University Southern California Trojans
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Photo by: John McGillen
Playing the Blues in Cardinal and Gold
October 27, 2018 | Football
by Katie Ryan, USC Assistant Sports Information Director
The year is 2030. Thousands of people have made their way to Indio, Calif. to attend Stagecoach, the largest country music festival in the world. The crowd, adorned in cowboy hats and boots, makes their way to the "Mane Stage" to see the festival's celebrity headliner.
The lights dim and the country blues artist walks onstage with his guitar as the crowd begins to scream. As he strums his first chord, the fans go wild. He smiles remembering that not too long ago, he was performing in front of an equally large crowd each Saturday night under the lights of the Coliseum with the USC football team.
"I want to headline Stagecoach 2030. That's the goal," said redshirt senior offensive guard Chris Brown.
"I'm still trying to find my sound, but I like to play country blues," he said. "And I'm not going to use my name 'Chris Brown' because obviously that's taken. I'm going to use my middle name instead: 'Chris Ryan'. I like it. I'll slim down a little bit, get some tight black pants like Luke Bryan, head up there and get it done."
Brown began playing music at age nine when he first picked up the guitar.
"I really wanted a guitar and playing music just clicked with me really fast," he said. "I think I got so good so fast because I took it really seriously. I was really engaged and I loved it. It takes a lot of practice and you need to obsess over it. It was my first passion."
In addition to guitar, Brown also plays the piano and is learning the blues harmonica.
On football road trips, it's not surprising to hear beautiful music coming from the piano in the hotel lobby, only to realize it is Brown at the keys.
"I always like seeing pianos at the hotels," he said with a smile.
Brown, who is working on writing his own music as well as singing, can be found in the Trojan locker room putting on private performances.
"Guys on the team will take the guitar class offered here and they will have guitars in the locker room," he said. "Sometimes I'll pick up their guitars and just start playing. It's a really great way to pass the time and de-stress."
In addition to his locker room shows, Brown has performed in more public venues.
"I used to perform all the time," said Brown. "I always used to play guitar for the choir on Sundays at church. I've also played at the Venice Whaler and my sister sang. She likes hipster music, so we played that. It was really fun."
While Brown's dedication to his art is evident, so is his commitment to being an outstanding offensive lineman for the Trojans.
"Music and football do have some similarities in terms of getting better," said Brown. "There is always something you could be working on in music and in football. Guitar is super technique oriented and if you don't work on it, you're going to regress, which is the same as football. You have to try to consciously improve. They both require constant practice, repetition and committing moves to muscle memory."
Brown, who grew up in Westchester, Calif., is an LA boy. Naturally, he grew up a Trojan fan.
"My neighbor used to take me to USC games when I was a kid," he said. "He's a season ticket holder and an alumni. My favorite player was Matt Khalil and as an offensive lineman, I loved to watch him play."
After beginning his football career as a freshman at Loyola High School in Los Angeles, Brown never imagined he would have an opportunity to play at the collegiate level.
"I had no offers or interest going into my senior year," said Brown. "I attended a camp and the San Diego State head coach at the time was there and watched me participate in pass protection drills. I had a pretty good day, and he came up to talk to me after the camp. He said 'You looked pretty good out there. How many offers do you have?'
"I was like, '…What?'
"He looked at me confused and said, 'Offers? Like from schools?'
"I responded, 'None.'
"He stared at me and goes, 'Really?'
"I said, "Yeah, no offers.'
"Later that night he offered me and told me that I'd be getting a lot more attention," said Brown. "It was super exciting because I never thought I would have the opportunity to play in college."
After receiving his first offer, Brown's status increased exponentially on the recruiting scene.
"It was crazy. It blew up out of nowhere," he said. "After my second game during my senior season, I started getting three or four offers a week. It was pretty overwhelming at times. There was even one day where I got three offers."
Amidst all of the interest from schools across the country, Brown knew in his heart there was only one place he wanted to call home for the next four years.
"Every time coach Tee Martin reached out to me, I was so excited. I would always think, "This is it! This is it!' When USC offered me, that was it. I knew I wanted to come here. It was like all of my dreams were coming true."
Today, the 2017 All-Pac-12 honorable mention recipient has played in 47 games with 23 career starts. He has even had the opportunity to train with his favorite Trojan, Matt Kalil.
"It's really cool looking back on it now," said Brown. "How I was in the stands of the Coliseum as a little kid looking down at the players and now I'm one of them. It's a really cool feeling to know I accomplished something I used to dream about."
Brown isn't done dreaming yet. After what he hopes will be a successful career in the NFL, the real estate development major has established lofty goals for himself.
"I want to build up as much capital as I can and invest in real estate," he said. "Hopefully I will surround myself with smart people to help me make wise investments. While doing that, I also want to focus on my music."
So be sure to mark down on your calendars the last weekend in April 2030. Chris Ryan, formerly known as USC offensive guard Chris Brown, plans to take the Stagecoach stage as its headline performer. The entire Trojan Family will want to be there!
