Barry Ryan (born Barry Sapherson; 24 October 1948 – 28 September 2021), also known as Barry Davison, was an English pop singer and photographer. Fred left when the twins were two and they were brought up until they were 11 by their grandmother. Both boys then boarded at Fulneck School in Pudsey, outside Leeds.
Ryan was popular in Germany and France. The single "Red Man" reached number 2 in the French chart in 1971. Promoted by Bravo, the German youth magazine, he recorded a number of songs in German. "Die Zeit macht nur vor dem Teufel halt" ("Time Only Stops for the Devil"; English recording as "Today" released on the album Red Man in 1971) peaked at number 8.
Ryan stopped performing in the early 1970s. He made a comeback in the late 1990s when a two CD set with his and his brother's old songs was released. Ryan was also part of the "Solid Silver '60s Tour" of the United Kingdom in 2003, singing "Eloise" backed by the Dakotas.
Photography career
Ryan maintained a successful career as a fashion photographer, from the late 1970s, and his photographs appeared in such magazines as Ritz and Zoom. In the 1990s, he worked on a photographic project commemorating his brother Paul. Six of his photographic portraits were purchased by the National Portrait Gallery, London for its permanent collection in 1994.
Personal life
Ryan was briefly married to Tunku (Princess) Miriam binti al-Marhum Sultan Sir Ibrahim (born 1950), the only child of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor and his sixth wife, Sultana Marcella (née Marcella Mendl). Married in 1976 and divorced in 1980, they had no children.
Ryan's mother married Harold Davison and, in 1984, he changed his name by deed poll to Barry Davison.
On November 29, 1992, his brother Paul died of lung cancer.
In 1995, Ryan married Christine Goodliff. They had a son and daughter.
Ryan died at the age of 72 on 28 September 2021, after complications from a lung disorder.