Tearle was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and developed a love for music and performing at an early age. He began playing guitar at age 8, switched to bass at 13, and has been performing ever since. Tearle studied music at the State University of New York at Fredonia and also at the Musicians's Institute in Hollywood, California. Just prior to rejoining Fear of Flying Tearle released two independent CD's with Dramascope, a jazz-fusion power trio.