John Ryan (songwriter)

John Henry Ryan II (born August 19, 1987), also known as John the Blind and JRY, is an American songwriter 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.

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

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

References

  1. 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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