Riker Lynch
Encyclopedia
Riker Anthony Lynch is an American singer-songwriter, musician, actor, dancer, and is the singer and bassist of the band R5 with his brothers Ross Lynch and Rocky Lynch, sister Rydel Lynch, and best friend Ellington Ratliff.
. He is the eldest of five children born to Mark and Stormie Lynch. At the age of three, Riker started learning to sing and act at Colorado Productions and later began taking dance lessons. He was in singing groups that performed all around Denver, and in the summer he would act in kid versions of plays such as Peter Pan, Aladdin, Annie Get Your Gun
, A Chorus Line
, and Grease
. Riker and his siblings would constantly put on concerts in their basement for the rest of the family singing and dancing to Michael Jackson
, Elvis
, Backstreet Boys
, and *NSYNC. Riker and his sister Rydel took piano lessons and competed as partners in dance competitions.
In 2007, Riker moved with his family to California to pursue a career as a young entertainer.
After moving to Los Angeles, one of Riker's brothers, Rocky Lynch, began showing interest in playing the guitar; he taught himself how to play and got into bands like Fall Out Boy and Green Day. Rocky later taught their younger brother Ross to play guitar and taught Riker to play the bass. Rydel, already knowing how to play a little piano, took up the instrument again, and in October 2009 the family met Ellington Ratliff at a dance studio. Learning that Ratliff could play drums they added the final member and using Ratliff's last name they completed R5.
He is also the cousin of dancing/music-singing/acting stars Derek Hough
and Julianne Hough
.
, the San Diego Fair, San Diego Indie Fest, The Knitting Factory, and Six Flags Magic Mountain
.
R5 released an EP titled "Ready Set Rock" on March 9, 2010 consisting of songs written primarily by Riker and his brother Rocky along with their sister Rydel, band coach E-Vega, and vocal coach / songwriter, Mauli B. The EP was also produced by E-Vega.
's hit show Glee
. He was a recurring character for the second season
, appearing in six episodes, and returned in the third season
with the fifth episode, "The First Time
". He also appeared as a Warbler in the 2011 edition of the Glee Live! In Concert!
tour, which performed from May 21, 2011 through July 3, 2011: four weeks in the U.S. and Canada, followed by twelve days in England and Ireland. A movie was filmed of the tour concert, which includes scenes with Riker performing as Jeff: Glee: The 3D Concert Movie
was released on August 12, 2011. The movie is scheduled to be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on December 20, 2011 under the title Glee: The Concert Movie.
Early life
Riker was born in Littleton, ColoradoLittleton, Colorado
Littleton is a Home Rule Municipality contained in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Littleton is a suburb of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area. Littleton is the county seat of Arapahoe County and the 20th most populous city in the state of...
. He is the eldest of five children born to Mark and Stormie Lynch. At the age of three, Riker started learning to sing and act at Colorado Productions and later began taking dance lessons. He was in singing groups that performed all around Denver, and in the summer he would act in kid versions of plays such as Peter Pan, Aladdin, Annie Get Your Gun
Annie Get Your Gun (musical)
Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music written by Irving Berlin and a book by Herbert Fields and his sister Dorothy Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley , who was a sharpshooter from Ohio, and her husband, Frank Butler.The 1946 Broadway production...
, A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line is a 1975 musical about Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. The book was authored by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante, lyrics were written by Edward Kleban, and music was composed by Marvin Hamlisch....
, and Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
. Riker and his siblings would constantly put on concerts in their basement for the rest of the family singing and dancing to Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Elvis
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
, and *NSYNC. Riker and his sister Rydel took piano lessons and competed as partners in dance competitions.
In 2007, Riker moved with his family to California to pursue a career as a young entertainer.
After moving to Los Angeles, one of Riker's brothers, Rocky Lynch, began showing interest in playing the guitar; he taught himself how to play and got into bands like Fall Out Boy and Green Day. Rocky later taught their younger brother Ross to play guitar and taught Riker to play the bass. Rydel, already knowing how to play a little piano, took up the instrument again, and in October 2009 the family met Ellington Ratliff at a dance studio. Learning that Ratliff could play drums they added the final member and using Ratliff's last name they completed R5.
