Barry Ryan (singer)

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Barry Ryan
Barry Ryan performing in 2015
Barry Ryan performing in 2015
Background information
Birth nameBarry Sapherson
Born (1948-10-24) 24 October 1948 (age 72)
Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • photographer
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1964-1999
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.

Background[]

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 number 13 hit in 1965, "I Love Her", a number 17 hit in 1966 and "Have Pity on the Boy", a number 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 number 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 number 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"; English recording as "Today" released on the album Red Man in 1971) peaked at number 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 (1978-1980) to Tunku (Princess) Miriam binti al-Marhum Sultan Sir Ibrahim (born 1950), the only child of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor and his sixth wife, Sultana Marcella (née Marcella Mendl). Married in 1976 and divorced in 1980, they had no children.[citation needed] His stepfather was the American agent and music promoter Harold Davison.

Discography[]

Singles[]

Year Title Chart position Label
DE[3] AT[4] CH[5] UK[6] US[7] Can[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
36
Jan.1969
MGM 61207
MGM 14010
"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. ^ Jump up to: a b 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. ^ Musicline.de Archived 5 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine: DE: Chartplatzierungen (Top 50)
  4. ^ austriancharts.at Archived 9 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine: AT: Chartplatzierungen (bis 1969 Top 20, ab 1970 Top 25)
  5. ^ hitparade.ch: CH: Chartplatzierungen (Top 10)
  6. ^ Official Charts Company: UK: Chartplatzierungen (Top 50)
  7. ^ "Barry Ryan Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  8. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - January 27, 1969" (PDF).

External links[]

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