Draft:John Reilly (Liverpool singer)

John Reilly is a Liverpool-born recording artiste - singer, songwriter, lyricist, and writer and based in Sheffield, England. He is known for his work as the frontman of Boy on a Dolphin signed to Atlantic Records in the US and Canada and as a solo artist. in his native UK. Reilly wrote the song Women of Steel with John Parr and Eliot Kennedy to accompany the campaign to build Women of Steel - a bronze sculpture that commemorates the women of Sheffield who worked in the city's steel industry during the First World War and Second World War. John Reilly performed the song at the statues unveiling in Barker's Pool, Sheffieldand also live on BBC One as part of commemorative celebrations. Reilly's singles co-written with Canadian Pianist and songwriter Lewis Nitikman have been playlisted consistentently by BBC Radio 2

Early Life and Influences

Born into a large family in Liverpool, England, John Reilly was exposed to a diverse range of music from a young age. His influences included Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Motown, and 1970s glam rock, with a particular appreciation for the lyrics of Bernie Taupin. He began singing and playing music as a child, using his sisters' hairbrush as a microphone to sing and playing guitar on a tennis racket to early Bruce Springsteen albums.

Reilly's first band, formed at the age of sixteen while still in school, was called "Force." The band performed at the legendary Eric's in Liverpool, primarily playing Roxy Music and David Bowie covers.

Early Career & Boy on a Dolphin

Two years after forming Force Reilly moved to Sheffield and joined the synth-pop band Ministers of Inspiration. The band gained a significant following and won "The British and International Song" award. However, Reilly felt the band was not the right outlet for his songwriting and formed Boy on a Dolphin with bassist Andy Needham. The band's core members included Pete Hiley on lead guitar and Tom Bryson on drums, later replaced by Darren Ford. Boy on a Dolphin developed a strong following and toured with the band Color Blind James Experience, who were a significant influence on Reilly.

In the early 1990s, Reilly attended the Juno Awards in Vancouver -primarily with a view to network nd hand out demo tapes. Upon his return to the UK, he was contacted by manager/agent Sam Feldman, who was enthusiastic about his music. Feldman signed Boy on a Dolphin to Atlantic Records in the US.

The band recorded their debut album, Words Inside, in Sheffield and at Bryan Adams' home in West Vancouver. The album was produced by Kevin Bacon and Jon Quarmby. Words Inside was released in 1993 received positive reviews, with Rolling Stone describing it as "One exquisite pop gem after another." The singles "Fire," "Nou we o'n Mazei," and "Love is a River" (co-written with Jim Vallance) all charted in the US AAA Chart. The band toured extensively in the US and Canada, opening for artists such as Bryan Adams, Procol Harum, and Ray Charles. Their music also appeared in films like Tokyo Cowboy and TV shows like Dawson's Creek and Quantum Leap.

Following a personnel change at Atlantic Records, Boy on a Dolphin returned to the UK. Reilly remained in Vancouver and continued to write and perform with musicians including Bryan Adams. He used this time to co-write with other songwriters, such as Jim Vallance, Robbie Buchanan, and Bill Henderson, and began performing solo shows.

Return to the UK & Collaborations

Reilly returned to the UK and formed his own independent label, Flipper Music, where he recorded the album Tea Cozy Hat. in 2000. He launched the album with a sold-out show at Sheffield City Hall and toured with Ray Davies. Boy on a Dolphin later regrouped for a sold-out show at Sheffield City Hall and other festival gigs, while Reilly continued to perform solo shows.

Reilly formed another band, the Acoustic Angels, with Sheffield session players, including Take That and Spice Girls writer Cary Baylis. He continued to perform with them while pursuing his solo career.

Boy on a Dolphin released Barkerspool to Thunder Bay, which included the fan-favorite song "Trapeze."

In 2007, Reilly collaborated with Canadian pianist/writer and recording artiste Lewis Nitikman. They recorded the album Zebulon, which received positive reviewsand support from BBC Radio 2 and US and Canadian AC Stations.

In 2015, Reilly collaborated with John Palmer, Eliot Kennedy, and John Parr to write the song "Women of Steel" to raise funds for a statue commemorating women who worked in the steelworks during World War II. The song and a fundraising concert at Sheffield City Hall helped raise £150,000 for the statue, which was unveiled in 2016. Reilly performed the song on the BBC1 show "The People Remember" from The Imperial War Museum on November 9th and is now writing the screenplay for The Women of Steel story.

Reilly released three singles in 2017 and 2018, "Peace Sign," "Living with It," and "Don't Stop the Dance," all of which were playlisted by the BBC. He also formed a band with Lewis Nitikman called John Reilly and The Smooth Operators, performing the songs of Bacharach and David.

In 2020, Reilly released the single "Amazing Life," and in 2021, he released "LaLaLa (Bulletproof), co-written with Lewis Nitikman" which was playlisted by BBC Radio 2and received praise from DJs Ken Bruce and Steve Wright.Followed by Redemption Hill and Shapeshiftersin 2024

Personal Life

John Reilly was born in Liverpool, England, and currently resides in Sheffield, England. He is married with one son.

Discography

• Words Inside (with Boy on a Dolphin)
• Tea Cozy Hat
• Barkerspool to Thunder Bay (with Boy on a Dolphin)
• Zebulon
• "Women of Steel" (Single)
• "Peace Sign" (Single)
• "Living with It" (Single)
• "Don't Stop the Dance" (Single)
• "Amazing Life" (Single)
• "LaLaLa (Bulletproof)" (Single)

References