Artist & Beloved Session Vocalist John Wesley Ryles Passes At 74

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John Wesley Ryles

Artist and beloved session vocalist John Wesley Ryles passed away on Nov. 2. He was 74.

The Bastrop, Louisiana native had several charting hits throughout his early recording career including “Kay” in 1968, (which was a Top 10 hit and the title track to his debut album for Columbia Records), “Once In A Lifetime Thing,” “Liberated Woman” and “Louisiana Rain.” Along with Columbia he recorded for MCA, Dot, Warner Bros. and others through the years.

In the late ’80s Ryles became an in-demand backing vocalist. His session credits include cuts by Brooks & Dunn (“Boot Scootin’ Boogie”), Alan Jackson, (“Drive”), George Jones (“Choices”) and Dolly Parton (“An Eagle When She Flies.”) His coveted harmony vocals can also be heard on Tracy Byrd’s “Watermelon Crawl,” Martina McBride’s “Independence Day” and Travis Tritt’s “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive,” and he penned Steve Wariner’s “Starting Over Again” with Don Goodman, which peaked at No. 4 on the charts in the mid-80s.

Ryles was married to Joni Lee, the daughter of Conway Twitty.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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