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John Ryan (songwriter)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Ryan
Also known as
  • John the Blind
  • JRY
Born
John Henry Ryan II

(1987-08-19) August 19, 1987 (age 39)
OriginRochester, New York, U.S.
GenresPop
Occupations
  • Songwriter
  • record producer
  • singer
Years active2010–present

John Henry Ryan II (born August 19, 1987), also known as John the Blind, is an American Grammy Award–winning songwriter,[1] record producer, music publishing executive, and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for his work across pop, country, and alternative music, with a catalog exceeding 30 billion global streams and over 30 million records sold.[2]

Ryan has been a key creative contributor to major releases by artists including Sabrina Carpenter, Teddy Swims, One Direction, Thomas Rhett, Niall Horan, Olivia Dean, Katseye, John Legend, Rudimental, and others.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Ryan is from Pittsford, New York.[4] He grew up the youngest in his family with his mother, older brother Joe, and older sister Julie.[4] Ryan wrote his first song in third grade, learning to play guitar and piano at a young age.[4] He continued to write throughout his childhood, even making an album in eighth grade that he was selling out of his locker.[4] 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."[4] 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.

During his junior year, Ryan visited a few friends in Los Angeles, and met Damon Bunetta, who later became his manager, at a party.[4] 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.[4] After graduating from Berklee in 2010, Ryan moved to Los Angeles to begin his career as an artist and producer.[4]

Career

[edit]

Ryan achieved his commercial breakthrough with One Direction, whom he met and began writing with in 2012. Their 2013 single "Story of My Life" became a global Top 10 hit. He went on to co-write and co-produce 27 songs across four of the band’s albums: Take Me Home,[5] Midnight Memories,[6] Four,[7] and Made in the A.M.[8]

Notable One Direction credits include "Night Changes", "Story of My Life", "Steal My Girl", "Perfect", and "Drag Me Down".

During and after his work with One Direction, Ryan continued to establish himself as a leading songwriter and producer across pop, country, and dance music, earning multiple No. 1 singles.[9]

In recent years, Ryan has been a primary songwriter and producer for the last three Sabrina Carpenter albums, including Emails I Can't Send, Short n' Sweet, and Man's Best Friend. Songs such as "Feather", "Taste", "Bed Chem", and "Tears" reached No. 1. In 2024, Ryan won a Grammy Award for his work on Short n' Sweet.[10]

Teddy Swims is also a close friend and frequent collaborator. Swims's singles "Bad Dreams" and "The Door" both reached No. 1, which Ryan co-wrote and co-produced.[11]

Ryan has also collaborated with Olivia Dean, co-writing her breakout single "So Easy (To Fall in Love)", and wrote the hit song "Gabriela" for global pop group KATSEYE.[12]

In addition to his songwriting and production career, Ryan records and performs under the moniker John the Blind, a solo artist project formerly signed to Atlantic Records. The name references John of Bohemia, a medieval king who continued to lead his army despite being blind.

Under this project, Ryan releases self-written and self-produced material that blends pop, alternative, country, and experimental influences.

Discography

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
Featured in
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
 AUS
[13]		 GER
[14]		 SPN
[15]		 UK
"Fireball"

(Pitbull featuring John Ryan)

