Singer John Wesley Ryles was quite young when he broke through in Nashville, scoring a Top Ten hit in 1968 with the song "Kay," when he was just seventeen years old. Peaking at #9, the single was the first in a string of modest chart successes for Mr. Ryles, who stopped releasing solo material in the late 'Eighties, but kept recording as a studio musician for many years, mainly as a backing singer. Here's a quick look at his work...
John Wesley Ryles "Kay" (Columbia Records, 1969) (LP)
(Produced by George Richey & Jim Williamson)
John Wesley Ryles "Reconsider Me" (Plantation Records, 1977) (LP)
(Produced by Leroy Duncan)
John Wesley Ryles "John Wesley Ryles" (ABC Records, 1977) (LP)
(Produced by Johnny Morris)
John Wesley Ryles "Shine On Me" (ABC Records, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by Johnny Morris)
Straight-up mainstream country, in a light, breezy, mildly bombastic 'Seventies style. There are hints of Charlie Rich, Glen Campbell and Ronnie Milsap in this album, though as a vocalist, Ryles isn't as supple or versatile as any of those countrypolitan icons... Nonetheless, this album yielded a Top 20 hit, the title track, "Shine On Me," one of seven songs on here co-written by the album's engineer, Terry Skinner; lead guitarist Kenny Bell is the album's other big contributor, with credits on five of the songs, all of them co-written with Skinner. The highlight, though, is a remake of his original 1969 hit, "Kay," which closes out the album, easily the most distinctive track on the album.
John Wesley Ryles "Love's Sweet Pain" (ABC Records, 1978) (LP)
John Wesley Ryles "Let The Night Begin" (MCA Records, 1979) (LP)
(Produced by Bob Montgomery)
