Barry Ryan (singer)


Barry Ryan 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. "Love is Love", their next chart entry, also became a million-seller.
Ryan was also popular in Germany and France. The single "Red Man" reached number 2 in the French chart in 1971. Promoted by Bravo, the German youth magazine, he recorded a number of songs in German. "Die Zeit macht nur vor dem Teufel halt" 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 to Tunku Miriam binti al-Marhum Sultan Sir Ibrahim, the only child of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor and his sixth wife, Sultana Marcella. Married in 1976 and divorced in 1980, they had no children. His stepfather was the American agent and music promoter Harold Davison.

Discography

Singles