 2014 232622649 Globalization

Production discography

[edit]
Title Year Artist Album Songwriter Producer
"Do You Feel What I Feel?" 2011 JLS Jukebox check
"C'mon, C'mon" 2012 One Direction Take Me Home check check
"I Would" check
"They Don't Know About Us" check
"She's Not Afraid" check check
"Loved You First" check check
"I Wish" 2013 Emblem3 Nothing to Lose check
"Me & My Girls" Fifth Harmony Better Together check
"Best Song Ever" One Direction Midnight Memories check check
"Story of My Life" check check
"Diana" check check
"Midnight Memories" check check
"You & I" check check
"Strong" check check
"Little Black Dress" check check
"Little White Lies" check check
"Better Than Words" check check
"Does He Know?" check check
"Alive" check check
"One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" check
"Good News" 2014 Daley Days + Nights check
"Wiggle"
(featuring Snoop Dogg)		 Jason Derulo Talk Dirty check check
"If You Love Me Let Me Go" Colbie Caillat Gypsy Heart check
"Take Over" Nick Jonas Nick Jonas check check
"Steal My Girl" One Direction Four check check
"Ready to Run" check check
"Girl Almighty" check check
"Night Changes" check check
"No Control" check check
"Fireproof" check check
"Spaces" check check
"Stockholm Syndrome" check check
"Clouds" check check
"Change Your Ticket" check check
"Illusion" check check
"Once in a Lifetime" check check
"Act My Age" check check
"Fireball"
(featuring John Ryan)		 Pitbull Globalization check check
"Day Drinking"
(featuring Heymous Molly)		 check check
"Work This Body" Walk the Moon Talking Is Hard check
"We Are the Kids" check
"Headlights"
(featuring Ilsey)		 2015 Robin Schulz Sugar check
"Vacation" Thomas Rhett Tangled Up check
"Babylon" Omi Me 4 U check check
"Hey Angel" One Direction Made in the A.M. check check
"Drag Me Down" check check
"Perfect" check
"Infinity" check check
"End of the Day" check check
"Long Way Down" check check
"Never Enough" check check
"Olivia" check check
"I Want to Write You a Song" check check
"History" check check
"Walking in the Wind" check check
"A.M." check check
"Sober"
(featuring JRY)		 2016 DJ Snake Encore check check
"Darkness and Light"
(featuring Brittany Howard)		 John Legend Darkness and Light check
"Love Me Now" check check
"Temporarily Painless" check
"Pray"
(featuring Rooty)		 2017 JRY Fifty Shades Darker: Original
Motion Picture Soundtrack		 check
"Two Ghosts" Harry Styles Harry Styles check
"Guys My Age" Hey Violet From the Outside check
"Crawling" Chase & Status Tribe check
"Shed a Light"
(with David Guetta featuring Cheat Codes)		 Robin Schulz Uncovered check
"Leave Right Now" Thomas Rhett Life Changes check
"Renegades" check
"Finish What We Started" Jessie Ware Glasshouse check check
"On the Loose" Niall Horan Flicker check
"Slow Hands" check
"Flicker" check
"Fire Away" check
"The Tide" check
"Best 4 U" Maroon 5 Red Pill Blues check check
"Wait" check check
"Bet My Heart" check check
"Who I Am"
(featuring LunchMoney Lewis)		 check check
"Whiskey"
(featuring ASAP Rocky)		 check check
"Closure" check check
"Don't Wanna Know"
(featuring Kendrick Lamar)		 check check
"Cold"
(featuring Future)		 check check
"Lost in the Wild" Walk the Moon What If Nothing check
"These Days"
(featuring Jess Glynne & Dan Caplen)		 2018 Rudimental Toast to Our Differences check check
"Dance" DNCE Non-album single check
"Think About You" Delta Goodrem check check
"Hate to Say" Tory Lanez Memories Don't Die check
"Done for Me"
(featuring Kehlani)		 Charlie Puth Voicenotes check
"Preacher Man" The Driver Era Non-album single check
"How Badly" In Real Life She Do check
"Doesn't Matter" Gallant This Song Does Not Fit check check
"Finally Free" Niall Horan Smallfoot: Original Motion
Picture Soundtrack		 check check
"16 Steps"
(with Olivia Holt)		 Martin Jensen Non-album single check check
"Dear Sense"
(with Max)		 Louis the Child Kids at Play EP check
"Epa Wei" Danny Ocean Non-album single check
"Never Let Me Go" Jess Glynne Always In Between check check
"Big Bills"
(featuring Big Boi)		 The Knocks New York Narcotic check
"Room for You" check
"Close to Me" Isaiah Non-album single check check
"Cashmere" Rita Ora Phoenix check check
"First Time High" check
"Out at Night"
(featuring Kyle & Big Boi)		 Clean Bandit What Is Love? check
"Better to Lie"
(with Jesse & Swae Lee)		 Benny Blanco Friends Keep Secrets check
"24 Hours"
(featuring Yasmin Green)		 Clean Bandit What Is Love? check check
"We Made It" 2019 Louis Tomlinson Walls check check
"Ain't Shit" 2020 ASL SKYLOFT check check
"Human Zoo" check check
"Slash My Tire" check check
"Room for One More" check check
"Where Will I Remember You" check check
"Shots with Mariah" check check
"Slow Motion" check check
"What Happens Here" check check
"What Makes a Woman" Katy Perry Smile check
"Call My Friends" Shawn Mendes Wonder check check
"One More" 2021 SG Lewis featuring Nile Rodgers Times check
"My Whole Life" ASL EL GANZO check check
"It's Not Easy" check check
"Leona" check check
"On The Roof" check check
"Hey Mister" check check
"Leona Interlude" check check
"Still Awake" check check
"12:42" check check
"Best Sex" check check
"Jump In" check check
"Fast Times" 2022 Sabrina Carpenter Emails I Can't Send check check
"Because I Liked a Boy" check check
"Already Over" check check
"Decode" check check
"Heaven" 2023 Niall Horan The Show check check
"If You Leave Me" check check
"Meltdown" check check
"Never Grow Up" check check
"You Could Start a Cult" check check
"Save My Life" check check
"On a Night Like Tonight" check check
"Feather" Sabrina Carpenter Emails I Can't Send (Deluxe Edition) check check
"Taste" 2024 Short n' Sweet check check
"Good Graces" check check
"Coincidence" check check
"Bed Chem" check check
"Dumb & Poetic" check check
"Juno" check check
"Don't Smile" check check
"Gabriela" 2025 Katseye Beautiful Chaos check check
"Peach Gelato" TWICE This Is For check check
"On My Mind" Alex Warren featuring Rosé You'll Be Alright, Kid check check
"Cigarettes" Maroon 5 Love Is Like
(Deluxe Digital Edition)		 check
"Tears" Sabrina Carpenter Man's Best Friend check check
"My Man on Willpower" check check
"Sugar Talking" check check
"Nobody's Son" check check
"Never Getting Laid" check check
"When Did You Get Hot?" check check
"Go Go Juice" check check
"House Tour" check check
"Real Friends"[21] XO Fashionably Late check check
"So Easy (To Fall in Love)" Olivia Dean The Art of Loving check check
"HASTA JESÚS TUVO UN MAL DÍA" Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, Sting Non-album single check check
"The Door" Teddy Swims I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1) check check
"Bad Dreams" I've Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 2) check check
"Guilty" check check
"Heroine" 2026 Maroon 5 Non-album single check check

