RYLEE'S BIO

Ryan Williams received a disturbing phone call from her 4-year-old daughter’s piano teacher. Daughter RyLee had been surrounded and soothed by music before she could walk and talk.

But the teacher’s words, “I don’t think this is going to work out,” baffled Williams. The teacher insisted she come to the studio.

“She asked RyLee to play something and she played it perfectly,” said Williams. “Her finger placement was perfect. I’m looking like, ‘What’s the problem?’ I’m thinking she’s reading the sheet music.

“What was happening was at four years old, RyLee was hearing the music. The teacher would play the song first. Then RyLee was mirroring everything that she was doing. The music teacher thought she was actually reading and playing the music.”

RyLee has used her rare, music-mirroring ability to become a promising singer and songwriter. At the age of 17, she debuted in 2025 with “Replay,” an EP of all-original lyrics with wisdom of a seasoned adult.

RyLee is excited to move beyond those early lessons and create her own music.

“I was just born with it,” said RyLee. “It’s been in my family for a long time.

“When I came out the womb, I was super interested in it. My grandfather and my dad showed me a lot about music. My dad is a music producer and my grandfather is an artist and guitarist.”

RyLee’s mom, a poet and novelist, is now her manager. Father Luccie Fontane is a record producer.

RyLee’s Louisiana Creole bloodlines also include her grandfather Dennis Paul Williams, a published visual artist and guitarist who travels the globe with his brother’s Grammy-nominated band, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas.

Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers, her cousins’ group, have a resume that stretches from Louisiana and Texas trail rides to “60 Minutes” on CBS.

Williams believes RyLee will continue the family’s positive image and influence.

“Arts have been removed from school settings and our everyday lives. Music that they were making in the ‘30s and ‘40s that you could just feel, that’s been put to the backburner. So just to have music that people can connect with, that’s real, that authenticity of the artist just shines through and through. That is very refreshing.

“Images of positivity are needed. Lots of images of females depict them as a certain thing. It’s not uplifting as it could be. Music is supposed to uplift the mind, body and soul.

“RyLee has the potential to change some minds. It only takes one spark, one person to be brave enough to do things their way. It could change the whole fabric of everything.”

Herman Fuselier is a longtime journalist covering Louisiana music and culture. His “Zydeco Stomp” radio show airs noon Saturdays on KRVS 88.7 FM.