, Whitt continues his work as a freelance drummer, instructor, and session musician. His mission remains the same: to contribute to the global drumming community—whether through performing jazz standards in a café, playing electrifying pop-punk on a big stage, or inspiring the next generation of drummers to develop their own voice behind the kit.
Whitt is currently a member of Love Side RX, a pop-punk band based in Ohio, and is a member of The State Line, the backing band for Kentucky artist Tyler Miniard. He performs as a freelance percussionist with various artists and bands across Tennessee and Kentucky and teaches drum lessons to students online.
