sjrygiel

Middletown

Stephen began writing lyrics in the summer of 1991 at his family’s lake house, laying the foundation for a lifelong passion for music. In 1995, he took up the bass guitar and has remained dedicated to both songwriting and performance ever since. During his high school and college years, he performed with the band Lawn Dart Casualties, whose original music is available on major streaming platforms. He later founded Rygiel Records, a label focused on supporting emerging artists and helping them develop and share their music. Continuing the family’s musical tradition, his son Cooper Rygiel is the rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist for the Connecticut-based band Römer.