Alannah Myles

Early life and musical beginnings

Alannah Myles was born Alannah Byles on December 25, 1958, in Toronto, Ontario. She is the second of five children born to William Douglas Byles, a broadcasting pioneer who was inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame in 1997. Raised in Ontario, Myles demonstrated an early affinity for music, beginning to write songs around the age of nine. At twelve, she performed in a songwriting group for the Kiwanis Music Festival in Toronto. Her childhood was steeped in musical composition, learning and creating music throughout her formative years. The supportive environment and her father's connection to the media industry provided early exposure to the entertainment world. Her early start in songwriting and performance at community festivals established a practical foundation for her professional career.

Career launch and breakthrough

At age eighteen, Myles began performing solo gigs in southern Ontario, where she met songwriter and recording artist Christopher Ward, who was with Warner Music Group. With Ward's assistance, she formed a band to perform cover versions of rock and blues songs while refining her own original material. To pursue an entertainment career, she changed her surname from Byles to Myles at nineteen. She financed early music demos through appearances in television commercials, though these initially led to numerous rejections from Canadian labels. A turning point came when she recorded masters for three songs, including "Who Loves You" and a video demo for "Just One Kiss" directed by photographer Deborah Samuel. With matched financing from her songwriting collaborator, MuchMusic (City TV) and program director Christopher Ward, she secured her first record contract with Atlantic Records in 1987. Prior to her recording career, Myles also acted, appearing in a 1984 episode of The Kids of Degrassi Street as an aspiring singer and single mother, and was a candidate to be the original host of FashionTelevision.

Warner Music Canada's director of artists and repertoire, Bob Roper, sent her three-song video package to all Warner Music Group US affiliates in late 1987. This led to a contract for seven or eight years from Atlantic Records, given by head of A&R Tunc Erim and label founder Ahmet Ertegun. This deal prompted Myles to leave acting and co-write her debut album with Christopher Ward and producer David Tyson. Released in May 1989, her self-titled album Alannah Myles produced four Top 40 hits in Canada: "Love Is," "Lover Of Mine," "Still Got This Thing," and the global phenomenon "Black Velvet." The album made history as the first debut by a Canadian artist to be certified diamond for sales exceeding one million units in Canada, with reported international sales over six million copies. The single "Black Velvet" was ineligible for Grammy nominations until its US single release in early 1990.

Peak success and major accolades

The single "Black Velvet" became a cultural touchstone, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1990 and claiming ASCAP's designation as the most-played song on radio for both 1989 and 1990. By 2005, it had received the ASCAP Millionaire Award for over four million radio airplays. The song's success translated into major awards, winning Myles the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Performance in 1991. She also received three Juno Awards for the single and the album. In 1991, her prominence was further recognized when she sang "O Canada" at a Major League Baseball game at Toronto's Skydome, broadcast nationally on CBS Sports. Her debut album's diamond certification remains a significant milestone in Canadian music history. The song's legacy continued as it was one of four songs selected to be covered on the CBC Television reality show Cover Me Canada.

Subsequent albums and label changes

Myles followed her debut with the 1992 album Rockinghorse, which earned her a second Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. The album's lead single, "Song Instead Of a Kiss," co-written with Nancy Simmonds and Canadian poet Robert Priest, was a 60-piece orchestrated ballad that reached number one on several international radio stations but had limited response in the United States. Other singles included "Our World, Our Times" and "Sonny, Say You Will," with the former winning a Juno and a MuchMusic People's Choice Award. Her third album, A-lan-nah, released in 1995 on Atlantic Records, featured the Top 100 tracks "Family Secret" and "Blow Wind, Blow" but did not produce Top 40 hits. This marked her final album with Atlantic before the label released her, granting Warner/Atlantic a Best Of compilation after only three records.

In 1997, with the help of her then-manager Miles Copeland III, she terminated her eight-record contract with Atlantic Records and was immediately signed to his Ark 21 Records. She released Arival that year, which contained the Top 40 hit "Bad 4 You," co-written and recorded with Desmond Child and Eric Bazilian at Copeland's Castle songwriting retreat in Grand Brassac, France. The agreement with Ark 21 was successfully terminated in 2014, with 100 percent copyright reversions returned to Alannah Myles by 2015. She then re-released the album on her independently owned label, Fascinate inc. After Arival, she released two Best of compilations in 1998 and 2001, each featuring two new songs, before leaving Ark 21 Records.

