Odd 1 Out

Who says a broken heart is a bad thing? At the age of 21, 3alan (real name Ealan Osborne) received the biggest broken heart of his life. He poured out his heart to a girl, but she would not accept. This devastating situation caused 3alan to search deep within himself to crawl out of the dark pit we all have experienced when our hearts have a gaping hole to fill.

Born in Modesto, California, 3alan grew up in a musical family and used most of his musical talents singing in church choirs and participating in large choir performances around the city. He was one of the crowd. He never sang solo, but worked his way down from soprano, alto, tenor then bass as the years rolled on, his voice becoming more mature. Sometimes he sang duets with his father, Jay Osborne, a tenor who is well-known within church congregations around the city.

3alan's mother, Alison, is a piano teacher to this day and was an accomplished violinist in her younger years, playing first chair in the Modesto Symphony. Of course Alison encouraged 3alan to learn the piano at a young age, but 3alan thought he was "too cool" for it. Boy is he kicking himself now for it.

But once that broken heart came to pass in his 21st year, this unlocked raw, musical talent that had been waiting so long to burst forth from within 3alan's heart. For the first time in his life, he could play piano with both hands at the same time! Somehow, from the intense shock, this broken heart allowed itself to freely communicate with his brain. Now piano made sense. Chord structures made sense. Rhythm. Emotion. Passion. Love.

3alan always had a passion for music in films. From as early as 4 yrs old, hearing the unforgettable violin solo in An American Tail, he knew he loved how music helped solidify emotion in film. He loved the majestic french horns in the opening credit sequence of The Land Before Time, the shakuhachi flute in Willow, the boys choir in Glory...needless to say, James Horner has had a place in 3alan's heart for a very long time.

3alan would spend countless hours listening to film scores while doing homework throughout junior high and high school. He can practically conduct the whole Willow soundtrack by heart...or shall we say wave his hands in the air, pretending he's in front of the London Symphony Orchestra.

Although one should note: 3alan does not know how to read sheet music for piano. Well, he can, but very...very slowly. He has taken his understanding of the piano to his ears. He's no Mozart or Beethoven, by any means, but can compose a melody with a piano, then hear the other instruments of the orchestra build and build, until a complete symphonic piece is written.

And so it goes. 3alan continues to further his fledgling career as a composer, one baby step at a time. And what better way than through film? Millions of people around the world filling theater seats, watching the story unfold, escaping this reality for but a brief moment. And 3alan's music, taking the emotion the audience sees on screen, and guiding it into their hearts through the power of music.