John Ryan
Birth nameJohn Henry Ryan II
Also known as
  • John the Blind
  • JRY
Born (1987-08-19) August 19, 1987
OriginRochester, New York, U.S.
GenresPop
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.

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
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
 AUS
[8]		 GER
[9]		 SPN
[10]		 UK
"Fireball" (Pitbull featuring John Ryan) 2014 232622649 Globalization

Production discography

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

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Kawashima, Dale (November 10, 2016). "Interview With John Ryan, Hit Songwriter & Producer For One Direction, Jason Derulo, John Legend and Pitbull". Songwriter Universe. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Interview: Southern Belle & Isom Innis – Music Review". Pinpointmusic.com. February 19, 2010. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  3. ↑ "One Direction Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Atlantic Records John The Blind". Atlanticrecords.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  5. ↑ BWW News Desk. "Atlantic Records Welcomes John The Blind". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  6. ↑ "John-The-Blind-2019". Press.atlanticrecords.com. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  7. ↑ Pitbull – Fireball ft. John Ryan (Official Video), retrieved November 19, 2019
  8. ↑ "Italian Charts – John Ryan discography". Australian-charts.com.
  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.
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