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Atkinson, Katie (February 2, 2026). "Here Are the 2026 Grammys Winners: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  2. ↑ "John Ryan is a songwriter". artists.spotify.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  3. ↑ "John Ryan is a songwriter". artists.spotify.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 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.
  5. ↑ One Direction - Take Me Home, November 14, 2012, retrieved February 16, 2026
  6. ↑ One Direction - Midnight Memories, November 25, 2013, retrieved February 16, 2026
  7. ↑ One Direction - Four, 2014, retrieved February 16, 2026
  8. ↑ One Direction - Made In The A.M., 2015, retrieved February 16, 2026
  9. ↑ Communications, W. C. M. (September 4, 2024). "WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC SIGNS HIT SONGWRITER, PRODUCER AND MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST JOHN RYAN". Warner Music Group. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  10. ↑ Atkinson, Katie (February 2, 2026). "Here Are the 2026 Grammys Winners: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Teddy Swims is our new Number 1!". BigTop40. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  12. ↑ "John Ryan is a songwriter". artists.spotify.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Italian Charts – John Ryan discography". Australian-charts.com.
  14. ↑ "German Charts – John Ryan discography". Germancharts.com.
  15. ↑ "Spanish Charts – John Ryan discography". Spanishcharts.com.
  16. ↑ "American certifications – John Ryan". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  17. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (October 11, 2014). "The Veronicas Spend Third Week On Top Of ARIA Singles Chart". Noise11. Noise Network. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  18. ↑ "British certifications – John Ryan". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 23, 2025. Type John Ryan in the "Search:" field.
  19. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank: Pitbull" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Canadian certifications – John Ryan". Music Canada. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  21. ↑ "XO continue to push the parameters of pop on electrifying new single 'Real Friends'". CelebMix. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
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