John Ryan (songwriter)

Last updated

John Ryan
Birth nameJohn Henry Ryan II
Also known as
  • John the Blind
  • JRY
Born (1987-08-19) August 19, 1987 (age 36)
Origin Rochester, New York, U.S.
Genres Pop
Occupation(s)
  • Songwriter
  • record producer
  • singer
Years active2010–present

John Henry Ryan II (born August 19, 1987), also known as John the Blind and JRY, is an American songwriter, singer and record producer from Rochester, New York. He is best known for co-writing and co-producing One Direction's last four albums and many of their singles. He has written songs for many acclaimed artists. His compositions and productions have sold over 30 million units worldwide.

Contents

Early life

Ryan is from Pittsford, New York. [1] He grew up the youngest in his family with his mother, older brother Joe, and older sister Julie. [1] Ryan wrote his first song in third grade, learning to play guitar and piano at a young age. [1] He continued to write throughout his childhood, even making an album in eighth grade that he was selling out of his locker. [1] By the time he was 16 or 17, he remembers having to choose between music and sports and states that "music came the most naturally and made [him] the happiest." [1] He sent his only college application to Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. During his time at Berklee, Ryan learned music theory, fronted two bands, and continued to write his own material. He also spent the latter half of his college years learning to produce pop, hip hop, and alternative music. Ryan was lead guitarist for classmate Isom Innis' project, Southern Belle. [2]

During his junior year, Ryan visited a few friends in Los Angeles, and met Damon Bunetta, who later became his manager, at a party. [1] They exchanged numbers, ideas, and kept in contact. At the time, Damon, his brother Julian Bunetta, and their father Peter Bunetta were expanding their company, Family Affair Productions, and were looking to add another producer/artist/writer to the team. [1] After graduating from Berklee in 2010, Ryan moved to Los Angeles to begin his career as an artist and producer. [1]

Career

Ryan had many friends (including Julian Bunetta) who were working on the American version of The X Factor in 2011. Hit songwriter, Savan Kotecha, was involved in the television program at the time, and worked on One Direction's first two records. After hearing Kotecha rave about an emerging act discovered on UK's X Factor and explaining that there was a break in the market for boy bands, Ryan and Bunetta got onboard. [1] Ryan's first big cut was "Story of My Life" with One Direction, reaching the Top 10 on the Billboard charts. [3]

Influenced by Booker T. & the M.G's, Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Radiohead, The Beatles, MGMT and Julian Casablancas. Ryan has co-written and/or produced multiple songs by artists including One Direction, John Legend, David Guetta, Thomas Rhett, Harry Styles, Maroon 5, Niall Horan, Pitbull, Jason Derulo, Charlie Puth, Rudimental, Fifth Harmony, Cody Simpson, Nick Jonas, and Emblem3 among others. In total, he has 27 tracks which have been released on four of One Direction's albums ( Take Me Home , Midnight Memories , Four , and Made in the A.M. ). [1] Ryan co-wrote and co-produced the songs "Midnight Memories" and "Steal My Girl".

In addition to writing and producing for pop artists, Ryan formed his solo project John the Blind. [4]  The moniker references ancient Bohemian king John of Bohemia who fought his wars blind and was carted onto the field of battle on horseback by his men. [5] [6]

Ryan was a featured vocalist on Pitbull's "Fireball", and appeared in the music video. [7] He was also a featured vocalist on Brass Knuckles' "As Long as I'm Alive" and "Water Gun", as well as DJ Snake's "Sober" (as JRY). As JRY, Ryan has additionally released the singles "Pray" featuring Rooty, and "FWY" (with audacy).

Discography

Singles

Featured in
TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
AUS
[8]
GER
[9]
SPN
[10]
UK
"Fireball" (Pitbull featuring John Ryan)2014232622649 Globalization

