Marion Ryan was working in a hosiery shop in Leeds and she broke into show business when she approached Ray Ellington who was performing at the Locarno in Liverpool in July 1953 and asked to sing with his quartet.
[5] She continued to tour with Ellington until 1957 and made further radio appearances with them including the popular Goon Show.
[6] She began recording for Pye Nixa in 1956[7] and mainly made cover versions of American hits.
[9] Beginning in June 1956, she was the regular singer in the popular musical quiz Spot the Tune[10] on Granada Television for seven years, with a total of 209 half-hour programmes, which featured several star hosts including disc-jockey Pete Murray, the Canadian pop singer Jackie Rae, and the comedians Ken Platt and Ted Ray, and also Peter Knight and his orchestra.
They had twin sons, Barry and Paul (born Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, 24 October 1948), a successful vocal duo in the 1960s.