Charlie Ryan

American country music singer and songwriter (1915–2008)

Country
rockabilly

Occupation(s)Singer-songwriterInstrument(s)Vocals, guitarYears active1959–1963Labels4 Star, King, Hilltop

Musical artist

Charles Ryan (December 19, 1915 – February 16, 2008) was an American country music and rockabilly singer and songwriter, best known for co-writing and first recording the rockabilly hit single "Hot Rod Lincoln".

Biography

Ryan grew up in Polson, Montana and moved to Spokane in 1943. He served in the United States Army during The Korean War. After the war, he worked as a musician and songwriter, touring with artists such as Jim Reeves and Johnny Horton. In 1955, he wrote "Hot Rod Lincoln", and Ryan recorded the first version of the song (as "Charley Ryan and The Livingston Brothers").^[1] Ryan released a remake in 1959 as "Charlie Ryan and The Timberline Riders"; the song was later covered by Johnny Bond (1960) and Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen (1972) (#9 U.S., #7 Canada), among others.^[2]

Discography

Albums

Year	Album	Label
1961	Hot Rod Lincoln	King
1963	Hot Rod Lincoln Drags Again!	Hilltop

Singles

Year	Single	Chart Positions		Album
Year	Single	US Country	US	Album
1960	"Hot Rod Lincoln"	14	33	Hot Rod Lincoln
1960	"Side Car Cycle"	—	84	Hot Rod Lincoln

References

^ "Charley Ryan And The Livingston Bros. – Hot Rod Lincoln". 45cat.com. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
^ Geranios, Nicholas K. (February 1, 2008). "Writer of "Hot Rod Lincoln" moves to drag race in the sky". Associated Press. Retrieved April 26, 2008.^{[dead link]}