Profile & Biography

AKA: Tuan Phan or unknown as "Ty" and "Tuan-the 9 fingers" Born: April 20th Place of Birth: Ninh Hoa, Nha Trang, Vietnam Nationality: 50% Vietnamese and 50% Chinese (Hun Nam). I do not speak or understand Chinese. Arrived & Settled In the USA: In June 1980; have been a California resident since. Family man: Happily married to my wife, Cindy Quynh and enjoy being a father to our daughter's Alexis. Yes, I still have my balls where they belong.  Check my family photos.  School: Junior High: Irvine, Garden Grove High School: Santiago High, Garden Grove College: Cal State University, Fullerton Favorite: Enjoy good food, Dim Sum, Pho, eggrolls, fresh oyster, lobster, pizza & hot dog with a cool Corona, and good wine.  Hobbies: Playing drums and music, reading mystery novels and Today's Psychology Magz., Drums!, Modren Drummer, going to rock/jazz concerts, collecting exotic cowboy boots, hanging out with family and friends, trading on Ebay, and surfing the internet for porn and good music. Currently listen to:  Sublime, Red Chilly Hot Pepper, U2, Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, Eric Clapton, Tools, Rush, 311, Primus, Alice In Chains, Incubus, No Doubt, Ocean Blue, System of A Down, and anything that has a good drum tracks.  Like: I like friendly people. I like the flirting type (prefer female). I like telling and receiving dirty jokes and watching comedy. I like to try everything once. I like to go beyond my limit. I like the excitement. Dislike: I cannot stand people who like to show-off and brag. Advise to my friends:  I don't have a favorite quotes or cliche.  However, I strongly urge all guys and gals to be educated by Professor Tom Leykis. His talk show is on 97.1 FM, Monday to Friday, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Pacific time).  At first you may dislike Leykis' philosophies and opinions on dating, men vs. women, and family values, but you will find Professor Leykis interesting.  For mature listeners only.  Leykis has a website for your intrigue at www.blowmeuptom.com.    I received my first drum at age 5. It was a dragon-dance drum made from buffalo hide. Started age 5-10, I made drums and percussion sets and instruments from various and dubious materials such as pots and pans, tin cans, pipes, plastic containers, etc.  In 1982, my mother gave birth to my youngest brother, Tom Phan. I negotiated with my parents that I would assist my mother care for Tom (i.e., change diapers and babysitting), and my parents would award me with a drum set. I guess I did a fine job. My father purchased my first drum kit at age 10. I also started my first formal drum lessons in grammar school (5th grade) and with private drum instructors.      I cannot recall if I ever stop playing drums and music...I started in grammar school, and continue throughout junior high, high school, and college. I took every opportunities to sign up for the music classes and musical performances. My most memorable years were the 4 years of high school. I marched with the Cavalier's marching band and the drumline (competed in 3 DCI competition), jammed with the Jazz Ensembles and the Pop Concert Band, including the City's and County's honor bands and orchestras. During my senior year, my music instructor Robert Farley introduced me to my first professional gigs; performed with the Disneyland's Jazz Ensembles for 2 months without an audition. I was the youngest musician of the 12 piece band. It was the unforgetable experience of my career. Susequently, I was awarded the Louis Armstrong Music Scholarship by the Orange County Arts and Performances Foundation. I attended the Cal State University, Fullerton music program. After two years of music education and my scholarship was about to expired, I realized I would not be a successful musician, and I did not want to be a music teacher for the rest of my life. So I changed my interest and study of Psychology and Human & Social Services.

Current & Past Collaboration:

Black April - 2002-Present Rock/Originals John Fredrickson...Lead Guitar/Vocal Michael Tran...Bass/Vocals Tyler Phan...Drums Caliofnria Band - 1996-Present, Pop Rock/Oldies/Covers/Top 40 Hits Quang Vi...MC/Vocals Thy Dzung...Vocals Thuy Lynn...Vocals Khanh Tran...Keyboard/Vocals Chieu Thanh...Guitar Ly Lan...Bass Tyler Phan...Drums/Percussion Tempation - 1994-1996, Pop Rock/Covers/Oldies/Top 40 Hits Dan Tran...Vocals Thu Trinh...Vocals Minh Tri...Bass Chieu Thanh...Guitar Tyler Phan...Drums Heart Beat - 1991-1994, Pop Rock/Covers/Oldies/Top 40 Hits (first band formed during high school). John Le...Vocals/Keyboard Peter Le...Bass Phu Nguyen...Keyboard Tyler Phan...Drums Disneyland's Jazz Ensemble  - 1991, Jazz/Swing

Kit Setup

Pacific FS Birch Shells by DW Drums Tom 10X9 Tom 12X10 Tom 14X12 DW Snare 14X5 Bass 22X18 Yamaha Stage Custome  Tom 8X8  Tom 10X9 Tom 12X10 Tom 14X12  Bass 18X16 DW Snare 14X5.5                   Pearl Piccolo Snare 13X3                                Cymbals                                                                                          Sabian 8" AAX Splash Sabian 14" Hat-HH Sabian 10" AA Splash Sabian 12" El Sabor Splash Saabian 18" AA China Crash  Sabian 21" Raw Ride-RichieGarcia Salsero  E-mail to  tyler@blackapril.com Show Scheduled: Year 2004 Jan 3rd....California Band Jan 10th.......California Band Apr 17th....California Band May 15th.....California Band Jun 26th....California Band Aug. 28th....California Band   Oct. 9....California Band Oct. 16....California Band Oct 23....California Band Oct 30....California Band Nov 6....California Band Nov 13....California Band Nov 20....California Band Nov 26....California Band Nov 27....California Band Dec 11....California Band Dec 18....California Band Dec 25....California Band ------------------------------------------------------ 2005 Jan 1, 2005....California Band May 14....California Band June 25....California Band