Paul Ryan (singer, born 1948)

{{Short description|English singer-songwriter and record producer}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Paul Ryan

| image =

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| background = solo_singer

| birth_name = Paul Sapherson

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| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1948|10|24}}

| birth_place = Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1992|11|29|1948|10|24}}

| death_place = London, England

| origin =

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| associated_acts = Barry Ryan, Marion Ryan

| website =

}}

Paul Ryan (born Paul Sapherson; 24 October 1948{{cite web |url=http://www.bittersuiteband.com/music_birthdays-october.htm |title=October - Birthdays and Deaths |website=Bittersuiteband.com |access-date=28 December 2015 |archive-date=29 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829005507/http://www.bittersuiteband.com/music_birthdays-october.htm |url-status=dead}} {{unreliable?|date=January 2020}} – 29 November 1992){{cite web |author=Doc Rock |title=The Dead Rock Stars Club 1992 - 1993 |url=http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/1992.html |website=Thedeadrockstarsclub.com |access-date=28 December 2015}} was an English singer, songwriter and record producer.

Biography

= Early life =

Born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, Paul and his twin brother Barry were the sons of singer Marion Ryan.

= Career =

Ryan's success came as a singing duo, with his twin brother Barry Ryan during the 1960s, known simply as "Paul & Barry Ryan". However, the stress of public attention caused Paul to retreat into the background,{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/badcatrecords/RYANpaul.htm |title=Geocities.com/badcatrecords |access-date=5 October 2008 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028092204/http://www.geocities.com/badcatrecords/RYANpaul.htm |archive-date=28 October 2009}} {{unreliable?|date=January 2020}} while Barry went solo.

= Later career =

Paul Ryan wrote Barry's 1968 hit "Eloise", the 1971 hit "Who Put the Lights Out?" for Dana and another of his songs, "I Will Drink the Wine", was a top-20 hit on the UK Singles Chart for Frank Sinatra.{{cite web |title=Paul Ryan | Songs |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/paul-ryan-mn0000750833/songs |publisher=AllMusic |date= |access-date=28 December 2015}}

In the 1970s Ryan relocated to the United States, and in 1976 released an album, Scorpio Rising, but later left the music industry. After returning to the UK in 1985, he earned his living from operating a chain of hairdressing salons.{{cite web |title=Paul & Barry Ryan | Biography & History |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/paul-barry-ryan-mn0000021416 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=28 December 2015}}{{cite book |last=Talevski |first=Nick |title=Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DykffzkFALoC&q=%22PAUL+RYAN%22+%221948%22.+%221992%22.&pg=PA565 |page=565 |date=2006 |isbn=978-1-84609-091-2 |publisher=Omnibus Press |access-date=28 December 2015}} The gothic punk band the Damned reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart in 1986 with their cover version of "Eloise".{{cite book |last=Roberts |first=David |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London |edition=19th |year=2006 |pages=138–139 |isbn=1-904994-10-5}}

= Death =

Ryan died of lung cancer in 1992 in London at the age of 44.{{cite web |title=Barry Ryan |url=http://www.alexgitlin.com/ryan.html |website=Alexgitlin.com |access-date=28 December 2015}}

Songwriting credits

"Eloise" – Barry Ryan
"Love Is Love" – Barry Ryan
"Who Put the Lights Out?" – Dana
"I Will Drink the Wine" – Frank Sinatra, Joe Longthorne
"The Colour of My Love" - Dalida, Jefferson, Barry Ryan
"Love's Only Love" – Engelbert Humperdinck
"Sunrise in the Morning" – Frank Sinatra

Both of the above Sinatra tracks appeared on his 1971 album Sinatra & Company.{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title=Sinatra & Company - Frank Sinatra | Songs, Reviews, Credits |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sinatra-company-mw0000318860 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=28 December 2015}}