Production discography

TitleYearArtistAlbumSongwriterProducer
"Do You Feel What I Feel?"2011 JLS Jukebox Yes check.svg
"C'mon, C'mon"2012 One Direction Take Me Home Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"I Would"Yes check.svg
"They Don't Know About Us"Yes check.svg
"She's Not Afraid"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Loved You First"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"I Wish"2013 Emblem3 Nothing to Lose Yes check.svg
"Me & My Girls" Fifth Harmony Better Together Yes check.svg
"Best Song Ever"One Direction Midnight Memories Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Story of My Life"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Diana"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Midnight Memories"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"You & I"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Strong"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Little Black Dress"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Little White Lies"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Better Than Words"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Does He Know?"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Alive"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)"Yes check.svg
"Good News"2014 Daley Days + Nights Yes check.svg
"Wiggle"
(featuring Snoop Dogg)
Jason Derulo Talk Dirty Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"If You Love Me Let Me Go" Colbie Caillat Gypsy Heart Yes check.svg
"Take Over" Nick Jonas Nick Jonas Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Steal My Girl"One Direction Four Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Ready to Run"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Girl Almighty"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Night Changes"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"No Control"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Fireproof"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Spaces"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Stockholm Syndrome"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Clouds"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Change Your Ticket"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Illusion"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Once in a Lifetime"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Act My Age"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Fireball"
(featuring John Ryan)
Pitbull Globalization Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Day Drinking"
(featuring Heymous Molly)
Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Work This Body" Walk the Moon Talking Is Hard Yes check.svg
"We Are the Kids"Yes check.svg
"Headlights"
(featuring Ilsey)
2015 Robin Schulz Sugar Yes check.svg
"Vacation" Thomas Rhett Tangled Up Yes check.svg
"Babylon" Omi Me 4 U Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Hey Angel"One Direction Made in the A.M. Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Drag Me Down"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Perfect"Yes check.svg
"Infinity"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"End of the Day"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Long Way Down"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Never Enough"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Olivia"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"I Want to Write You a Song"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"History"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Walking in the Wind"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"A.M."Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Sober"
(featuring JRY)
2016 DJ Snake Encore Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Darkness and Light"
(featuring Brittany Howard)
John Legend Darkness and Light Yes check.svg
"Love Me Now"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Temporarily Painless"Yes check.svg
"Pray"
(featuring Rooty)
2017JRY Fifty Shades Darker: Original
Motion Picture Soundtrack
Yes check.svg
"Two Ghosts" Harry Styles Harry Styles Yes check.svg
"Guys My Age" Hey Violet From the Outside Yes check.svg
"Crawling" Chase & Status Tribe Yes check.svg
"Shed a Light"
(with David Guetta featuring Cheat Codes)
Robin Schulz Uncovered Yes check.svg
"Leave Right Now"Thomas Rhett Life Changes Yes check.svg
"Renegades"Yes check.svg
"Finish What We Started" Jessie Ware Glasshouse Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"On the Loose" Niall Horan Flicker Yes check.svg
"Slow Hands"Yes check.svg
"Flicker"Yes check.svg
"Fire Away"Yes check.svg
"The Tide"Yes check.svg
"Best 4 U" Maroon 5 Red Pill Blues Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Wait"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Bet My Heart"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Who I Am"
(featuring LunchMoney Lewis)
Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Whiskey"
(featuring ASAP Rocky)
Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Closure"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Don't Wanna Know"
(featuring Kendrick Lamar)
Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Cold"
(featuring Future)
Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Lost in the Wild" Walk the Moon What If Nothing Yes check.svg
"These Days"
(featuring Jess Glynne & Dan Caplen)
2018 Rudimental Toast to Our Differences Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Dance" DNCE Non-album singleYes check.svg
"Think About You" Delta Goodrem Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Hate to Say" Tory Lanez Memories Don't Die Yes check.svg
"Done for Me"
(featuring Kehlani)
Charlie Puth Voicenotes Yes check.svg
"Preacher Man" The Driver Era Non-album singleYes check.svg
"How Badly" In Real Life She DoYes check.svg
"Doesn't Matter" Gallant This Song Does Not FitYes check.svgYes check.svg
"Finally Free"Niall Horan Smallfoot: Original Motion
Picture Soundtrack
Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"16 Steps"
(with Olivia Holt)
Martin Jensen TBAYes check.svgYes check.svg
"Dear Sense"
(with Max)
Louis the Child Kids at Play EPYes check.svg
"Epa Wei" Danny Ocean TBAYes check.svg
"Never Let Me Go" Jess Glynne Always In Between Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Big Bills"
(featuring Big Boi)
The Knocks New York NarcoticYes check.svg
"Room for You"Yes check.svg
"Close to Me"IsaiahNon-album singleYes check.svgYes check.svg
"Cashmere" Rita Ora Phoenix Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"First Time High"Yes check.svg
"Out at Night"
(featuring Kyle & Big Boi)
Clean Bandit What Is Love? Yes check.svg
"Better to Lie"
(with Jesse & Swae Lee)
Benny Blanco Friends Keep Secrets Yes check.svg
"24 Hours"
(featuring Yasmin Green)
Clean Bandit What Is Love? Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"We Made It"2019 Louis Tomlinson Walls Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Ain't Shit"2020ASLSKYLOFTYes check.svgYes check.svg
"Human Zoo"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Slash My Tire"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Room for One More"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Where Will I Remember You"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Shots with Mariah"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Slow Motion"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"What Happens Here"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"What Makes a Woman" Katy Perry Smile Yes check.svg
"Call My Friends" Shawn Mendes Wonder Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"One More"2021 SG Lewis featuring Nile Rodgers Times Yes check.svg
"My Whole Life"ASLEL GANZOYes check.svgYes check.svg
"It's Not Easy"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Leona"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"On The Roof"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Hey Mister"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Leona Interlude"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Still Awake"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"12:42"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Best Sex"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Jump In"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Fast Times"2022 Sabrina Carpenter Emails I Can't Send Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Because I Liked a Boy "Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Already Over"Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Decode "Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Heaven"2023Niall Horan The Show Yes check.svgYes check.svg
"Feather "Sabrina CarpenterEmails I Can't Send (Deluxe Edition)Yes check.svgYes check.svg

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References

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  3. "One Direction Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
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  7. Pitbull – Fireball ft. John Ryan (Official Video) , retrieved November 19, 2019
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  9. "German Charts – John Ryan discography". Germancharts.com.
  10. "Spanish Charts – John Ryan discography". Spanishcharts.com.
  11. "British certifications – John Ryan". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved January 22, 2023.Type John Ryan in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.