Boo
Marion Ryan was a leading British pop singer of the 1950s.
Her glamorous appearance and bright, Americanised vocal style
made her a star of stage, records, and television in the years
between rock 'n' roll and the advent of the Beatles, which
changed the face of pop music.
She was born Marion Sapherson in Leeds and changed her name to
Ryan when she became a professional singer.
She first came to prominence in the mid-1950s with the Ray
Ellington Quartet, whose leader had featured regularly on the
Goon Show and who had based his style on such American artists
as Louis Prima and Louis Jordan.
During the 1960s Marion, herself gradually withdrew from show business.
She died of a heart attack in a hospital in Florida after being admitted
suffering from pneumonia.
Paul and Barry Ryan took over where their mum left off.
Barry recorded a song in 1970, Caroline, maybe a tribute to his sister.
