Jonathan Tyler "Ty" Kyte (born July 24, 1984; Lindsay, Ontario) is a Canadian actor and musician. He began his acting career with commercials and performing in the Musical Tommy in Toronto. Kyte was made famous amongst Canadian youth as a correspondent on the Canadian TV series Popular Mechanics for Kids alongside fellow Canadians Elisha Cuthbert, Vanessa Lengies and Jay Baruchel.
He later appeared on the TV series Goosebumps (1997) and Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1999). He appeared in the made for TV movie Prom Queen: The Marc Hall Story in 2004, and had a recurring role on the Canadian drama Instant Star as Vincent Spiederman until 2008. In his free time, Tyler records songs and plays drums for the Toronto band Sweet Thing, and in 2006, released a five-song solo CD. He currently resides in Toronto, Ontario.
Not only does Kyte have his own music career and role as a drummer in the infectious Sweet Thing but he also plays guitar, organ, and piano as well as providing backing vocals for friend Nick Rose's band, Nick Rose & the Magnolias, who released their debut EP on February 20, 2008 and their full length album in mid-2009; also takes part in the roots/folk group Blue Fox, and the zany, comedic duo "Painter" with Dave Reale. He attended I.E. Weldon Secondary School. In addition to Tyler's acting and musical abilities, he is also known for his work with special needs children and adults.
Tyler has spent his entire life living with those who are mentally and physically challenged. Tyler's brother, Paul, has Down's Syndrome. Kyte says "I have grown up with many people who have disabilities. It is very important to me to keep in touch with my roots. Not only is it rewarding but it also helps me keep a little perspective."
Tyler got into music at the age of 12 when he started playing guitar. His father is a musician. He lists his musical influences as Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams, Aerosmith, and Blue Rodeo. Kyte has released an EP, titled the Let's Talk EP. The EP has 5 original songs, written and performed by Tyler Kyte.
Kyte played a rockstar on the show Instant Star (for 4 seasons) where he was the guitarist for the backup band for Jude Harrison (Alexz Johnson). In the show, he performs a different version of the song from his EP, "What You Need" (there are three versions: the original demo, the Let's Talk EP/Instant Star version, and the Talking Pictures version). The song is on the Songs From Instant Star Three soundtrack, along with two songs that were performed by Johnson on the show.
Due to Johnson's management at the time, they were not put on the soundtrack. Instead, Kyte recorded the two songs and they were put on the soundtrack. The two songs are "Unraveling" and "Worth Waiting For". Tyler also performs a song, "Remind Yourself", on the fourth season of Instant Star, which is featured on the soundtrack, Songs From Instant Star Four. As well as singing an acoustic cover of the Degrassi: the Next Generation theme during the ending credits of season 9 And 10.
Tyler Kyte has a Myspace under the name of Painter, which features demos of him and friends in the studio, or at home in front of a microphone. Some of the demos are Soft Spoken (ft. Alexz Johnson), Skips (ft. Alexz Johnson), Hurt, Dill Lake Road, I Call My Cookie Becky, Way Old, Nick's In The Garden, Seeking Love, Yellow Toast, and Practical Vain Man.
Tyler's debut CD, Talking Pictures, is now available in stores throughout Canada. It was released in both the Canadian and American iTunes stores. Some of the songs from the Let's Talk EP have been remastered for the CD.
He is also currently playing in the band Blue Fox (with Nick Rose and Ryan O'Reilly), and in the band Sweet Thing (with Owen Carrier, Nick Rose, Alex Winter, and Morgan Waters). He plays guitar, mandolin, and piano as well as providing backing vocals in Blue Fox and the drums for Sweet Thing.
