Alannah Myles

{{Short description|Canadian singer-songwriter (born 1958)}} {{About|the singer|her album of the same name|Alannah Myles (album)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Lead too short|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Alannah Myles | image = Alannah Myles(2).jpg | caption = | birth_name = Alannah Byles | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|12|25|mf=y}} | birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada | occupation = {{flatlist| *Singer *songwriter *actress }} | years_active = 1977–present | genre = {{flatlist| *Rock *pop *blues }} | instrument = Vocals | label = {{flatlist| *Atlantic *Fascinate Inc. }} | associated_acts = {{flatlist| *Nine Below Zero *Zucchero *Sly and the Family Stone }} | website = {{URL|http://alannahmyles.com/}} }}

'''Alannah Myles''' (née '''Byles'''; born December 25, 1958)<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|author=Barry Grills |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/emc/alannah-myles |title=Alannah Myles |encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia |quote=b Toronto |date=December 25, 1958 |access-date=February 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508044105/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/emc/alannah-myles |archive-date=May 8, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jango.com/music/Alannah+Myles|title=Alannah Myles music|publisher=Jango.com|quote=born December 25, 1958, Toronto, Ontario|date=December 25, 1958|access-date=February 28, 2013}}</ref> is a Canadian singer-songwriter who has won both a Grammy and a Juno Award for the song "Black Velvet". The song was a top-ten hit in Canada and a number one hit on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1990.

== Early life == Myles was born Alannah Byles on Christmas Day, 1958 in Toronto, Ontario. She is the daughter of William Douglas Byles, a pioneer in the Canadian broadcasting industry who was inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame in 1997. She is the second of five children.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jennings|first=Nicholas|title=Siren of hard rock {{!}} Maclean's {{!}} April 2, 1990|url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1990/4/2/siren-of-hard-rock|access-date=February 16, 2022|website=Maclean's {{!}} The Complete Archive|language=en-US|quote=Myles—who adopted her surname when she became a performer—is the second of five children born to broadcaster William Byles and his wife, Sheilagh.|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216014628/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1990/4/2/siren-of-hard-rock|url-status=dead}}</ref> Raised by her parents in Ontario, Myles spent her childhood composing and learning music. Myles began writing songs around age 9 and performed in a songwriting group for the Kiwanis Music Festival in Toronto at age 12.

==Career== At the age of 18, she began performing solo gigs in southern Ontario, eventually meeting Christopher Ward, a recording artist and songwriter with Warner Music Group.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> With Ward's help, she formed her own band and performed cover versions of rock and blues songs while polishing her own material.

Myles changed her surname from Byles at the age of 19 after deciding to pursue a career in entertainment. Appearances in TV commercials paid for music demos that led to numerous rejections in Canada until she recorded masters for three songs; "Who Loves You" and a video demo for "Just One Kiss", directed by photographer Deborah Samuel.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> With matched financing from her songwriting collaborator, MuchMusic (City TV) and program director Christopher Ward, she signed her first record contract with Atlantic Records in 1987.<ref name="LarkinHR"/>

Myles was featured in several TV and film productions as a guest host and actor prior to becoming a recording artist. She appeared in a 1984 episode of the television series ''The Kids of Degrassi Street'', in which she played the role of an aspiring singer and single mother.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc6dBzYmaDg&t=259 |title=Archived copy |access-date=December 9, 2018 |archive-date=May 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528001110/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc6dBzYmaDg&t=259 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1989, she appeared in an episode of ''War of the Worlds'', which aired only three weeks after the release of her self-titled debut album.

