After returning from the United States, in 1994 he was signed by RCA Records.[9] In 1997 was planned for release a five track self-titled debut album by RCA Records, but the release was cancelled.[10] In 1998, Molloy sang the song "Black and White Army (Bringing The Pride Back Home)" written by Sting for the Newcastle's 1998 FA Cup final.[5] However, after four years, his music career "just didn't work out".[7]
On 31 October 2004, Molloy was chosen from 200 candidates as the new lead singer of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, appearing on 11 November in a special charity show for The Prince’s Trust at Wembley Arena celebrating Trevor Horn's 25 years as a record producer,[5][11] performing live "Welcome to the Pleasuredome", "Two Tribes", and "Relax".[12][13] Horn considered he "was a hell of a good frontman".[14] He performed with them also in subsequent 2005 tour, and wrote some new songs for the band, but they weren't released as they disbanded in 2007.[5][15][16]
On 1 and 3 June 2013 performed "Make Our Garden Grow" with Barbra Streisand at two The O2 Arena concerts of her Barbra Live tour. As was found out that the duet partners Il Volo cancelled on the day of the concert itself, Molloy was immediately called up with little time for rehearsal.[7][24]
In 2009 released two albums Sing's Frankie and Human,[25][26] on 23 September 2013 single "Turn on the Night",[27][28] and in 2016 pop rock album Turn on the Night "mainly made up of old songs I wrote".[29][18] In January 2017, held a concert at The Stage Door in Southampton.[30] In April 2017, held a concert "Big in Japan" (pun on his size[18]) in Tokyo, collaborating with producer Andy Wright and guitarist Kenji Suzuki from Simply Red.[18] Molloy held solo concerts at Hippodrome, London in 2014,[31] 2016,[32] 2020,[33] and 2021.[34]
In October 2007, Molloy was cast as Frankie Valli in the West End premiere of Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward Theatre, and played his first preview performance on 28 February 2008, and official opening on 18 March 2008.[42][43] His performance was received with critical acclaim,[44][45] with Lyn Gardner writing in her critical review that "if it works at all, it is because Ryan Molloy carries all before him as the pint-sized Italian-American with the extraordinary falsetto",[4] while Shenton praised it and that "the energetic evening's anchor, Ryan Molloy displays amazing emotional and vocal range".[46] For his performance he received a Olivier Award nomination at 2009 Laurence Olivier Awards,[35] and was voted by the public as the Best Actor in a Musical at the 2009 WhatsOnStage Awards.[47] He remained with Jersey Boys for six years, with 2,500 shows as the lead by February 2014,[48] leaving with the last show on 9 March 2014, making him the "longest-running star in a West End musical" and "longest-serving Frankie Valli".[27][49] Molloy also provided vocals in the 2014 soundtrack (particularly "Beggin'") of the film version of the musical directed by Clint Eastwood, for which also auditioned but was chosen John Lloyd Young instead.[50] He reprised the role in the Broadway production for a limited engagement lasting from July to October 2014 at the August Wilson Theatre, New York City.[35][51] In March 2017 were held two sold-out shows Frankie's Farewell Weekend of Jersey Boys London at Hippodrome, London.[52]
In 2014, he played in musical Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be at Theatre Royal Stratford East.[35][53][54][55] In the first part of 2016 toured Ireland with a musical Che Guevara's Night Off he wrote and starred in.[56] In September-October 2016 at Cockpit Theatre, Marylebone, played Hades/Devil in a rock musical 27 choreographed and co-directed by Arlene Phillips,[57][58] partly based on Greek mythology, telling "the story of a musician following a path of self-destruction at the age of 27".[18] Molloy finds inspiring helping new small-scale projects using his profile, working with young people on new ideas and writing.[56] Shenton said that Molloy "set free at last from his Jersey Boys high notes – has matured nicely into the role of the Mephistopheles-like Hades",[59] while Sam Marlowe that "Ryan Molloy is charismatic as Hades, a sinister music exec like a diabolical cross between Iggy Pop and Simon Cowell".[60]
Molloy supports Children in Need, Graham Wylie Foundation, Donkey Sanctuary and Cedarwood Trust charities.[2] In September 2017, Molloy took part in the Great North Run.[70]
^Orbell, Jeremy (26 April 2006). "Frankie say it again". The Pleasureboard. zttaat.com. Retrieved 24 October 2023. We needn't have worried because Ryan gave a terrific performance and looked ever inch the rock star in his black eye make-up and spangly top that bared his chest. It wasn't Holly but I could live with it because this was a moment I thought I'd never see again.
^ abcWalker, Tim (7 November 2013). "Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris Hollins to become a father". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 October 2023. Molloy, the longest-serving actor in the role of Frankie Valli, says: "The important thing is to keep developing the character, to keep it fresh, and, my goodness, a long run takes a lot of self-discipline," he says. Off stage, Molloy is pre-occupied with the release of a new single on iTunes called Turn on The Night.
^Nightingale, Benedict (19 March 2008). "Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward". The Times. Retrieved 31 October 2023. Indeed, there were times last night when I felt the performers were making even the Beatles sound somewhat lacking in musical texture. Since when did John, Paul or George have the soaring falsetto that Ryan Molloy's Valli effortlessly produces? ... Molloy's excellent Valli...
