The country music world is in mourning today following the passing of John Wesley Ryles, a voice that helped define a generation of heartfelt storytelling and harmony.
The beloved singer, known for his golden tone and impeccable phrasing, died peacefully on November 2, 2025, at the age of 74.
Didn’t have electricity or a television
In my book, John Wesley Ryles is definitely one of those slightly forgotten stars, the kind whose light may not have always shone in the spotlight, but whose glow helped illuminate the entire path for those who followed.
Born in Bastrop, Louisiana, on December 2, 1950, Ryles was destined for music from the start. As a child, he sang gospel with the Ryles Family Singers, his voice already showing the warmth and sincerity that would one day captivate audiences far beyond his hometown.
”I came from humble beginnings, and when I was very young (age 6) we didn’t have electricity at hour house – no radio, television – nothing. The only thing we had to entertain ourselves was singing,” he told DeRidder Enterprise in 1978.
”In the summertime it was too hot to sit in the house, so we’d sit out on the front porch and sing for two or three hours in the evening.”
Releasing Kay
By the time John Wesley was 13, his family had moved to Texas, and he was already performing regularly in Dallas clubs. At 15, he convinced his father to move with him to Nashville, chasing his dream of making it in country music.
At just 17 years old, Ryles released his debut single “Kay”; a hauntingly beautiful song that became an instant classic.
It’s a story steeped in emotion, love, heartbreak, and the quiet fragility of life.
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