• Alannah Myles (1989), Diamond-certified debut with four Top 40 hits.
• Rockinghorse (1992), Grammy-nominated album featuring "Song Instead Of a Kiss."
• A-lan-nah (1995), Final Atlantic album with tracks "Family Secret" and "Blow Wind, Blow."
• Arival (1997), Released on Ark 21, featuring "Bad 4 You."
• Black Velvet (2008), First album on Linus Entertainment, self-financed.
• 85 BPM (2014), Repackaged 25th-anniversary edition of Black Velvet.

Later career and independent work

Following the release of her compilations, Myles maintained a lower public profile for almost a decade but continued to perform gigs around Canada and Europe. Notable collaborations during this period included a 2001 duet with Saga frontman Michael Sadler on a cover of Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush's "Don't Give Up," released as a B-side. In 2004, she recorded a cover of "I Can't Stand the Rain" with guitarist Jeff Healey for the Tina Turner tribute album What's Love. In February 2005, she participated in the third semi-final of Sweden's Melodifestivalen with the band Kee Marcello's K2. Their song "We Got It All" finished seventh out of eight songs but dominated newspaper and media headlines in Sweden. Her first new solo release in ten years was the Elvis Tribute EP in August 2007, commemorating the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death and featuring a re-recording of "Black Velvet."

In April 2008, she released her fifth studio album, Black Velvet, on Linus Entertainment, which she financed and co-produced. The album included a new recording of her signature song and ten new studio recordings. The single "Trouble" featured a jug band performance in its video and was awarded an Honourable Mention as a finalist in the blues category at the 2009 International Songwriting Contest. Myles won the 15th annual USA Songwriting Competition for Best Rock/Alternative Song and was a grand prize finalist for "Give Me Love," co-written with Nancy Simmonds. After terminating a six-year lease with Linus Entertainment in August 2013, she repackaged the album as 85bpm for her 25th anniversary, with new images by Deborah Samuel. A newly recorded version of "Can't Stand the Rain" produced by Michael Borkosky and featuring Jeff Healey was added. This version was released on her Fascinate inc. label, digitally distributed by Tunecore, with audio CDs and a 25th anniversary live concert DVD distributed by Amazon.com in the United States.

Awards and recognition

Alannah Myles's work has been recognized with some of the music industry's highest honours. Her most celebrated achievement is the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Performance in 1991 for "Black Velvet." She has also won multiple Juno Awards, including those for the single and album associated with her breakthrough hit. The song "Black Velvet" itself earned the ASCAP Millionaire Award for radio airplay and was the most-played song on radio for two consecutive years. Her second album, Rockinghorse, brought a second Grammy nomination and additional Juno and MuchMusic People's Choice Awards. Her later independent work continued to garner accolades, such as honours in the International Songwriting Contest and the USA Songwriting Competition. These awards span from international industry recognitions to national Canadian honours.

Artistic style and business evolution

Alannah Myles's music is rooted in rock and blues, characterized by her powerful vocals and storytelling lyricism. Her signature song, "Black Velvet," is a slow southern style rock ballad that pays homage to Elvis Presley and became an anthem of the era. The success of her debut album paved the way for other Canadian rock artists and set a commercial benchmark with its diamond certification. Her career trajectory demonstrates a significant evolution from major label success to independent ownership, reflecting a commitment to artistic control. Myles's songwriting collaborations with figures like Christopher Ward, Nancy Simmonds, Desmond Child, and Eric Bazilian have produced a diverse catalogue spanning orchestrated ballads to rock singles. Her business acumen is evident in her management of copyrights and label relationships, culminating in full ownership of her work through Fascinate inc.

Her early acting roles and television commercial work funded her initial demos, illustrating her use of different avenues to build a career. The matched financing deal for her first contract involving MuchMusic and Christopher Ward was an innovative model for the time. Her participation in events like Melodifestivalen and tribute albums indicates a continued engagement with the global music community. The repackaging of the Black Velvet album into 85bpm with new photography and tracks demonstrates a strategic approach to catalog management and anniversary celebrations. Her enduring influence is confirmed by the continued radio play of "Black Velvet" and its selection for television cover performances.