Myles was a candidate to be the original host of FashionTelevision, as shared by Jeanne Beker on the ''Reinvention of the VJ'' podcast, hosted by Erica Ehm. Beker suggested that Ward was lobbying for Myles to get the role on the new TV program. Beker would eventually become the program's first host.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ericaehm.com/reinvention-of-the-vj/2020/11/6/jeannie-beker|title=EPISODE 3: Jeanne Beker|date=November 6, 2020|website=Ericaehm.com|access-date=August 28, 2025}}</ref>

In late 1987, Warner Music Canada's director of artists and repertoire (A&R), Bob Roper, sent Myles's three-song video package to all of Warner Music Group's US affiliates, which garnered a contract for seven or eight years from Atlantic Records (WMG), given by head of A&R Tunc Erim and Atlantic label founder Ahmet Ertegun. Myles left her acting career and co-wrote and recorded the remainder of her first album with Christopher Ward and producer David Tyson.

In May 1989, Warner Music in Canada released ''Alannah Myles'',<ref>[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=4952& "RPM Top 100 Albums"]. ''RPM Magazine'' Volume 50, No. October 24, 14, 1989,</ref> which produced four Top 40 hits, including "Love Is", "Lover Of Mine", "Still Got This Thing" and her number-one song, "Black Velvet".<ref>[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6585&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6585.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6585 "Top Singles"]. ''RPM'', - Volume 50, No. 2, October 23, 1989</ref> It was ineligible for Grammy nominations until the early 1990 US single release "Black Velvet" became a number-one hit, claiming ASCAP's most played song on radio for 1989 and 1990. By 2005, it had received ASCAP Millionaire Award for over four million radio airplays.<ref name=About>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071121130554/http://www.alannahmyles.com/about.php About], at AlannahMyles.com; published 2007; via archive.org</ref> "Black Velvet" won Myles the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Performance in 1991 and three Juno Awards.<ref>{{cite web|last=Crenna|first=Carol|url=http://www.vistamagonline.com/vista_articles/page.php?tp=&p=&id=&s=meaning_of_success_canadian_singer_alannah_myles|title=Meaning of Success: Canadian Singer Alannah Myles|publisher= Vista Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426042526/http://www.vistamagonline.com/vista_articles/page.php?tp=&p=&id=&s=meaning_of_success_canadian_singer_alannah_myles|archive-date= April 26, 2009|access-date=August 31, 2011}}</ref> The album was the first debut album from a Canadian artist to be certified Diamond by the Canadian Recording Industry Association for sales of over one million units, and was reported to have sold more than six million copies internationally.

In 1992, Myles was nominated for a second Grammy award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for her second CD ''Rockinghorse''.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> "Song Instead Of a Kiss", written and composed by Myles, Nancy Simmonds, and Canadian poet Robert Priest,<ref>{{cite book|first=William H|last=New|year=2002|title=Encyclopedia of literature in Canada|page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofli0000unse/page/902 902]|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-0-8020-0761-2|oclc=47689945|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofli0000unse/page/902}}</ref> was a 60-piece orchestrated ballad that reached number one on several radio stations around the globe but was met with little response in America, whose audiences were accustomed to "that slow southern style" of "Black Velvet".{{citation needed|date=July 2015}} The album, released that year, included the other hit singles "Our World, Our Times", and "Sonny, Say You Will". Myles received a Grammy nomination for ''Rockinghorse'' and several global awards, including a Juno and Much Music's People's Choice Award for "Our World, Our Times".{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

In 1991, Myles sang "O Canada" at a Major League Baseball game at Skydome in Toronto. It was broadcast on CBS Sports.

In 1995, Myles released her final album on Atlantic Records before being released from the label, granting Warner/Atlantic a ''Best Of'' CD after only three records. The ''A-lan-nah'' album,<ref name="LarkinHR">{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Virgin Books|date=1999|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0257-7|pages=311/2}}</ref> which contained no Top 40 singles, included two tracks which made it into the Top 100, namely "Family Secret" and "Blow Wind, Blow".

