{{Short description|American musician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ty Willman | image = | caption = | birth_name = Tyler Willman | birth_date = | birth_place = | origin = | genre = Alternative rock, post-grunge, psychedelic rock | instrument = Guitar, vocals | occupation = Musician | years_active = 1989–present | past_member_of = Green Apple Quick Step, Calm Down Juanita, Devilhead, Novatone, Inspector Luv And The Ride Me Babys | website = }}
'''Tyler''' "'''Ty'''" '''Willman''' is an American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter who lives in Seattle, Washington. He is probably best known for his work with the Seattle-based band Green Apple Quick Step.<ref name=ReadingVolcano20091216>{{cite web | last = Reading | first = Geoff | title = Green Apple Quick Step Redux | work = Weekly Volcano | date = December 16, 2009 | url = http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/music/columns/2009/12/tacoma-geoff-reading-Green-Apple-Quick-Step-showbox-wednesday-reading/ | access-date = June 14, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=Borzillo>{{cite journal | last = Borzillo | first = Carrie | title = Green Apple Ripens on 'Disaster' | volume = 110 |pages=2, 22| journal = Billboard Magazine | issue = 5 | date = January 31, 1998 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=iQ0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Green+Apple+Quick+Step%22&pg=PA14|access-date=June 14, 2011}}</ref> He briefly fronted the band Devilhead<ref name=DePasqualeAMG>{{cite web|first=Ron |last=DePasquale|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/green-apple-quick-step-p142844|title=Green Apple Quick Step Biography|publisher=AMG|access-date=June 14, 2011}}</ref> and helped form Calm Down Juanita.<ref name=CDJ>{{cite AV media notes|title=Calm Down Juanita|others=Calm Down Juanita|year = 1998 |at =inside front cover | type = CD Liner| publisher = Echo Records|location = Seattle, Washington, US }}</ref>
== Biography == Ty Willman was a founding member of the Tacoma, Washington-based band Inspector Luv and the Ride Me Babys,<ref name=ReadingVolcano20091216 /><ref name=Humphrey>{{Cite book | last = Humphrey | first = Clark | title = Loser: The Real Seattle Music Story | publisher = Feral House | year = 1995 | isbn = 0-922915-27-X}}</ref><ref name=MacDonaldSeattleTimes>{{Cite web | last = Macdonald | first = Patrick | title = Sweet Water Will Stream Into The Moore Theatre | work = The Seattle Times | date = November 20, 1992 | access-date = June 17, 2011 | url = http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19921120&slug=1525696 | archive-date = October 1, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121001212314/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19921120&slug=1525696 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=DriscollVolcano /> which he fronted, with guitarists Steve Ross and Dan Kempthorne, drummer Bob Martin and bassist Eric Munday.<ref name=Humphrey /> They recorded a limited edition 7" purple vinyl four-song EP, called ''Another World'' and released 700 numbered copies of it on Aroma Records in 1989.<ref name=AnotherWorld>{{cite AV media notes| title = Another World| others = Inspector Luv and the Ride Me Babys | year= 1989 | publisher = Aroma Records|type=vinyl}}</ref><ref name=Tombstone>{{cite web|title=Tombstone Records:Music Too Tough to Die|url=http://reocities.com/sunsetstrip/venue/7980/dmlabel.htm|access-date=June 19, 2011|archive-date=January 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112065422/http://reocities.com/sunsetstrip/venue/7980/dmlabel.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> By 1992 that band had become Seattle's Green Apple Quick Step, with mostly the same personnel and a new bassist. Willman, guitarists Kempthorn and Ross<!--who would later go on to form The Cute Lepers as Steve E. Nix-->, drummer Bob 'Mink' Martin, and a new singer-bassist, Mari Ann Braeden, went on to record three albums, releasing only the first two: ''Wonderful Virus'' in 1993, and ''Reloaded'' in 1995, both on The Medicine Label.
Always involved in many side-projects, Willman worked on Mike McCready's project, ''$10,000 Gold Chain''; a collaboration that also included Mari Ann Braeden and produced the song ''Oh! Sweet Nuthin' '' for the 1996 soundtrack to the film ''The Cable Guy'' and he worked with the rest of GAQS<ref name=DiscogsBasketball>{{cite web| title=Discogs: The Basketball Diaries (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)|date=1995 |url=http://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Basketball-Diaries-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack/release/2625284|publisher=Discogs}}</ref> on writing and performing ''Dizzy'' for the 1995 soundtrack to the film ''The Basketball Diaries''.<ref name=DePasqualeAMG />
He sang with Devilhead,<ref name=DePasqualeAMG /> with Kevin Wood and former members of Hater, recording lead vocals for one song, ''Buying Milk'', on their album ''Pest Control'', released in 1996 on Loosegroove Records.<ref name=DiscogsDevilheadPC>{{cite web|title=Discogs: Devilhead, Pest Control|date=May 1996 |url=http://www.discogs.com/Devilhead-Pest-Control/release/814601|publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
He recorded backing vocals on ''The Skies Magnify Me'', with Brandon and Ben Curtis and Joseph Butcher for UFOFU, on their CD UFOFU, released on the Medicine Label in 1997.
