Alannah Myles grew up between Toronto where she studied to be a graphic artist, and her family's northern Ontario ranch, later competing in A level equestrian horse shows, thus qualifying to compete in the junior division of Toronto's prestigious Royal Winter Fair. Soon after moving out on her own, while juggling performances in local coffee houses & bars and a commercial acting career in Toronto, Alannah decided to focus solely on her songwriting, performing and eventual recording career with Christopher Ward & David Tyson on Atlantic.

Myles spent her commercial acting income on demo tapes in order to find a recording deal until joining creative forces with songwriter Christopher, an Elvis fan, who with Dave Tyson penned her now legendary Black Velvet which won Myles a Grammy for Best Rock Vocalist. Ward was inspired to write the eloquently discreet ode to Elvis while producing a televised special on the Life & Times of Elvis Presley for Canada's Much Music in Memphis. Ward introduced Black Velvet to Alannah & Dave at her family's 200 year old square cut log farmhouse where Dave co-wrote the bridge and chords knowing of her disdain for shuffle grooves. Alannah heard only the poetic, story telling lyric & melody of the song that would find it's way into the hearts of millions the world over. Tyson was responsible for inspiring Alannah's sensuality with his unrelenting groove. The 99 degree Toronto heat wave was responsible for the rest. Together with Christopher's songs, direction and financing and David Tyson's production they secured Myles an eight album recording contract with Atlantic Records in New York with Atlantic's founder, Ahmet Ertegun, CEO Doug Morris by their head of A&R, Tunc Erim whom she remembers very fondly and Fran Lichtman, who should have been head of Atlantic's International Department and directly responsible for breaking Alannah's career worldwide! After the sale of over eight million records, she concluded her alliance of only three records with Atlantic and signed on with Miles Copeland's Ark 21 Records. Alannah released her fourth record, A Rival and a Very Best Of for Ark 21 /Universal/ Warner Music Canada before deciding to return to the studio to independently record her upcoming new release. The working title was 85bpm which has now been re-titled 'alannah myles X'.