Tyler Rix
London schoolboy Tyler Rix has swapped the football pitch for the recording studio when he scored a £1 million, four-album record deal with Universal Music, the largest record company in the world.
A product of the same groundbreaking West Ham Academy that launched the careers of Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand, Tyler is hailed as a once-in-a-generation musical talent. Tyler aptly signed the contract at West Ham’s Upton Park.
16-year old saxophonist Tyler was discovered by record executives when he took part in BBC2’s Classical Star TV talent programme. Astounded by his natural connection with his audience and raw enthusiasm for classical music, bosses at Universal Classics and Jazz offered him the chance to join a stable which includes Amy Winehouse, Take That and Jamie Cullum.
Little did they know that Tyler had a tough decision of his own to make – whether to pursue football or music. The then 15-year old played for West Ham’s Academy for 7 years where he experienced a string of successes. Snapped up on the day of his trial he was one of West Ham’s fastest-ever signings, played several times at Upton Park and was prominently featured in Junior Soccer, a coaching guide produced in association with West Ham United.
Tyler, who began playing the saxophone at the age of 9 almost didn’t make the Classical Star programme. Having placed a late entry he was told that there were no places left, until an extra London audition was added. But he didn’t get through and was amazed not only when he got a call-back for a reserve place but, even more so, when he went through to the final stage of the competition, in the academy itself. Tyler also has a scholarship at Junior Guildhall and won a BBC Fame Academy Award in 2007.
The announcement of the record deal comes at a busy time for Tyler, while he is taking his GCSE mock exams at school in North London.
Tyler said of his signing, “I couldn't believe I'd been called up by Universal. I always knew that one day I would have to choose between my music and my football commitments. I could never have dreamt of making that choice in such a spectacular way.â€
Tyler’s first public performance at The Vortex club during the London Jazz Festival created a unique situation because of his age. Not only were his friends unable to attend but his management company had to apply for a Chaperone Licence to accompany him.
Tyler’s debut album, ‘Ascent’, released on 2nd February, has a unique sound world with saxophone melodies soaring over choral and string accompaniment. It creates a sense of calm that will surely be appreciated in the post-Christmas, recession-threatened months.