Rev. William Henry Ryan Sr. was the pastor of Greater Salem Baptist Church from 1958 to 1968. He served as vice president of the Kentucky State Body of the National Baptist Convention of America. During his time in Louisville, Rev. Ryan recorded four sides for the Vine label out of Cincinnati before his death in 1968 at age 51.
Rev. Ryan was a native of Decatur, Alabama, and before moving to Louisville, Kentucky, he pastored Prospect Baptist Church, in West Armuchee, Georgia, and New Salem Baptist in Rossville, Georgia. He also formed The Ryan Gospel Singers and The Five Harmonizing Singers.
