About – Dueling Duo

About the Dueling Duo

For the past decade, the Dueling Duo has been setting the Midwest ablaze with its unique brand of all-request dueling pianos! With over 1150 shows in 8 states on their resume, the Duo is unparalleled in their combination of musicianship, humor and songbook. One of the most asked questions after a show is, “How do you guys know every song?” Design, all by design. Andy, Ryno and Dan are constantly tweaking the catalog, learning new material as it shows up while also putting new spins on old favorites.

The transitions from song to song is another show highlight. While many shows offer medleys, they are typically well rehearsed and planned out ahead of time…not so at a Duo show! Since you, the audience are choosing, the three men (there’s 3 people in a duo, right?) wiggle their way in and out of whatever musical choices are thrown at them. This makes every show special: see the Dueling Duo 5 times, you’ll see 5 different shows!

Looking for entertainment for your fundraiser that appeals to everyone? Look no further! The Dueling Duo’s specialty is its ability to adapt to any audience. Want something different for the corporate event? The Duo brings the party like no other, interacting with everyone to make them feel it is their show. Maybe you’ve seen dueling pianos before, but the Dueling Duo is a whole new ballgame!

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Andy Gibson

Vocals, Piano

Andy Gibson has been working on his smooth vocals since he was a kid. This Nashville recording artist started his first band, Cookie Dough Bliss in his hometown of Langford, South Dakota when he was 15. While studying music and media at South Dakota State University he really spent a lot of time on stage with one of the areas favorite bands Eclipse.

Andy started recording in Nashville while working at KDLT as a morning news anchor and reporter. His first single he wrote and released, Feel Good got played on radio stations all over the nation. He is now working on his 3rd album which should be done shortly. Andy loves songwriting and recording music. You can find his music on Spotify.

While trying to promote his own music Andy started his own band, the Andy Gibson Band. Andy then hired Ryno (Ryan Merriam) to play his own songs and some covers songs. The two quickly got booked up at several bars. They started playing everyone‘s requests at shows and Andy decided to start a dueling pianos request show. After a year or so they both quit their day jobs to do the ’Duo‘ full time. Now he’s been doing the Dueling Duo for almost 10 years!

‘The thing I love most about our shows is just making people laugh and smile at gigs. I know we are just playing requests at shows but something magical happens and people seem to have the time of their lives.’

Ryan Merriam (Ryno)

Vocals, Piano

Ryan Merriam, or Ryno as he is known to most, has been involved in music since was a child. Since his start singing a Statler Brothers song in church while keeping his hands in his pockets, he has developed an “in your face” style of entertainment whose intensity is rarely rivaled. Prior to his involvement with the Duo, Ryno worked with Dan in Velvet Touch for a number of years, while joining Andy in Eclipse at a later point for a couple of seasons as well.

Ryno truly enjoys the spontaneity aspect of the show: having an all request format allows him tap into his massive songbook and utilize his unfiltered mind to mesh medleys together from songs that shouldn’t work! His musical taste runs from the birth of rock and roll all the way to some of today’s biggest hits…while incorporating hair bands, singer-songwriters and true country. He is honored to be working with his friends Andy and Dan on stage. When not on the road dueling, Ryno enjoys family time with his wife Tabitha and their four children (Courtney, Austin, Parker and Beckett) and little granddaughter Sawyer.

Dan Witte

Vocals, Instruments

Dan Witte, holding a degree in vocal and instrumental music, taught orchestra for twenty-four
years. Previous to teaching, he was a professional musician in bands, three of which are now
inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame.

During his teaching career, Dan honed his instrumental and vocal skills as an owner/member of
the Velvet Touch Band. Velvet Touch played a seven-state region on the weekends and
extensively on summer tours for 23 years.

Dan left teaching in 2010 to return to full time performance. He reconnected with an old friend,
Ryan Merriam, from the Velvet Touch, and joined the newly formed Dueling Duo with Merriam
and Andy Gibson. He brings a rare third part to the dueling piano concept, adding the versatility
of four instruments and another vocal for the rich wall of harmony you get with the Dueling Duo.
He dyes his hair silver to give fodder to jokes on aging.