Vermont Sky Digital Audio was formed to respond to the growing needs of the musical community along the northern Connecticut River Valley.  Using the most effective and practical design considerations, as well as choosing equipment that would be space efficient, but exceptional in audio signal quality led to the realization of a comfortable, easy to work in facility - and one that consistenty gets incredible results.

Founded by experienced musicians Ed Ryan and Sue Persson, Vermont Sky is a haven for artists looking for peace and quiet, and high resolution audio.  We encourage you to explore our web pages, to give you a brief overview of what we have to offer.  We look forward to serving your audio recording requirements.

Ed Ryan

Ed Ryan grew up in Avon, Massachusetts, where he started performing in folk duos and trios with friends Fred Welsh first, then Bob Sullivan, in the Folk Revival years of the early 60s. Later, Ed and Bob Sullivan joined forces with drummer Ernie Welch and bassist Danny Ryan (no relation), to form the rock band, The Moons, a short-lived combo. Ed had a musical mentor in his brother-in-law, Ed Mottau, who is one of the best acoustic, finger-picking guitarists one could meet. Ryan and Mottau formed a songwriting collaboration, eventually moving to New York City to try to promote their song catalogue, and to assist Ed Mottau in embarking on a solo performing career. Mottau was taken under the wing of Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary fame. Mottau and Ryan formed a publishing company, Circus Tent Music, largely through the efforts and connections of Stookey, and Mottau recorded an album of their tunes, entitled, "No Turning Around", produced by Stookey. Mottau then returned the favor, helping to produce Stookey's solo effort, "Paul And", which included a Mottau/Ryan song, "Lucy". Ed and Ed worked with and met many influential people in those New York years, among them John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Robbie Robertson, Albert Grossman, John Denver, Felix Pappalardi, Leslie West, Poco (Richie Furay, Rusty Young, George Grantham), and many more.

Ed moved back to Boston in 1974 and eventually met his future wife, Sue Persson, formed the Full Moon Revue, and performed throughout New England with them. After moving to Vermont in 1979, Ed and Sue continued performing in various bands, appearing in virtually every Vermont location during the 80s. They formed an alliance with David "Crow" Levine and Diana Winn Levine at ReBop Records, sang demos for them, and became part of the original cast of "Oldies for Kool Kiddies", a project that included an album of the same name and performances for kids in school settings, based on the history of rock 'n roll. Ed later continued in the oldies mode, performing with a 60s band, the BelAirs, for twelve years.

Overarching all the music experience, Ed has worked with teens his whole adult life, working with and in Summer Youth Employment, Drug Prevention, Runaway Programs, Family Mediation, Counseling, and especially, always using music as a connection. Ed has given instruction on guitar and bass, promoted teen concerts, and helped organize teen bands so that they could "take over" their own music experiences. Ed, Sue and Jim have all worked with and encouraged youth in music in these ways, and this is a theme that continues to resonate in the mission of Vermont Sky Studios.

Sue Persson

Sue Persson started her training as a musician at a very young age. She began taking flute lessons in the fourth grade, but even before that, listened extensively to her parents playing big band music on the old record player every Saturday morning. She, in fact, later wrote a song about it called, "Songs That Daddy Played Me", which she recorded on her first album, "Precious Love". Sue, playing the flute, made the Massachusetts All-State Orchestra as a high school student. She took up the guitar in high school, and began her career as a performing artist, appearing at coffee houses and other folk venues. She formed a fairly long standing duo with her friend, Barbara Phaneuf, and together they started writing songs and performing these original compositions. Sue met Ed Ryan and Paul Yachimski, and with Phaneuf, they formed the folk/jazz quartet Full Moon Revue, performing all original music featuring three and four part harmonies and a lush, acoustic sound. They appeared all over the New England area, mostly in the Boston area and on Cape Cod, from 1975 through 1979.
Sue has since become a music teacher, eventually achieving a Master of Education, and being certified as a Kodaly instructor. She teaches at the Barnet School in Barnet, Vt., and also gives private instrumental instruction at Vermont Sky Studios.

Jim Maher

Jim Maher has joined Ed Ryan and Sue Persson as part of the staff at Vermont Sky Studios. Jim has brought his extensive experience and talent as a performing musician, multi-instrumentalist, producer, sound engineer, and instrumental instructor. Jim Maher started as a musician in Southern Connecticut, playing the drums in many rock bands in high school. His musical path led to a group called "White Chocolate", a guitar, bass, and drums trio that was signed by RCA Records, and did some recording for that label. White Chocolate eventually added a second guitar to their mix, George Maher, Jim's brother. They named the new group "Dirty Angels". Dirty Angels was signed to a number of recording companies along the way, among them A&M Records, in two different contracts. They finally signed a deal with, and recorded for, Private Stock. Dirty Angels did extensive touring opening for the famed rock group, Aerosmith. Jim played for ten years with the renowned blues artist, James Montgomery. Other recording companies Jim has been affiliated with in his career are; RCA, Capricorn, ABC, Sire, Private Stock, Asylum, and A&M.
Jim Maher has done recording sessions for other artists, as well as his own groups. He has been hired to record at some of the best state-of-the-art studios, such as; CBS in New York, Plaza Sound (NY), Record Plant(NY), Sunset Recording (Hollywood, California), and A&M Records (Hollywood, California. As mentioned previously, Jim is a multi-instrumentalist; primarily a drummer, but also a capable bass player and guitarist. He has performed with local and regional acts, such as; The BTUs, Ed Ryan and Sue Persson, The Dick Easter Band, The BelAirs, The Sandra Wright Band, The Nerbak Brothers, Dave Keller, Jimmy Branca, The Chicago Blues Club, Moderato Pit Bulls, The Willie Edwards Blues Band, The Toasters, Best of Friends, among others.