Award winning composer, Alan Ripa, was born the middle child of three. Massachusetts was his home state until the age of 4; at which time his family moved to Arizona.

At 13, Alan began his first job playing the piano after just 6 months of piano lessons. He wrote his first piano composition in the first six months also.

Alan credits the "Roger William's School of Music" (Yes...it is the brilliant pianist of fame who endorsed the method) for teaching him the uniquely advanced methods that assisted in Alan being able to learn how to play the piano so well so quickly.

A steady stream of solo performances including a television performance and Alan playing on a television commercial for the "Roger William's School of Music" came about in the early months of his playing.

With encouragement from his mother, he joined a talent group called "The Phoenix Young Entertainers" that was made up of approximately 10 very young entertainers of various kinds that performed all over Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa and Tempe.

Playing in bands and talent shows all through high school were just part of his regular day.

Also during High School, Alan had was involved in Drama Classes and was in most of the Drama Productions Chaparral High School had produced.

During this time as well, to make extra spending money, he worked at the Windmill Dinner located in Scottsdale, Arizona which was a professional  theater in the 70’s that hosted world class actors in first class plays and musicals. 

Working as a stage hand, building sets, working with the actors, changing the sets as the show was between acts and also providing sound effects during the production proved to be a great growing and learning experience in the understanding of the workings of putting on a professional show.

In his late teens and early 20’s, Alan had performed on the piano publicly throughout the Southwest, dazzling audiences with his unique and original compositions, bringing many audiences to their feet.

Alan went on to perform with members of the Ike and Tina Turner Band, and backed such notables as "The Coasters", "The Drifters," and "Sam The Sham". He also worked with "The Platters" and Buck Ram. Buck Ram was the founder of "The Platters" and wrote one of their greatest and biggest hits, "Only You".

While attending Arizona State University, Alan began composing, arranging, and producing commercial jingles for radio.

After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, Alan began to write, direct, and produce television commercials that won him such honors and awards as “The Addy Award”-- Best Music Composer; “The Addy Award”-- Best Music Director; “The Telly Award”-- Best Music Production, and the prestigious nomination for “The Emmy Award”.

Playing piano for a Disney movie musical score, composing a talk show theme and co-writing a 30 second piece of music for the Phoenix Symphony expanded Alan's expertise.

Alan continued his creative adventures by recording as of date 3 Cd’s of original songs and musical pieces.

Not only did he do the composing, arranging, and producing all of the Cd’s, he designed and created all of the art work for the entire Cd packages, including the Covers, Posters of the Covers, Booklets, and the Cd discs themselves.

Music from "Back to Romance" (Album 1) was released in 1990. It has been heard around the country on radio stations and Music Resource companies such as “Muzak”,“AEI” and “The 3M Corporation.”

(Also in 1990, Alan was included in the 1990 publication of “Who’s Who in Arizona.”)

"Modern Woman Renaissance Man" (Album 2) released in 1993, was heard on 47 “Smooth Jazz” and “Easy Listening” radio stations across the country.

Selections from “Modern Woman Renaissance Man” also were heard on 26 airlines throughout the world including, DELTA, UNITED, AMERICAN, CONTINENTAL, ASIANA, AIR NEW ZEALAND, AMERICA WEST and MIDWEST EXPRESS in addition to being heard on the Infamous Presidential Aircraft...“AIR FORCE ONE”.

His picture was also included in the DELTA, UNITED AND AMERICAN AIRLINES in-flight magazines as a featured artist.

Music resource companies such as AEI, Muzak and the 3M Corporation have used over 10 songs from “Modern Woman Renaissance Man” in their broadcasts.

Alan's music is currently getting airplay on the largest Cool Jazz Radio Station to St. Martin and the Eastern Caribbean Islands. Many Special "Thanks" to Lee James and Stephen D. Whitman for believing in his music and getting it played on that radio station for all those islanders to hear.

A fabulous all new album (Album 3), "HIGHWAY 88", has been officially released January of 2000.