Barry Ryan (born Barry Sapherson; 24 October 1948 – 28 September 2021), also known as Barry Davison, was an English pop singer and photographer.[1][2] He achieved his initial success in the mid 1960s in a duo with his twin brother Paul. After Paul ceased performing to concentrate solely on songwriting, Barry became a solo artist. His most successful hit, "Eloise", reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart in 1968.
Barry Ryan | |
|---|---|
 Ryan performing in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Barry Sapherson |
| Born | 24 October 1948 Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 28 September 2021 (aged 72) |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1964-2018 |
| Labels | |
In the mid-1970s, he began his 40-year career as a fashion and portrait photographer. He worked for magazines such as Italian Vogue and David Bailey’s Ritz; he sold six photographs to the National Portrait Gallery; and he made portraits of celebrities such as Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Stephen Hawking, Sting, Paul McCartney, and Björk.[1]
Early life
editBarry Ryan and his twin brother Paul were born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, to pop singer Marion Ryan and antiques dealer Fred Sapherson.[2] Fred left when the twins were two and they were brought up until they were 11 by their grandmother. Both boys then boarded at Fulneck School in Pudsey, outside Leeds.[1]
Pop career
editWhen the boys were 16, the family moved to London. Their mother suggested they try a career as singers. Her boyfriend, later husband, impresario Harold Davison, managed the brothers; Paul and Barry signed with Decca Records in 1965 under the name of Paul & Barry Ryan.[1]
Within two years they had eight 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.[citation needed]
Paul Ryan opted out of the stress of show business, and Barry continued as a solo artist, enabling his brother to stay out of the limelight and concentrate on writing songs. Their greatest achievement as a composer-singer duo, then 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.[3] "Love Is Love", their next chart entry, also became a million-seller.[3]
Ryan was popular in Germany and France. The single "Red Man" reached number 2 in the French chart in 1971.[4] 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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed] Ryan was also part of the "Solid Silver '60s Tour" of the United Kingdom in 2003, singing "Eloise" backed by the Dakotas.[citation needed]
Photography career
editRyan maintained a successful career as a fashion photographer, from the late 1970s, and his photographs appeared in such magazines as Ritz and Zoom. In the 1990s, he worked on a photographic project commemorating his brother Paul.[5] Six of his photographic portraits were purchased by the National Portrait Gallery, London for its permanent collection in 1994.[6]
Personal life
editRyan 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 sixth wife, Sultana Marcella (née Marcella Mendl).[7] Married in 1976 and divorced in 1980, they had no children.[8]
Ryan's mother married Harold Davison[9] and, in 1984, he changed his name by deed poll to Barry Davison.[citation needed]
In 1992, his brother, Paul, died of cancer.[citation needed]
In 1995, Ryan married Christine Goodliff. They had a son and daughter.[2] Jack Davison (18 April 1995) and Sophia Davison (4 September 1996).[10]
Ryan died on 28 September 2021, after complications from a lung disorder.[1]
Discography
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e "Barry Ryan obituary". TheGuardian.com. 7 October 2021.
- ^ a b c "Barry Ryan, singer who formed a duo with his brother Paul, and had worldwide success with the melodramatic Eloise – obituary". MSN.
- ^ 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.
- ^ DVD Remember 70's Vol.3, P2004 BR Music
- ^ Barry Ryan , National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 29 September 2021
- ^ "Barry Ryan - Person - National Portrait Gallery". National Portrait Gallery, London. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ^ Clifford, Naomi (16 July 2020). "Marcella Mendl". Chelsea Vignette. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ Rouse, Sabina (30 September 2021). "Barry Ryan dead: Eloise singer who performed with twin Paul dies as Cat Stevens speaks out". Express. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ "Pop impresario Harold Davison dies at the age of 89". BBC News. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ "Barry Ryan". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
External links
edit
- Discography
- Barry Ryan at AllMusic
- Barry Ryan discography at Discogs
- Barry Ryan at IMDb
- 2017 interview by Jason Barnard, Strange Brew