The second-grade teacher who ended up opening for Dylan

Ryan Anthony Massaro was born in 1977 and raised in Kensington, Philadelphia, before his family moved to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, when he was eleven. He studied English at the University of South Carolina, with a minor in education, and it was during his college years that music took hold, inspired by the John Prine anthology Great Days. He started playing guitar and bass in a band, and listened to Donny Hathaway, Joni Mitchell, Luther Vandross, Bill Withers and Otis Redding.

Back in Philadelphia, he worked as a second-grade teacher at the Mary McLeod Bethune School and as a bartender at local music venues, performing at open mics on the side. Through the contacts of his manager, Bill Eib, he landed opening slots for Mose Allison and B.B. King. In 2003 Eib sent a four-song demo CD to several labels, and the representative at Blue Note Records was immediately struck by his voice.

Then Norah Jones, visiting the label, heard his music and invited him to open her 2004 tour. A friendship between Eib and Bob Dylan's manager Jeff Kramer led to Lee opening for Dylan in early 2005. His self-titled debut album, described as subtle, folky soul, was produced by Jones's bassist Lee Alexander and featured Jones and members of her band. It peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart, and one of its songs, “Colors”, turned up on Grey's Anatomy and House. “Arms of a Woman” also dates from 2005.

Lee has recorded five albums on Blue Note Records and has opened for artists including Elvis Costello, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, John Prine, Adele and David Gray. His music has been placed on the soundtracks of many TV shows and films. His album Mission Bell debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2011. His style, encompassing folk, rock and soul, still carries the traces of the records that first made a college student pick up the guitar.