John Wesley Ryles, a prolific country music entertainer with tons of hits from the late 1960s through the 1980s, died Sunday, Nov. 2. He was 74.
Ryles’ death was first announced on Facebook by Tracy Pitcox, owner of Heart of Texas Records, who detailed the singer’s illustrious career.
“At age 17, he made his debut in 1968 with the single ‘Kay,’ a Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, and the title track to his debut album for Columbia Records,” Pitcox wrote. “Ryles later recorded one album, ‘Reconsider Me,’ for the Plantation label, which produced a No. 39 single in its title track. It was followed by two non-album singles, ‘Tell It Like It Is’ and ‘When a Man Loves a Woman,’ both on the Music Mill label in 1976.”
Ryles then signed to Dot Records where his first single under the label, “Fool,” peaked at No. 18 on the Hot Country Songs chart in 1977. He followed this up with “Once in a Lifetime,’ which became Ryles’ highest-charting single at No. 5.
The musician continued to release many more successful country singles over the next decade including “Liberated Woman,” “Always on My Mind,” “Perfect Strangers,” “We’ve Got to Start Meeting Like This,” “Just Once,” “She Took It Too Well” and “Louisiana Rain.”
Since the release of his last single “Nobody Knows” in 1998, Ryles had mostly served as a background singer. He became “one of Nashville’s most in-demand background vocalists,” working with the likes of Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Randy Travis and Blake Shelton, Parade reported. Overall, his credits include hits by more than 25 members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the museum wrote on X.
“We lost a GIANT in the music industry,” country singer Mark Willis wrote in a tribute to Ryles on Instagram.
“John Wesley Ryles sang more harmonies on records, that to the listener, sounded like the artist themselves! He could blend with ANYBODY!,” Willis continued. “John sang on my first four records and always had a flawless blend with the lead vocal. It was perfect. My condolences to Joni and his entire family! Please lift them up in prayer.”
Ryles was married to Joni Lee, the daughter of country music icon Conway Twitty.
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