He is also the cousin of dancing/music-singing/acting stars Derek Hough
Derek Hough
Derek Hough is an American dancer, choreographer, musician and actor. A world champion in Latin American Dance, Hough has appeared since September 2007 on the hit U.S...
and Julianne Hough
Julianne Hough
Julianne Alexandra Hough is an American professional ballroom dancer, country music singer and actress. She is most widely known for being a two-time champion of ABC's Dancing with the Stars. She earned a Creative Arts Primetime Emmy nomination in 2007 for choreography...
.
Music
Riker is the bassist and one the lead vocalists in the band R5 with his family members and best friend. R5 plays all throughout Southern California at such venues as the Orange County FairOrange County Fair (California)
The Orange County Fair, abbreviated as the OC Fair, is a 23-day annual fair that is held every summer at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California.-History:...
, the San Diego Fair, San Diego Indie Fest, The Knitting Factory, and Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In...
.
Albums
R5 released an EP titled "Ready Set Rock" on March 9, 2010 consisting of songs written primarily by Riker and his brother Rocky along with their sister Rydel, band coach E-Vega, and vocal coach / songwriter, Mauli B. The EP was also produced by E-Vega.
Acting
Riker is best known for his role as Jeff, one of the Dalton Academy Warblers on FoxFox Entertainment Group
The Fox Entertainment Group is an American entertainment industry company that owns film studios and terrestrial, cable, and direct broadcast satellite television properties...
's hit show Glee
Glee (TV series)
Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
. He was a recurring character for the second season
Glee (season 2)
The second season of the musical comedy-drama television series Glee originally aired between September 21, 2010 and May 24, 2011 on Fox in the United States...
, appearing in six episodes, and returned in the third season
Glee (season 3)
A third season of the Fox musical comedy-drama television series Glee was commissioned on May 23, 2010 while the first season aired. It premiered on September 20, 2011, and is being produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Ryan Murphy Television, with executive producers Dante Di Loreto and...
with the fifth episode, "The First Time
The First Time (Glee)
"The First Time" is the fifth episode of the third season of the American musical television series Glee, and the 49th overall. Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and directed by co-executive producer Bradley Buecker, it first aired on Fox in the United States on November 8, 2011...
". He also appeared as a Warbler in the 2011 edition of the Glee Live! In Concert!
Glee Live! In Concert!
Glee Live! In Concert! is a concert tour performed in character by members of the cast of the popular television series, Glee. The tour, created by series creator Ryan Murphy was designed due to the overwhelming response to the series. The show reached North America, the United Kingdom and Ireland...
tour, which performed from May 21, 2011 through July 3, 2011: four weeks in the U.S. and Canada, followed by twelve days in England and Ireland. A movie was filmed of the tour concert, which includes scenes with Riker performing as Jeff: Glee: The 3D Concert Movie
Glee: The 3D Concert Movie
Glee: The 3D Concert Movie is a 2011 American 3-D concert film directed by Kevin Tancharoen. It is based on the Fox television series Glee and features the cast performing during the Glee Live! In Concert! tour.-Synopsis:...
was released on August 12, 2011. The movie is scheduled to be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on December 20, 2011 under the title Glee: The Concert Movie.
