Phil Ryan

Phil Ryan (21 October 1946 – 30 April 2016) was a Welsh keyboardist and composer known for his work with Man and Pete Brown.

Early career Born in Port Talbot, Ryan played trombone in the National Youth Orchestra,

The Eyes moved from Decca to Mercury Records and recorded their first album Crossroads of Time in 1968, which was produced by Lou Reizner. Graham Bond also wrote the album sleeve notes. Despite poor sales, the album was "acknowledged as a major influence on the nascent Yes" They collaborated with Quincy Jones on the score of the movie Toy Grabbers, some tracks of which appear on their second album In Fields of Ardath (1969),

Through producer Lou Reizner, Ryan began getting work as an arranger, and wrote the string arrangements on Caetano Veloso's third self-titled album called either his 1971 album or A Little More Blue.

The Eyes of Blue's third and final album, Bluebell Wood, was released under the pseudonym Big Sleep, and the band broke up shortly afterwards.

In 1970, Ryan and Weathers joined Pete Brown & Piblokto! playing on one single, "Flying Hero Sandwich" / "My Last Band". When bassist Steve Glover broke his wrist, he was replaced by Michael "Will" Youatt, and when Piblokto disbanded Ryan and Youatt, together with Clive John, who had just left Man, formed the first incarnation of Iorworth Pritchard and the Neutrons.

Man In April 1972, Ryan and Youatt joined Man, Clive John re-joining at the same time. The band recorded Be Good to Yourself at Least Once a Day which received good reviews. A party on 19 December 1972, with Dave Edmunds, Help Yourself and others, was issued as Christmas at the Patti, a double 10" album, which topped the "budget" album chart. Man then recorded the double album Back into the Future, half in the studio, and half live at The Roundhouse. The album initially sold well, rising to No 23, and was tipped to be album that would make the band, but pressing was restricted by a lack of plastic during the 1973 oil crisis.

Neutrons Ryan and Youatt left Man in 1973 to re-form the Neutrons. Andrew Lauder, head of A&R at United Artists put the duo in Rockfield Studios where they began recording the first Neutrons album, Black Hole Star. To record the album, Ryan and Youatt assembled several friends and former bandmates, including drummers John "Pugwash" Weathers (then with Gentle Giant) and Dave Charles; guitarists Martin Wallace and Ray "Taff" Williams, who had been in Eyes of Blue and Piblokto!, violinist Stuart Gordon (ex Incredible String Band) and vocalist Caromay Dixon.

The initial recordings were made at Rockfield Studios – "Snow Covered Eyes" and "Living In The World Today". The rest of the album was recorded in April 1974 at Chipping Norton Recording Studios. Released in September 1974 Black Hole Star featured Neutrons' logo, designed by Rick Griffin, whilst the track "Mermaid And Chips" features the lyrics of Pete Brown. The album spawned one single "Dance of the Psychedelic Lounge Lizard"/"Suzy and the Wonder Boy", The A-side being dedicated to Graham Bond, whilst the B side was not on the album, although it features Dave Edmunds on slide guitar.

Ryan moved to Denmark in 1980, where he met and married the writer and director Bolette Bernild. Although now living in Denmark, Ryan continued a productive songwriting partnership with Pete Brown, producing two Ryan/Brown albums, Ardours of the Lost Rake and Coals to Jerusalem. They began touring in 1993, and a compilation of the two albums was issued on CD as The Land That Cream Forgot. Ryan worked as a musical director and composer for many of the top Danish Theaters, eventually becoming house composer for Comedievogen and the B&U department of Denmark's Radio (TV). His long association with Pete Brown produced two more albums, Road Of Cobras (2010) and Perils Of Wisdom (2014).

Man yet again Ryan rejoined Man in 1996, playing on the albums 1998 at the Star Club (1998) and Endangered Species (2000), before leaving again in 2001, to look after his wife, who was terminally ill. Ryan rejoined Man in 2007, remaining with the 'core' band when it split in two in 2008 and playing on the albums Kingdom of Noise (2009) and Reanimated Memories (2015). Despite suffering three heart attacks and a stroke,

Discography With The Eyes of Blue Crossroads of Time (1968) (reissued on CD by Cherry Red in November 2015) In Fields of Ardath (1969) Bluebell Wood (1971) (issued under the pseudonym Big Sleep)

With Buzzy Linhart Buzzy (1969)

With Ancient Grease Women and Children First (1970)

With Pete Brown "Flying Hero Sandwich" / "My Last Band" Pete Brown & Piblokto! My Last Band (1977) Pete Brown & Piblokto Land That Cream Forgot (1996) Pete Brown & Phil Ryan Coals to Jerusalem (2003) Pete Brown & Phil Ryan Ardours of the Lost Rake (2003) Pete Brown & Phil Ryan Road of Cobras (2010) Pete Brown & Phil Ryan Perils of Wisdom (2014) Pete Brown & Phil Ryan

With John St. Field (Jackie Leven) Control (1971)

With Man Be Good to Yourself at Least Once a Day (1972) Christmas at the Patti (1973) Back into the Future (1973) The Welsh Connection (1976) All's Well That Ends Well (1977) Rare Man (1999) Live at the Rainbow 1972 (1999) 1998 at the Star Club (1999) Endangered Species (2000) Keep on Crinting: The Liberty/UA Years Anthology (2006) Live at the Keystone Berkeley, 9 August 1976 (2008) Kingdom of Noise (2009) Reanimated Memories (2015)

With Neutrons Black Hole Star (1974) (United Artists UAG 29652) Tales From the Blue Cocoons (1975) (United Artists UAG 29726) (reissued as a pair (BGOCD 598) in 2003)

With Clive John You Always Know Where You Stand with a Buzzard (1975)

With The Flying Aces Seashell (2002)