Black Velvet

The Zoo Crew is spinning the sultry classic "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles, a track from her 1989 debut album Alannah Myles that still captivates Zoo Freaks everywhere. This blues-rock anthem, a tribute to Elvis Presley, was inspired by co-writer Christopher Ward’s 1987 trip to Memphis for the 10th anniversary vigil at Graceland. Ward, then Myles’ boyfriend, was struck by the fervor of Elvis fans on a bus ride, sparking the song’s creation alongside producer David Tyson. The title "Black Velvet" nods to Elvis’ iconic hair dye and his smooth, soulful voice, with lyrics evoking the Mississippi heat and Southern charm. Myles has shared in a 2021 25YL interview that the song’s enduring appeal lies in its blend of country-blues storytelling and pop craftsmanship, describing it as “tailored for my voice” after Ward whispered the demo to her.

Trivia about "Black Velvet" reveals its wild journey. The song topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in March 1990, earning Myles a 1991 Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. It also snagged a 1990 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a “Millionaire Award” from ASCAP in 2005 for over four million radio plays. However, controversy swirled when Atlantic Records gave the song to country artist Robin Lee, whose 1990 cover competed on country radio while Myles’ version dominated pop and rock stations. Myles expressed frustration in a 2023 American Songwriter piece, noting Lee’s similar music video added to the confusion. Despite this, the song’s legacy shines, with covers by artists like Kelly Clarkson and a 2021 induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, celebrated with a performance by Serena Ryder and Damhnait Doyle.

Myles rerecorded "Black Velvet" in 2007 for an Elvis tribute EP, later included on her 2008 album Black Velvet, and again in 2014 for 85bpm, a 25th-anniversary reimagining of her debut. She told Athens Calling in 2017 that the song’s “relentless groove” and unique place on a hard rock album gave it a “longer shelf life” than most. Some fans, like a commenter on Songfacts, speculated the title referenced something more risqué, but Myles firmly denied this, affirming its Elvis connection. The music video, shot partly on her family’s ranch in Buckhorn, Ontario, and at a Kingston bar called Stages, added gritty authenticity, with Myles’ leather-clad style becoming iconic, though she noted in the 2021 25YL interview that imitators followed her trailblazing look.

Alannah Myles, born Alannah Byles on December 25, 1958, in Toronto, Canada, was destined for music. The daughter of William Douglas Byles, a Canadian broadcasting pioneer inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame, she grew up in a creative household as the second of five children. By age nine, she was writing songs, and at 12, she performed in a songwriting group at Toronto’s Kiwanis Music Festival. Despite parental discouragement, Myles pursued her passion, picking up the guitar at 11 and emulating folk heroes like Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell. By 15, she was performing solo gigs in southern Ontario, and in 1977, at 19, she changed her surname to Myles and got an agent, playing Toronto clubs while working as a backup singer, model, and actress to fund her music.

In the mid-1980s, Myles teamed up with Christopher Ward, a Warner Music Group songwriter and MuchMusic VJ, whose demo tape secured her a deal with Atlantic Records. Her 1989 debut album, co-written with Ward and Tyson, sold over six million copies worldwide, becoming the first Canadian debut to earn Diamond status in Canada for over one million sales. Myles toured globally for 18 months, cementing her as Canada’s first female rock superstar. Despite health struggles, including a 2017 leg injury and ankylosing spondylitis, she continues creating, with projects like a blues album and a children’s record in the works, as shared in a 2023 CityNews Calgary interview. Her fight to reclaim her music from Atlantic Records, finalized in 2024 under U.S. copyright law, underscores her resilience.

Zoo Freaks can connect with Alannah Myles through her official Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where she shares updates on music and merch, like her MylesAndMore Etsy shop. Fans also gather on Facebook groups like Alannah Myles Fans to celebrate her legacy. For deeper dives, check out her bio on Canadian Music Blog or fan discussions on Rate Your Music, where her discography, from Rockinghorse to 85bpm, keeps the conversation alive.