Willman and session drummer kevtone formed the Seattle-based studio band Calm Down Juanita, a writing collaboration that produced two albums; an eponymous 7-song debut EP in 1998,<ref name="CDJ" /> and a full-length CD in 2002, entitled ''Undertown''.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Undertown | others = Calm Down Juanita | year = 2002 |at = inside front booklet | type = CD Booklet | publisher = Gizmo and Toony (Feasley & Guess)| location = Seattle, Washington, US }}</ref><ref name=syffal>{{citation|title=Calm Down Juanita – Undertown|last=Asher|first=Justin|publisher=SYFFAL Album Reviews|url=http://www.syffal.com/album-review-calm-down-juanita-undertown|access-date=June 14, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726114215/http://www.syffal.com/album-review-calm-down-juanita-undertown|archive-date=July 26, 2011}}</ref> These albums featured several other notable musicians, including, again, fellow GAQS member, bassist Mari Ann Braeden, bassist and recording engineer Steve Feasley, Josh Freese, Stone Gossard, bassist Cole Peterson, and saxophonist Skerik.<ref name="CDJ" /><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Undertown | others = Calm Down Juanita | year = 2002 |at = inside front booklet | type = CD Booklet | publisher = Gizmo and Toony (Steve Feasley & Kevtone Guess)| location = Seattle, Washington, US }}</ref>
Starting in 1998, Willman also worked with Stone Gossard on Gossard's first solo album, ''Bayleaf'', recording during Gossard's visits to Willman's house and released in 2001.<ref name=Stout>Stout, Gene. [http://www.seattlepi.com/pop/38379_stone11.shtml "Gossard Picks Up the Mike on Solo Album"]. ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer''. September 11, 2001.</ref> Willman sang lead vocals on three songs, ''Cadillac'', ''Unhand Me'', and ''Fend It Off'', as well as background vocals on the rest of the album.<ref name=Stout />
Willman also formed a number of other projects. In July 1999, he and former Gigolo Aunt, Phil Hurley formed Hula Bess.<ref name="The Stranger two">{{Cite web | title = Up & Coming | work = The Stranger | date = July 1–7, 1999 | access-date = June 15, 2011 | url = http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/up--coming/Content?oid=1432}}</ref>
He wrote ''Leaving California''; recorded with Shawn Smith<!--of Satchel, at the time, who had also appeared on one of Devilhead's albums, and later went on to form All Hail the Crown--> on guitar and bass guitar and Michael Shrieve on drums, for Smith's 2003 album, Shield of Thorns, released on Establishmentstore Records.
He was frontman for the band Novatone, for its 2005 album release on Wax Orchard Records, ''Time Can't Wait'', which also featured Dave Krusen and Cody Davis, as well as a guest appearance by Shawn Smith.<ref name=AMGNovatone>{{Cite web|first=Richie |last=Unterberger|title=Novatone: Biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/novatone-p744558|publisher=AMG|access-date=June 14, 2011}}</ref><ref name=AllHail>{{Cite web|title=All Hail the Crown|url=http://www.allhailthecrown.com/history.htm|publisher=Shawn Smith Collective|year=2011|access-date=June 16, 2011}}</ref>
Later, in 2007–2008, he formed Mass Sugar, which was referred to as a "part acoustic indie rock, part groovy jam band".<ref name="The Stranger three">{{Cite web | last = Seling | first = Megan | title = Block Party Bands of the (Yester)Day: Speaker Speaker and Mass Sugar | work = The Stranger | date = July 25, 2007 | access-date = June 15, 2011 | url = http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/special/blockparty?page=past}}</ref>
In 2009, he reconstituted Green Apple Quick Step for a few 2010 "reunion" performances, including gigs at Tacoma's Hell's Kitchen and Seattle's Crocodile Café.<ref name=DriscollVolcano>{{Cite web | last = Driscoll | first = Matt | title = Coming Home: Green Apple Quick Step's Ty Willman and his Tacoma roots | work = Weekly Volcano | date = March 17, 2010 | access-date = March 3, 2011 | url = http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/music/features/2010/03/grean-apple-quick-step-tacoma-music/}}</ref><ref name=IzenmanVolcano>{{Cite web | last = Izenman | first = Joe | title = Green Apple Quick Step – Live Reviews | work = Weekly Volcano | date = March 27, 2010 | access-date = March 3, 2011 | url = http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/music/live-reviews/2010/03/green-apple-quick-step-tacoma-concert-review/ | url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110719022640/http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/music/live-reviews/2010/03/green-apple-quick-step-tacoma-concert-review/ | archive-date = July 19, 2011 }}</ref> Their lineup as of May 2010 consisted of Willman on lead vocals, Christa Wells on vocals, Dana Turner on guitar, Geoff Reading on drums, and guest guitarist Mike Squires.<ref name=DriscollVolcano />
== See also == *Calm Down Juanita *Devilhead *Green Apple Quick Step
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Willman, Tyler}} <!--- Categories ---> Category:American male singers Category:Singers from Washington (state) Category:Living people Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Guitarists from Washington (state) Category:American male guitarists