Filmography
| Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday School Musical Sunday School Musical Sunday School Musical is a musical film mockbuster released direct-to-DVD on October 21, 2008. It is similar to Disney's High School Musical franchise, but the film takes a dramatically different approach in terms of storyline.- Plot :... (2008) |
Crossroads choir member | |
| Passport to Explore | Himself (host) | |
| The Fresh Beat Band The Fresh Beat Band The Fresh Beat Band is a children TV show with original pop songs produced for Nick Jr.. The Fresh Beats are Shout, Twist, Marina, and Kiki, described as four best friends in a band who go to music school together and love to sing and dance... |
Principal Dancer | |
| So You Think You Can Dance So You Think You Can Dance (U.S. TV series) So You Think You Can Dance is an American dance competition and reality show that airs on Fox in the United States.The series first premiered on July 20, 2005, and was created by American Idol producers Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and is produced by 19 Entertainment and Dick Clark Productions... |
Himself | 1 episode (June 25, 2009) |
| Suicide Dolls Suicide Dolls Suicide Dolls is a 2010 film from Salsera Productions in association with Prop Blast Films and On the River Productions.- Plot :The film follows two lonely girls as they plan to commit suicide and decide to chronicle their last 24 hours.... (2010) |
Hip kid | |
| Zeke and Luther Zeke and Luther Zeke and Luther is an American Disney XD sitcom about two best friends setting their sights on becoming the world's greatest skateboarders. The show stars Hutch Dano, Adam Hicks, Daniel Curtis Lee and Ryan Newman .... |
Principal Dancer | 1 episode (2010) - "Goin' Zoomin'" |
| Glee Glee (TV series) Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues... |
Jeff | 7 episodes (2010–present) - "Special Education Special Education (Glee) "Special Education" is the ninth episode of the second season of the American musical television series Glee, and the 31st episode overall. It was written by series creator Brad Falchuk, directed by Paris Barclay, and aired on Fox in the United States on November 30, 2010... ", "The Sue Sylvester Shuffle The Sue Sylvester Shuffle "The Sue Sylvester Shuffle" is the eleventh episode of the second season of the American musical television series Glee, and the 33rd episode overall. It was written by Ian Brennan, directed by Brad Falchuk, and was broadcast immediately following Super Bowl XLV on February 6, 2011... ", "Silly Love Songs Silly Love Songs (Glee) "Silly Love Songs" is the twelfth episode of the second season of the American musical television series Glee, and the 34th overall. The Valentine's Day-themed episode was written by series creator Ryan Murphy, directed by Tate Donovan, and premiered on Fox on February 8, 2011... ", "Sexy Sexy (Glee) "Sexy" is the fifteenth episode of the second season of the American television series Glee, and the 37th overall. It was written by Brad Falchuk, directed by Ryan Murphy, and premiered on Fox on March 8, 2011. This episode mainly revolves around the topics of sex and adolescent sexuality... ", "Original Song Original Song "Original Song" is the sixteenth episode of the second season of the American television series Glee, and the 38th episode overall. It was written by Ryan Murphy, directed by Bradley Buecker, and premiered on Fox in the United States on March 15, 2011... ", "Born This Way Born This Way (Glee) "Born This Way" is the eighteenth episode of the second season of the American television series Glee, and the 40th episode overall. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on April 26, 2011. The episode was written by Brad Falchuk and directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, and is a tribute to... " and "The First Time The First Time (Glee) "The First Time" is the fifth episode of the third season of the American musical television series Glee, and the 49th overall. Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and directed by co-executive producer Bradley Buecker, it first aired on Fox in the United States on November 8, 2011... " |
| Glee: The 3D Concert Movie Glee: The 3D Concert Movie Glee: The 3D Concert Movie is a 2011 American 3-D concert film directed by Kevin Tancharoen. It is based on the Fox television series Glee and features the cast performing during the Glee Live! In Concert! tour.-Synopsis:... |
Jeff | Released August 12, 2011 |
| The Muppets The Muppets (film) The Muppets is a 2011 American musical and comedy film, and the first Muppets theatrical release in 12 years, as well as the first Disney-produced Muppets film since 1996's Muppet Treasure Island... (2011) |
Town people dancer | Post-production |
| City of Jerks (2012) | Sketch Ball | Post-production |
Music Videos
- "Without You" (2010) - R5
- "Never" (2010) - R5
- "Can't Get Enough of You (2010) - R5
- "Love Me" (2010) - R5 (Justin Bieber cover)
- "Ordinary Girl" (2010) - Hannah Montana