In 1997, she terminated her eight-record contract with Atlantic Records with the help of her then-manager Miles Copeland III, who immediately signed her to his own Ark 21 Records. On Ark 21, she released ''A Rival'',<ref name="LarkinHR"/> which contained the Top 40 hit "Bad 4 You", written and recorded by Myles, Desmond Child, and Eric Bazilian at Copeland's Castle songwriting retreat at Grand Brassac, France. The ''A Rival'' album agreement with Miles Copeland III, Ark 21 Records was successfully terminated in 2014 with 100% copyright reversions returned to ''Alannah Myles'' by 2015 and re-released on Myles's independently owned label, Fascinate inc.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

After the release of ''A Rival'', Myles released two ''Best of'' compilations, in 1998 and 2001, and both featuring two new songs, and then left Ark 21 Records. She maintained a low profile for almost a decade but gigged around Canada and Europe during this time. In 2001, Myles duetted with Saga frontman Michael Sadler on a cover of Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush's "Don't Give Up", released as a B-side to the Saga single "Money Talks". In 2004, she released a cover of "I Can't Stand the Rain", with Jeff Healey on guitar, for a Tina Turner tribute album ''What's Love? A Tribute to Tina Turner''.

In February 2005, together with the Swedish band Kee Marcello's K2, Myles participated in the third semi-final of Melodifestivalen, the Swedish national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2005. Their selection, "We Got It All", scored very few points and finished seventh out of eight songs, yet it managed to dominate the leading newspaper and media headlines in Sweden.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.gylleneskor.se/history/logged/mf_year.php?mf_year=2005 |title= Melodifestivalen 2005 – Deltävling 3 (Third Semi-Final)|publisher=Gylleneskor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927234925/http://www.gylleneskor.se/history/logged/mf_year.php?mf_year=2005|archive-date=September 27, 2007|access-date=August 31, 2011}}</ref>

Myles' first new solo release in a decade was the ''Elvis Tribute EP'', released on iTunes in August 2007, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. The EP features a re-recording of her signature song "Black Velvet", as well as two new songs. All three of them were later included on her next album.

In April 2008, Myles released her fifth studio album, ''Black Velvet'', which featured a new recording of her song of the same name, in addition to 10 new studio recordings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thetelegram.com/Arts---Life/Fashion/2008-04-19/article-1443194/Alannah-Myles-reclaims-Black-Velvet-with-modern-reworking/1|title=Alannah Myles reclaims 'Black Velvet' with modern reworking|agency=The Canadian Press|newspaper=The Telegram|date=April 19, 2008|access-date=August 31, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912073024/http://www.thetelegram.com/Arts---Life/Fashion/2008-04-19/article-1443194/Alannah-Myles-reclaims-Black-Velvet-with-modern-reworking/1|archive-date=September 12, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Myles financed and co-produced the album.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/1221254309/ID=1278765249|title=Alannah Myles|author=Evan Solomon|work=CBC News: Sunday Night|publisher=CBC News|date=May 11, 2008|access-date=August 31, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110729030426/http://www.cbc.ca/video|archive-date=July 29, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

In early 2008, Myles released the CD ''Black Velvet'' on Linus Entertainment, which resulted in a staggered release internationally while the indie label merged with Canada's True North Records, followed by a video for the song "Trouble" featuring a jug band performance. "Trouble" was awarded an 'Honourable Mention' as a finalist in the blues category at the 2009 International Songwriting Contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/previouswinners|title=Previous winners|publisher= International Songwriting Contest|access-date=August 31, 2011}}</ref> Myles won the 15th annual USA Songwriting Competition for both Best Rock/Alternative Song as well as grand prize finalist for a selection, written and composed jointly with Nancy Simmonds for her ''Black Velvet'' CD, titled "Give Me Love".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.songwriting.net/winners|title= 2010 Results|publisher= USA Songwriting Competition|access-date= August 31, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724073655/http://www.songwriting.net/winners|archive-date=July 24, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

Myles' song "Black Velvet" was one of four selected to be covered on the CBC Television reality television show ''Cover Me Canada.''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/new-cbc-reality-contest-to-focus-on-canadian-music-1.1014572|title=New CBC reality contest to focus on Canadian music|publisher= CBC News|date=June 6, 2011|access-date=August 31, 2011}}</ref>

