Ross Ryan

Ross Edwin Ryan (born 13 December 1950) is an American-born Australian singer-songwriter and producer. His signature tune, "I Am Pegasus", was released in September 1973, which peaked at No. 2 on the Australian Singles. Its parent album, My Name Means Horse, was released in February 1974, which reached No. 3 on the Australian Album chart.

Biography Early years Ross Ryan was born on 13 December 1950, in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The family moved to Mount Manypeaks near Albany, Western Australia in 1959 where they settled on a sheep farm of . He started his musical career in 1968. From mid-1970 to late 1971 Ryan used the station's facilities to record his debut album, Home Movies, which was self-funded on the RR label. Ryan signed with a manager, Al Maricic, and started regular gigs at Gramps Wine Bar and played at university campuses. In September that year Ryan supported Roy Orbison for the Perth concert on his Australian tour. Ryan won Record of the Year and Best New Talent at the Australian Record Federation Awards for 1973.

At the end of that year he toured the US playing the club circuit. He has supported tours by international acts, The Hollies (May 1973), Helen Reddy (November 1973), Roberta Flack (1977), Michael Franks, Roger Miller and Dr. Hook (1977).

The parent album, My Name Means Horse, was released in February 1974, it is Ryan's most successful album, which reached No. 3 on the Australian Albums chart At the 1974 TV Week King of Pop Awards, My Name Means Horse won Most Popular Australian Album. Then Prime Minister of Australia, Gough Whitlam, presented Ryan's first gold records for the album My Name Means Horse and the single "I am Pegasus". He hosted his own pop TV program, Rock Show, and continued to release albums including After the Applause (June 1975) and Smiling for the Camera (April 1977). Singles from After the Applause, were "Blue Chevrolet Ballerina", released in March 1975, which reached the Top 40 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart, and "Sedel (Never Smiled at Me)" (August) which did not chart.

1980-1990s Ross Ryan continued songwriting and released independent singles, some of his tracks were covered by other artists including John Farnham who had recorded "I Must Stay" on his 1975 album J.P. Farnham Sings; and Slim Dusty recorded "Isa" which was also used in the bio-pic Slim Dusty: The Movie (1984). In 1988 he performed at the Australian National University.

In 1990, Ryan co-wrote a revue, Les Boys (A Masculine Sensation), with comedians Rod Quantock, Lynda Gibson and Geoff Brooks. In 1998 he produced Dale Juner's album, Only Burning Me, which won Victorian Country Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year for Juner. In 1990 EMI, through its budget label, Axis Records released another compilation album, The Greats of Ross 1973–1990, which also included previously unreleased material.

In May 2007, Aztec Music re-released My Name Means Horse on CD format, additional tracks are "Blood on the Microphone (Piña Colada Version)" and "I Am Pegasus" (1974 live version, from Get to Know, an ABC TV show). Plans for future releases include CD versions of the EMI albums, A Poem You Can Keep, After the Applause and Smiling for the Camera. Another compilation album appeared in 2008, The Difficult Third Compilation, distributed by Aztec Music, it includes a new track.

In February 2019, to celebrate 45 years since the release of "My Name Means Horse", Silvan fruit shop 'Carter Bros. Fruit & Veg' ran a social media campaign where they played "My Name Means Horse" on repeat non-stop for 45 days. Ross Ryan appeared in the fruit shop and played a few songs.

Discography Studio albums + List of albums, with Australian chart positions Title Album details Peak chartpositions Certification AUS After the Applause Released: June 1975 Format: LP, cassette Label: EMI Music (EMA-313) 35 Smiling for the Camera Released: April 1977 Format: LP, cassette Label: EMI Music (EMC. 2571) - One Person Queue Released: November 2003 Format: CD Label: Sound Vault Records (SV0394) -

Compilations albums Title Album details

Released: December 1977 Format: LP, Cassette Label: EMI (EMC 2616)

Released: 1990 Format: CD Label: Axis, EMI (CDAX 701625)

Released: 2008 Format: CD Label: Coathanger Productions (COAT001)

Released: 2008 Format: CD Label: Coathanger Productions (COAT002)

Singles + List of singles, with Australian chart positions Year Title Peak chartpositions Album AUS 1972 "Sounds of Peppermint" 97 1973 "I Don't Want to Know About It" 56 A Poem You Can Keep "I Am Pegasus" 2 My Name Means Horse 1974 "Orchestra Ladies" 671975"Blue Chevrolet Ballerina"38 After The Applause"Sedel (Never Smiled at Me)"- 1976 "Happy Birthday to Me" - Smiling for the Camera1977"Who Am I?" -"Dancing" - 1980 "Chaplin and Harlow" - 1981 "Hello Stranger" - 2003 "Cool River" - One Person Queue

Awards and nominations King of Pop Awards The King of Pop Awards were voted by the readers of TV Week. The King of Pop award started in 1967 and ran through to 1978. 1974 My Name Means Horse| Most Popular Australian Album