Early life and education

Ed Wynne was born in July 1966 in Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...

 and grew up on a 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) farm outside Carlton, Oregon

Carlton, Oregon

Carlton is a city in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. According to the 2000 United States Census, the municipality population was 1,514. The 2007 estimate is 1,755 residents.-History:...

. After learning the recorder

Recorder

The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...

 at age 10, he decided to play the saxophone

Saxophone

The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...

 because it looked cool in the case. At age 12 he discovered the stage and began an interest in acting and singing at the Gallery Players Theater of Oregon. The saxophone was left in the closet for the next three years. When Ed turned 13 he began home schooling and spent most of his time riding motorcycles and performing at the Gallery Players Theater of Oregon in McMinnville.

Ed moved to Southern California at the age of 15. He picked up the sax again and throughout high school played tenor, alto, soprano and baritone saxophone while continuing to act and sing. At the age of 16 Ed answered an ad out of a local newspaper, "oldies band looking for sax player". This band, "The Die Hards" became Eds first working situation. While singing and playing 50's & 60's music in the Die Hards he also played sax in his high school jazz band, concert band and marching band. He also joined an original ska and rockabilly band with some high school friends, The Mana Rays.

Career

After graduating from high school Ed spent part of a year at Cal State Fullerton

California State University, Fullerton

California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...

 where he became friends with trumpet player Tony Guerrero

Tony Guerrero

Tony Guerrero is a musician, composer, writer and producer. His career as a jazz trumpeter has spanned over twenty years, starting with the release of his first CD, Tiara in 1988. He has since released seven solo albums, several of which garnered critical praise, Top20 jazz radio play, and...

. Tony & Ed played in a jazz and jazz fusion band called Vision. Vision worked the Orange County jazz circuit in the mid 80's and just missed getting signed. At the last minute the record company decided to sign Tony to a solo contract because he had written most of the bands original material. This experience taught Ed the importance of writing music. He began co-writing music in various styles, practicing the craft of song writing while continuing to play live. By the time he was 21 Ed had played with greats like Roy "Guitar" Gaines, Ronnie Laws

Ronnie Laws

Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Laws is an American jazz, blues and funk saxophonist. He is the younger brother of jazz flautist Hubert Laws.-Biography:...

, Roland Batista, The Platters

The Platters

The Platters were a vocal group of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound was a bridge between the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the burgeoning new genre...

 and Bill Medley

Bill Medley

William Thomas Medley is an American singer and songwriter, best known as one half of The Righteous Brothers....

.

By 1987 Ed was a mainstay on the South Central L.A. Club Scene playing places like Marla Gibbs Memory Lane, The Total Experience, Freddy Jets Pied Piper, The Dodger Club and The Page Four. He spent most of his nights playing soul, funk and R&B at the Page Four in the Late Night Express band, Monday night at Memory Lane with the Whodunit Blues Band which included serious blues men Keb' Mo'

Keb' Mo'

Keb' Mo is an American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter, currently living in Nashville, Tennessee, United States.-Early life:From early on he had an appreciation for the blues and gospel music...

, Charlie Tuna

Charlie Tuna

Charlie Tuna is the stage name of Art Ferguson , a radio personality based in Los Angeles, California currently working at KRTH-FM....

, Monk Higgins

Monk Higgins

Milton Bland better known as Monk Higgins, was an American musician and saxophonist who was born in Menifee, Arkansas....

 and Lermon Howard and Tuesday night jams at Memory Lane with Del Atkins (Anita Baker) and Herman Jackson (Whitney Houston & Stevie Wonder). The Late Night Express backed up local R&B singer Greg Rose of the Rose Brothers. Ed spent over a year in this band with fellow side man Grammy winning guitarist and singer Keb' Mo'.

In late 89 and early 1990 Ed toured with Vesta Williams

Vesta Williams

Mary Vesta Williams was an American R&B singer. Originally credited as Vesta Williams, she was sometimes simply billed as Vesta beginning in the 1990s. She was known for her four-octave vocal range...

 on her For You Tour. In 1991 Ed was hired by Universal Studios Hollywood to play the part of Blue Lou in the Blues Brothers Rhythm & Blues Review. During his 7 years with the Blues Brothers Show Ed continued to find time to play various gigs and dates for T.V. including the ABC All-Star Pro Sports awards show with Buster Poindexter

David Johansen

David Roger Johansen is an American rock, protopunk, blues, and pop singer, as well as a songwriter and actor. He is best known as a member of the seminal protopunk band The New York Dolls and also achieved commercial success under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter.-Early life:Johansen was born in...

, a live broadcast from the Universal Amphitheater. Ed co-wrote, co-produced and sang all the lead vocals on the CD, Sneakin In for the band Bad Karma. Bad Karma featured Ed on lead vocals, Rick Zahariades on guitar (co-writer and co-producer), Matt Laug

Matt Laug

Matt Laug is an American drummer who has played with many bands/artists such as Alice Cooper, Slash's Snakepit and Vasco Rossi. Matt appeared briefly as the drummer on the debut album of Michael Michael in high school. With hits White Guys and Dear Mr...

 on drums and Lance Morrison

Lance Morrison

Lance Morrison is a professional bassist and session musician who has recorded on studio albums for Alanis Morissette, Elisa, Don Henley, Rick Springfield, Autograph and Jim Brickman. He has also been featured in movie soundtracks for Nicholas Sparks' novel-turned-feature film "Message in a...

 on bass. Three songs from the bands first CD have been heard in T.V. movies for Disney, Hallmark and A&E. Ed played Reggae and World Music in Tropical Waves and The World Peace Posse. Ed also produced five summers of musical entertainment for Universal Studios which included everything from a 4 piece beach band to a 10 piece Blues Brothers show band. Ed produced these bands from concept to completion serving as producer, musical director, horn choreographer, contractor, payroll service, saxophonist and lead singer.

After many years at Universal Studios and other Southern California theme parks Ed decided to hit the road a little and took the job of Musical Director for the Emmy-winning performer Wayne Brady

Wayne Brady

Wayne Alphonso Brady is an actor, singer, comedian and television personality, known for his work as a regular on the American version of the improvisational comedy television series Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and as the host of the daytime talk show The Wayne Brady Show...

. After a year with Wayne Brady Ed joined the Frankie Valli band and then went on the road with The Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...

for their 2002 summer tour. Currently Ed Wynne can be seen performing live with the Al McKay AllStars and Ellis Hall & The Truth.