Ray Lyell
Ray Lyell (born 1962, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and vocal coach.
Career
Ray Lyell came to prominence with his band, The Storm, in the late 1980s. Ray Lyell and the Storm released their self-titled debut album in 1989. Its first single, Another Man's Gun, scored No. 6 on the AOR charts. The second single released by Lyell, Carry Me, was a Top 40 hit on the CHR charts and still gets airplay in Canada. Lyell was nominated for a Juno Award as Most Promising Male Vocalist in 1990. Shortly after the nomination, he began an international tour in Australia.[1]
In 1992, Lyell sold the rights to the name "The Storm" after a legal conflict in the United States. Desert Winds, his next album, was released under his own name, even though the members of the band continued to tour and perform with him. Gypsy Wind was the album's first successful single. In 1994, Ray Lyell traveled to Nashville, TN to begin working on his third album, Working Man, with writers, Billy Crain and Todd Cerney. Working Man was released in 1995. A decade later, Lyell released his fourth album, Running on Faith, with CMC Canada.[1]
Vocal Coach
In 1996, Lyell developed The Dynamic System of Vocal Teaching. His experience as a performer, with thousands of shows under his belt, meshed perfectly with his ability to coach singers toward better and healthier vocal performance.[1]
In an effort to expand his own knowledge, Lyell has studied with some of the most prominent vocal coaches in North America. He continues to teach, write and record out of his studio, Rayne Records, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.[1]
Songwriter
In 1987, radio station, HTZ-FM sponsored a songwriting contest. Ray Lyell won first place with his song, "Take This Heart".
Later that year, he co-wrote with Paul Hackman of the band Helix the title track to their album, Wild In The Streets. The success of Wild In The Streets earned Ray Lyell a gold album. He also co-wrote tracks on half-ALIVE and It's a Business Doing Pleasure with Hackman.
Ray Lyell wrote all of the songs from his four albums, with an occasional collaboration with other writers such as Billy Crain.
Discography
Albums
- 1989 - Ray Lyell & the Storm - Spy Records/A&M
- 1993 - Desert Winds - Spy Records/A&M
- 1995 - Working Man - Spy Records/A&M
- 2005 - Running On Faith - Rayne Records/CMC
Singles
- 1989 - "Another Man's Gun" - Spy Records/A&M
- 1990 - "Cruel Life" - Spy Records/A&M
- 1990 - "Carry Me" - Spy Records/A&M
- 1993 - "Gypsy Wind" - Spy Records/A&M
- 1993 - "Desert Nights" - Spy Records/A&M
- 1993 - "Don't Let Go" - Spy Records/A&M
- 1993 - "Bitter Creek" - Spy Records/A&M
- 1995 - "Wishing Big (Ray's Theme)" - Mohawk Records
Videos
- 1989 - "Another Man's Gun"
- 1990 - "Cruel Life"
- 1990 - "Carry Me"
- 1993 - "Gypsy Wind"
References
- 1 2 3 4 Pelletier, Cathy. "Ray Lyell: Still singing with soul". Dunnville Chronicle. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- jam.canoe.ca
- Answers.com
- Yourmusiczone.com