After terminating a six-year lease with Canadian indie label Linus Entertainment in August 2013, Myles' ''Black Velvet'' album was retitled ''85bpm'', repackaged for her 25th anniversary with new images photographed by fellow Canadian Deborah Samuel. A newly recorded song written by Anne Peebles, produced by Michael Borkosky, "Can't Stand the Rain" was added to ''85bpm'', featuring a solo played by Canadian guitarist Jeff Healey, re-released on Myles' independently owned label, Fascinate inc., digitally distributed by Tunecore.com, with audio CDs and a 25th anniversary live concert DVD, both distributed by Amazon.com in the US.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

==Discography== {{Main|Alannah Myles discography}} * ''Alannah Myles'' (1989) * ''Rockinghorse'' (1992) * ''A-lan-nah'' (1995) * ''Arival'' (1997) * ''Black Velvet'' (2008) * ''85 BPM'' (2014)

==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Nominee(s) ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |- !scope="row" rowspan=2|AMOA Jukebox Awards | rowspan=2|1990 | Herself | Rising Star | {{nom}} | rowspan=2|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1990/CB-1990-08-18.pdf#page=29|page=29|title=Cash Box 1990|date=1990-08-18|website=Worldradiohistory.com}}</ref> |- | rowspan=2|"Black Velvet" | Pop Record of the Year | {{nom}} |- !scope="row" rowspan=2|Canadian Music Video Awards | 1990 | Most Popular Female Video | {{won}} | rowspan=2|<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1817597/awards/ | title=Alannah Myles - Awards | website=IMDb.com}}</ref> |- | 1993 | "Our World, Our Times" | People's Choice: Favourite Female Artist | {{won}} |- !scope="row" rowspan=2|Grammy Awards | 1991 | "Black Velvet" | rowspan=2|Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female | {{won}} | rowspan=2|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://grammy.com/artists/alannah-myles/4940|title=Alannah Myles | Artist|website=Grammy.com|access-date=February 16, 2024}}</ref> |- | 1993 | ''Rockinghorse'' | {{nom}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan=9|Juno Awards | rowspan=4|1990 | "Love Is" | rowspan=2|Single of the Year | {{nom}} | rowspan=9|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://junoawards.ca/awards/past-winners-nominees/?search_year_val1=1970&search_year_val2=2023&search_category_val=&search_wins_val=no&tag_search_val=Alannah+Myles&submit=submit | title=Past Nominees + Winners|website=Junoawards.ca}}</ref> |- | "Black Velvet" | {{won}} |- | ''Alannah Myles'' | Album of the Year | {{won}} |- | rowspan=2|Herself | Most Promising Female Vocalist | {{won}} |- | 1991 | Canadian Entertainer of the Year | {{nom}} |- | 1993 | "Song Instead of a Kiss" | Single of the Year | {{nom}} |- | rowspan=2|1994 | ''Rockinghorse'' | Album of the Year | {{nom}} |- | rowspan=2|Herself | rowspan=2|Female Vocalist of the Year | {{nom}} |- | 1997 | {{nom}} |- !scope="row" rowspan=2|MTV Video Music Awards | rowspan=2|1990 | rowspan=2|"Black Velvet" | Best New Artist in a Video | {{nom}} | rowspan=2|<ref name="auto"/> |- | Best Female Video | {{nom}} {{end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links ==  {{Commons category|Alannah Myles}} * {{Official website|http://alannahmyles.com/}} * {{IMDb name|1817597}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20091204054902/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bio.asp?oid=164&cf=164 Alannah Myles] biography on ''Rolling Stone''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Myles, Alannah}} Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:Juno Award for Single of the Year winners Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Canadian contraltos Category:Canadian women rock singers Category:Canadian people of English descent Category:Canadian people of Irish descent Category:Singers from Toronto Category:Juno Award for Album of the Year winners Category:Juno Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year winners Category:Canadian women singer-songwriters Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:20th-century Canadian women singers Category:21st-century Canadian women singers Category:20th-century Canadian singer-songwriters Category:21st-century Canadian singer-songwriters