Notable collaborations and performances

Throughout her career, Alannah Myles has engaged in several notable collaborations across music and television. Her primary creative partnership has been with songwriter Christopher Ward, co-writing much of her debut album. She worked with producer David Tyson on that album and later with Desmond Child and Eric Bazilian on "Bad 4 You" for the Arival album. In 2001, she duetted with Michael Sadler of the band Saga on a cover of "Don't Give Up." Her 2004 recording of "I Can't Stand the Rain" for a Tina Turner tribute featured the renowned Canadian guitarist Jeff Healey, a collaboration revisited for her 2014 album 85bpm. Her performance at the 1991 Major League Baseball game in Toronto's Skydome was a significant national broadcast moment. Her attempt to host FashionTelevision, as shared by Jeanne Beker, and her early acting role on Degrassi Street highlight her intersections with Canadian television.

• Christopher Ward, Co-writer and key collaborator on debut album and early career.
• Desmond Child & Eric Bazilian, Co-writers on the hit "Bad 4 You" (1997).
• Jeff Healey, Guitarist on "I Can't Stand the Rain" (2004) and the 2014 re-recording.
• Michael Sadler (Saga), Duet partner on "Don't Give Up" (2001).
• Kee Marcello's K2, Band for Melodifestivalen entry "We Got It All" (2005).
• Nancy Simmonds, Co-writer on "Song Instead Of a Kiss" (1992) and "Give Me Love" (2008).

Questions about Alannah Myles

What is Alannah Myles most famous for?

Alannah Myles is most famous for her 1989 hit song "Black Velvet," which reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1990. The song earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Performance in 1991 and multiple Juno Awards. It was the most-played song on radio in 1989 and 1990 according to ASCAP, receiving an ASCAP Millionaire Award for over four million airplays by 2005. The success of the song propelled her self-titled debut album to diamond certification in Canada, the first debut by a Canadian artist to do so.

How many albums has Alannah Myles released?

Alannah Myles has released six studio albums. Her debut, Alannah Myles, came out in 1989 and was followed by Rockinghorse in 1992, A-lan-nah in 1995, and Arival in 1997. After a significant gap, she released Black Velvet in 2008, which was later repackaged and re-released as 85 BPM in 2014. These albums span her work with major labels like Atlantic Records and Ark 21, and her later independent releases on her own Fascinate inc. label.

Did Alannah Myles win a Grammy Award?

Yes, Alannah Myles won a Grammy Award. She received the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Performance in 1991 for her signature song "Black Velvet. This song had become a number one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1990. Myles was also nominated for a second Grammy award in 1992 for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for her second album, Rockinghorse. Her success with "Black Velvet" also earned her three Juno Awards, solidifying her status as an award winning Canadian artist.

What was significant about her debut album's sales?

Alannah Myles's self titled debut album achieved a major sales milestone in Canada. It was the first debut album from a Canadian artist to be certified Diamond by the Canadian Recording Industry Association, which signifies sales of over one million units within the country. The album, released in 1989, produced several hits including "Black Velvet. Internationally, it was reported to have sold more than six million copies. This commercial success was a defining achievement early in her recording career.

Does Alannah Myles own her own record label?

Yes, Alannah Myles owns her own independent record label. It is called Fascinate inc. After terminating previous agreements, she re released her album Arival and the repackaged 85bpm album on this label. By 2015, she had secured 100 percent copyright reversions for her work, granting her full control. This move to an independently owned label followed her earlier contracts with major labels like Atlantic Records and Ark 21 Records, marking a shift in her career towards independent ownership.

Has Alannah Myles participated in Eurovision?

Alannah Myles participated in the selection process for the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2005, she competed in Melodifestivalen, which is the Swedish national selection contest for Eurovision. She performed the song "We Got It All" alongside the Swedish band Kee Marcello's K2 during the third semi final. Their entry finished in seventh place out of eight songs. While not ultimately representing Sweden, her participation garnered significant media attention in the country at the time.

Sources and further reading

• Alannah Myles (Wikipedia)
• Alannah Myles (vernonmatters.ca)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-01.