Ryan Hayes, half of Midas Whale, grew up inColville. (Full-size photo)(All photos)

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Ryan who left the small town of Colville to travel the world, and then became an acclaimed folkmusician.

Well, thats the story in anutshell.

When 16-year-old Ryan Hayes left his hometown, he had no idea that in the next 11 years, he would accomplish what most never accomplish, and that the world would know aboutit.

He would travel the world as a missionary and as a professionalgeologist.

He would write and produce anopera.

And he would form a musical duo, Midas Whale, appear on the national television show The Voice, and record analbum.

But as it happens, hedid.

On the tail of a two-year missionary assignment to Ecuador as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hayes found himself inschool.

I was going to school in Rexburg, Idaho, studying to be a geologist, Hayes said. He comes from a long line of scientists; his father is a chemical engineer. On the side, I was writing a rockopera.

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Whale of a journey brings musical success - Fri, 21 Feb 2014 PST