Barry Ryan (singer)

Barry Ryan

Ryan performing in 2015
Background information
Birth name Barry Sapherson
Born (1948-10-24) 24 October 1948
Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • photographer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1964-1999
Labels
Associated acts

Barry Ryan (born Barry Sapherson, 24 October 1948, Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire) is an English former pop singer. He currently works as a photographer.

The son of pop singer Marion Ryan began performing with his twin brother Paul at the age of 16. In 1965 they signed a recording contract with Decca under the name of Paul & Barry Ryan. Within two years they had amassed 8 Top 50 singles in the UK. Their best sellers were "Don't Bring Me Your Heartaches", a #13 hit in 1965, "I Love Her", a #17 hit in 1966 and "Have Pity on the Boy", a #18 hit the same year.

This success took its toll on Paul, who was unable to cope any longer with the stress of show business. It was decided that Barry would now continue as a solo artist, enabling his brother to stay out of the limelight and write songs for his twin to perform. Their greatest achievement as a composer-singer duo, now for MGM Records, was "Eloise", a #2 hit in 1968. Melodramatic and heavily orchestrated, it sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.[1] "Love is Love", their next chart entry, also became a million-seller.[1]

Ryan was also popular in Germany and France. The single "Red Man" reached #2 in the French chart in 1971.[2] Promoted by Bravo, the German youth magazine, he recorded a number of songs in German. "Die Zeit macht nur vor dem Teufel Halt" ("Time Only Stops for the Devil") peaked at #8.

Ryan stopped performing in the early 1970s. He made a comeback in the late 1990s when a two CD set with his and his brother's old songs was released. Ryan was also part of the "Solid Silver '60s Tour" of the United Kingdom in 2003, singing "Eloise" backed by the Dakotas.

Private life

Ryan was briefly married to Tunku (Princess) Miriam binti al-Marhum Sultan Sir Ibrahim (born 1950), the only child of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor and his fourth wife, Sultana Marcella (née Marcella Mendl, 1915–1982). Married in 1978 and divorced in 1980, they had no children.[3] His stepfather was the American agent and music promoter Harold Davison.

Discography

Singles

Year Title Chart Position Label
DE[4] AT[5] CH[6] UK[7] US[8]
1968 Goodbye MGM 1423
Eloise 1 (25)
09.12.1968
2 (16)
15 January 1969
1 (11)
03.12.1968
2 (12)
26 October 1968
86
1969
MGM 61207
Love Is Love 4 (18)
10.03.1969
11 (12)
15 April 1969
6 (7)
25 February 1969
25 (4)
22 February 1969
MGM 61211
1969 The Colour of My Love 23 (5)
27 October 1969
MGM 61215
The Hunt 22 (10)
13 October 1969
20 (8)
15 December 1969
34 (5)
04.10.1969
Polydor 59327
1970 Magical Spiel 22 (7)
09.03.1970
49 (1)
21 February 1970
Polydor 2001004
Kitsch 10 (15)
01.06.1970
37 (6)
16 May 1970
Polydor 2001035
We Did It Together Polydor 2001119
1971 It Is Written 50 (1)
07.06.1971
Polydor 2001154
Red Man Polydor 2001205
Zeit macht nur vor dem Teufel halt 8 (17)
31 January 1972
Polydor 2001207
Can't Let You Go 32 (5)
15 January 1972
Polydor 2001256
1972 Sanctus, Sanctus Hallelujah (German) 42 (1)
25 September 1972
Polydor 2001333
From My Head to My Toe 32 (5)
15 January 1972
Polydor 2001335
Sanctus, Sanctus Hallelujah (English) Polydor 2001337
I'm Sorry Susan Polydor 2001362
1975 Do That Ariola 13846
Matayo RAK 222)
1976 Judy Bell
Where Were You Private Stock PVT 70
1977 Brother Private Stock PVT 87
1989 Turn Away RCA PB 43329
Light in Your Heart RCA PB43989

References

  1. 1 2 Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 247 & 267. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  2. DVD Remember 70's Vol.3, P2004 BR Music
  3. "johor14". Royalark.net. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
  4. Musicline.de: DE: Chartplatzierungen (Top 50)
  5. austriancharts.at Archived 9 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine.: AT: Chartplatzierungen (bis 1969 Top 20, ab 1970 Top 25)
  6. hitparade.ch: CH: Chartplatzierungen (Top 10)
  7. chartstats.com: UK: Chartplatzierungen (Top 50)
  8. Barry Ryan at AllMusic Allmusic.com US: Billboard Hot 100

External links

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