  Born on Christmas Day in Toronto, Alannah Myles was thrust into a musical family from day 1. Her father was the producer of CBC's 'The Happy Gang', one of Canadian radio's first music variety shows. Her mother was also a piano teacher and sang in various local groups. Although naturally musically-talented, the young teen was also interested in a career as a graphic artist and working in equestrian, having grown up with horses on the family's ranch near Buckhorn, Ontario. But it wasn't long before her true calling shone through. Though well-versed in classical and opera, by age 15 Alannah was emulating her favourite country and folk stars, which included Canadians Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. At 19 she had an agent who was booking her in and around the greater Toronto area, as well as doing various television spots-work. A couple years later she found herself opening up on Canadian tours for Christopher Ward (future MuchMusic VJ). By the mid 80's she'd been rejected from just about every major record label in Canada so they set their sights south of the border. The ball got rolling in 1988 when a demo for "Just One Kiss" landed in the US' Atlantic Records' office, who signed her shortly thereafter.
Her self-titled debut came out in the spring of '89. Produced by Ward (now working at MuchMusic) and David Tyson and recorded in Toronto's Eastern Sound and McLear Place Studios, the album was mostly Not only did the single top the Canadian charts, it also reached #1 on Billboard. Robin Lee also re-released a country version of the song a year later, but failed to do nearly as well. Alannah's debut eventually reached diamond status in Canada, selling over a million copies. It sold over 600,000 copies in the US and 6 million world-wide, making it one of the most successful Canadian releases of all-time. Other hits would follow. The uptempo "Still Got This Thing For You" (co-written by Sherri Eikhard and Mike Stone), as well as the ballad "Lover Of Mine". She was honoured with three Junos for her effort - best female vocalist, best new artist and best single for "Black Velvet", as well as a Grammy for 'best rock female'. Other noteable tracks included the raucous "Kick Start My Heart" and "Rock This Joint". She hit the road, playing practically all four corners of the planet, backing up the likes of Robert Plant, Simple Minds and Tina Turner, touring for more than the next year. Her follow-up came in the form of ROCKINGHORSE, released in '92. Again a plethora of friends guested on the album, including Tyson, Ward, Jorgenson and Will Lee (Dave Letterman/Ace Frehley). And although Tyson and Ward returned to the studios with her to co-wrote the majority of the material, she seemed to suffer the sophomore jinx. Despite receiving critical reviews, it 'only' went double platinum in Canada and 'only' sold 100,000 copies in the US. "A Song Instead Of A Kiss" hit the stores and air-waves as the first single. A more mature sound was the result, and radio execs weren't sure what to make of the 'new' Alannah. That feeling didn't subside when "Tumbleweed" came to them as the second single. Three more singles were released, but although "Our World Our Times", "Livin' On A Memory" and "Sonny Say You Will" were all composed of tight hooks and strong writing, ROCKINGHORSE still failed to make the impact hoped. Part of the relative lack of success was also attributed to the fact she voiced her opinions when her then-manager Danny Goldberg went to work for Atlantic Records, fearing that a conflict of interest was now an issue. She took on Miles Copeland as her new manager, who was head of IRS Records and manager of Sting (& also Police drummer Stewart Copeland's brother).
With new producer Pat Moran, she returned to the studios and released A-LAN-NAH in 1995. Though Tyson and Ward were still the main songwriters, other influences filtered into the sessions, resulting in a more 'gritty' feel to the record. But a total lack of support from Atlantic saw the record only sell 160,000 copies worldwide, despite again receiving very favourable reviews. Despite the strong song-writing in such tracks as "Irish Rain", "Mother Nature", the singles "Mistress Of Erzulie" and "Family Secret" and the haunting ballad "Keeper Of My Heart". Annoyed with the label, Copeland bought the masters Now with full creative reign, Alannah returned to the studios and released ARIVAL in '97, marking her first working with new producer Michael Borkosky. Considered by the most staunchest of her fans to be her best outing yet, a steadily-maturing artist was the end-result. Now with a blues-tinge and fully tailored for an AOR audience, the album received nothing but critical praise, common place by this time. With tracks such as the first single "Bad 4 U", the lead-off track "Motherload", "Kisses Are Weapons" and the tender "Honesty" helped secure Alannah in the ranks of one Canada's most straight-forward, no nonsense artists. But financial problems at Ark 21 again saw the record do less than expected, and the label folded. THE VERY BEST OF ALANNAH MYLES, released in '99 nicely summed up her career to that point, containing hits from all 4 albums as well as the new "Break The Silence". Currently working on her next project for her own label Revenge Records, rumoured to include a dance remix of "Black Velvet", Alannah Myles has gained a reputation as being hard-edged and determined to achieve her goals, which in some cases has alienated her with industry executives. But to her fans, she's proven herself to be one of Canadian rock's most versatile and dependable artists. |
compositions from the two which turned Canadian radio upside down. With a virtual who's who as support musicians, which included the likes of Peter Fredette of 
back and signed Alannah to his newly formed Ark 21 Records.