On Tuesday 4 November 2025, Gene Watson mourned the passing (on Sunday 2 November 2025) of a truly great singer and background vocalist, John Wesley Ryles.
‘Country music lost one of the truly great singers, with John Wesley Ryles‘ passing this week.
He was signed as a recording artist and had his own hits, but later in life, became one of country music’s most prolific background vocalists.
‘Uncharted Mind’ (Step One Records, 1993)
‘The Good Ole Days’ (Step One Records, 1996)
‘A Way To Survive’ (Step One Records, 1997)
‘From The Heart’ (RMG Records, 2001)
‘Gene Watson…Sings’ (Intersound Records, 2003)
‘Gene Watson: Then & Now’ (Koch Records Nashville, 2005)
‘A Taste of The Truth’ (Shanachie Records, 2009)
‘Best of The Best: 25 Greatest Hits’ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012)
‘My Heroes Have Always Been Country’ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2014)
‘Real.Country.Music’ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2016)
‘My Gospel Roots’ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2017)
I was fortunate to have him sing on many of my albums, and know first-hand, what a tremendous talent he was, as well as being a really kind and humble man.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Joni, and family.
Joni is the daughter of the late, great Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993).
Sharing my friend, Mark Wills’ words here for you too’
Source
Gene Watson on Facebook
‘We lost a giant in the music industry today (Sunday 2 November 2025).
John Wesley Ryles sang more harmonies on records, that to the listener, sounded like the artist themselves!
He could blend with anybody!
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’
Source
Mark Wills on Facebook
On Tuesday 21 October 2003, Mark Wills saw the release of ‘And The Crowd Goes Wild’ (Mercury Records Nashville, 2003); three of the included tracks were ‘Prisoner of The Highway’ (written by Mike Reid) (a duet with Ronnie Milsap), ‘How Bad Do You Want It’ (written by Tom Shapiro, Mark Nesler and Tony Martin), and ‘A Singer In A Band’ (written by Tim Menzies and Gary Harrison), all of which featured backing vocals from John Wesley Ryles.
