As a musician, Tyron McFarlan was almost signed to two major record labels before each opportunity was derailed. As an actor, Ty McFarlan appeared on Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill Drop Dead Diva, and Army Wives and in addition to many other commercial and TV appearances. But Ty may be best known as the 34th Ringmaster of Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey circus.

A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Ty was the son of a career Army warrant officer who went on to became the first black state trooper in South Carolina. Ty himself served 13 years in the Army National Guard rising to the rank of Captain in the Ordnance branch.