Alannah Myles

Alannah Myles experienced a meteoric rise to international fame in the early 1990s. The daughter of Canadian Hall of Fame Broadcaster William Douglas Byles, Alannah Myles began writing songs at the age of nine and had already participated in Toronto’s Kiwanis Music Festival by the time she was twelve. Her debut album, released in 1989, contained the international hit single "Black Velvet," which garnered her countless accolades.

About Alannah Myles

Alannah Myles, the Grammy and Juno Award-winning artist, was born in Toronto, Canada, on December 25, 1958. She developed an affinity for music at an early age and became a prolific songwriter by the time she was in her teens. Her father, a well-known broadcaster and promoter, moved the family to the United States when Myles was a teenager, which exposed her to new musical influences.

Alannah Myles played the role of a young aspiring singer in The Kids of Degrassi Street and this cameo role coincided with her burgeoning ambition to become a professional musician. Myles changed her last name as a teenager and began to perform at local venues throughout southern Ontario. There she caught the attention of songwriter/musician Christopher Ward, who invited her to sing in a rock and blues cover band.

Despite the critical acclaim that would later accompany Alannah Myles’ albums, she struggled to find a record label that believed in her talent. Her producer, Christopher Ward, spent seven years trying to get her signed to a major label, producing demo tapes, sending them out to international labels, and even creating a video demo to attract attention. Finally, in 1987, Warner Music Canada signed Alannah Myles.

Alannah Myles' self-titled debut album, released in 1989, was an instant hit in Canada. The album’s first single, "Love Is," peaked at #16 in Canada. The true breakthrough came when the album's second single, "Black Velvet," was released internationally, rocketing her to instant success. The song reached the top of the charts in four different countries and was a top 5 hit in six more. Its success made Alannah Myles a household name, but her follow-up albums struggled to match the same commercial success.

Her sophomore album, Rockinghorse, was released in 1992 and contained the top Canadian hit "Song Instead of a Kiss." Despite winning several awards, including another Grammy nomination, this album did not gain much traction outside of Canada.

Alannah Myles subsequently released two more albums: A-Lan-Nah in 1995 and Arival in 1997. While both albums found some success in Canada and managed to produce several hit singles, neither managed to match the immense success of her debut.

The artist didn't release any new music for a decade after Arival, much to the dismay of her devoted fans. This hiatus ended in 2008, when Alannah Myles released Black Velvet, a re-recording of her 1989 hit which featured a new single called "Comment Ca Va" and "Anywhere But Home," a collaboration with Jeff Healey that allowed her many fans to breathe a sigh of relief.

Alannah Myles' career has been marked by incredible highs and lows. In 2011, she revealed that she was struggling with a serious medical condition that had resulted from her having undergone hundreds of chiropractic treatments in an effort to alleviate chronic pain. Despite this setback, Myles remains an accomplished and respected musician who has had a considerable impact on the Canadian music scene.

More recently, Alannah Myles has been preparing to release new music. The artist has been working on a new, soulful blues record that she hopes will demonstrate her talent as a songwriter and performer.

Alannah Myles' struggle to find a foothold in the music industry in the early years of her career stands as a testament to her perseverance and dedication. The artist's incredible talent and hard work have earned her a place in musical history, and her ongoing efforts to create new music are a testament to her enduring passion and creativity.