Ryan “Dicio” Gardner was classically trained at the piano at a young age. He began composing orchestral works, but with no maestros knocking at his door asking to conduct his music, he had no way to listen to his masterpieces. At age eleven his father bought him some basic recording software to allow Ryan to transform his written notes into music that could be burned on a CD for all to hear. At age 15, Ryan took out a $1000 loan from his parents and bought a used Mac and additional recording gear. Soon he was running a studio out of his parent’s basement and using his income to buy microphones, synths, guitars, and other equipment. As he became proficient in more instruments, he began writing and producing pop, rock, R&B, country, and other styles of music. Since Ryan wasn’t a singer but loved hip-hop music, he figured he would give rapping a try. After producing his first two tracks, he burned ten CD’s, made some album artwork on a black and white printer, and sold the CD’s the next day at his junior high school. “Dicio” was born. Since then, Dicio has produced for Jordan Knight from New Kids on the Block, had music featured on Dance Dance Revolution and other video games, and produced for various local artists. Dicio considers himself more of a producer than an artist, and is often featured on songs he has written and produced for others. This is the first CD he has released as an artist, and it features many of the talented singers and songwriters he has worked with in the past. At age 26, Dicio recently graduated with a bachelors degree in Exercise and Sports Science and is currently in his first year of dental school. He is married and resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.