The year is 2030. Thousands of people have made their way to Indio, Calif. to attend Stagecoach, the largest country music festival in the world. The crowd, adorned in cowboy hats and boots, makes their way to the "Mane Stage" to see the festival's celebrity headliner.
The lights dim and the country blues artist walks onstage with his guitar as the crowd begins to scream. As he strums his first chord, the fans go wild. He smiles remembering that not too long ago, he was performing in front of an equally large crowd each Saturday night under the lights of the Coliseum with the USC football team.
"I want to headline Stagecoach 2030. That's the goal," said redshirt senior offensive guard Chris Brown.
"I'm still trying to find my sound, but I like to play country blues," he said. "And I'm not going to use my name 'Chris Brown' because obviously that's taken. I'm going to use my middle name instead: 'Chris Ryan'. I like it. I'll slim down a little bit, get some tight black pants like Luke Bryan, head up there and get it done."
Brown began playing music at age nine when he first picked up the guitar.
"I really wanted a guitar and playing music just clicked with me really fast," he said. "I think I got so good so fast because I took it really seriously. I was really engaged and I loved it. It takes a lot of practice and you need to obsess over it. It was my first passion."
In addition to guitar, Brown also plays the piano and is learning the blues harmonica.
On football road trips, it's not surprising to hear beautiful music coming from the piano in the hotel lobby, only to realize it is Brown at the keys.
"I always like seeing pianos at the hotels," he said with a smile.
Brown, who is working on writing his own music as well as singing, can be found in the Trojan locker room putting on private performances.
"Guys on the team will take the guitar class offered here and they will have guitars in the locker room," he said. "Sometimes I'll pick up their guitars and just start playing. It's a really great way to pass the time and de-stress."
In addition to his locker room shows, Brown has performed in more public venues.
"I used to perform all the time," said Brown. "I always used to play guitar for the choir on Sundays at church. I've also played at the Venice Whaler and my sister sang. She likes hipster music, so we played that. It was really fun."
While Brown's dedication to his art is evident, so is his commitment to being an outstanding offensive lineman for the Trojans.
"Music and football do have some similarities in terms of getting better," said Brown. "There is always something you could be working on in music and in football. Guitar is super technique oriented and if you don't work on it, you're going to regress, which is the same as football. You have to try to consciously improve. They both require constant practice, repetition and committing moves to muscle memory."
Brown, who grew up in Westchester, Calif., is an LA boy. Naturally, he grew up a Trojan fan.
"My neighbor used to take me to USC games when I was a kid," he said. "He's a season ticket holder and an alumni. My favorite player was Matt Khalil and as an offensive lineman, I loved to watch him play."
After beginning his football career as a freshman at Loyola High School in Los Angeles, Brown never imagined he would have an opportunity to play at the collegiate level.
"I had no offers or interest going into my senior year," said Brown. "I attended a camp and the San Diego State head coach at the time was there and watched me participate in pass protection drills. I had a pretty good day, and he came up to talk to me after the camp. He said 'You looked pretty good out there. How many offers do you have?'
"I was like, '…What?'
"He looked at me confused and said, 'Offers? Like from schools?'
"I responded, 'None.'
"He stared at me and goes, 'Really?'
"I said, "Yeah, no offers.'
"Later that night he offered me and told me that I'd be getting a lot more attention," said Brown. "It was super exciting because I never thought I would have the opportunity to play in college."
After receiving his first offer, Brown's status increased exponentially on the recruiting scene.
"It was crazy. It blew up out of nowhere," he said. "After my second game during my senior season, I started getting three or four offers a week. It was pretty overwhelming at times. There was even one day where I got three offers."
Amidst all of the interest from schools across the country, Brown knew in his heart there was only one place he wanted to call home for the next four years.
"Every time coach Tee Martin reached out to me, I was so excited. I would always think, "This is it! This is it!' When USC offered me, that was it. I knew I wanted to come here. It was like all of my dreams were coming true."
Today, the 2017 All-Pac-12 honorable mention recipient has played in 47 games with 23 career starts. He has even had the opportunity to train with his favorite Trojan, Matt Kalil.
"It's really cool looking back on it now," said Brown. "How I was in the stands of the Coliseum as a little kid looking down at the players and now I'm one of them. It's a really cool feeling to know I accomplished something I used to dream about."
Brown isn't done dreaming yet. After what he hopes will be a successful career in the NFL, the real estate development major has established lofty goals for himself.
"I want to build up as much capital as I can and invest in real estate," he said. "Hopefully I will surround myself with smart people to help me make wise investments. While doing that, I also want to focus on my music."
So be sure to mark down on your calendars the last weekend in April 2030. Chris Ryan, formerly known as USC offensive guard Chris Brown, plans to take the Stagecoach stage as its headline performer. The entire Trojan Family will want to be there!
Thursday, May 14
Thursday, May 14
Wednesday, April 22
Wednesday, April 22
