Mary Lu Zahalan (25 October 1958 – 27 May 2023) was a Canadian rock singer and actress.[1]
Mary Lu Zahalan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1958 Renfrew, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | 27 May 2023 (aged 64–65) |
| Genres | Country, pop, rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress, author, professor |
| Website | www |
Born in Renfrew, Ontario, and raised in Oakville, Zahalan was a Miss Canada finalist in 1975 before embarking on a career as an entertainer.[2] She had entered the contest as a class project while taking a personal improvement class at Sheridan College to overcome her shyness;[1] what she ultimately took away from the competition was an interest in the theatrical production aspects of the experience, so she then enrolled in the college's musical theatre program.[1]
She released her debut album, Think of Me, in 1982,[1] and received a Juno Award nomination for Most Promising Female Vocalist at the Juno Awards of 1983.[3]
In 1985 she performed vocals on Visible, the final album by rock band CANO, and toured with the band to promote the album.[4] In this era, she also had various acting roles in musical theatre.[5]
In 1990, she released the album Zahalan on MCA Records, and enjoyed moderate success with the single "I Can't Forget About You" on Canadian radio.[5]
She later returned to Sheridan College as a music teacher.[6] She also had supporting roles in film and television, including in the television films Woman on the Run: The Lawrencia Bembenek Story and Alley Cats Strike.[citation needed]
In January 2011, Zahalan graduated from Liverpool Hope University with a master's degree in a program that studied the Beatles. She was the first graduate of the program.[6] She subsequently directed Becoming the Beatles, a live musical documentary about the history of the Beatles.[7][8]
On 27 May 2023, Zahalan passed away from cancer at the age of 66.[9]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit- Think of Me (1982)
- Zahalan (1990)
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | CAN AC | |||
| 1982 | "Try a Little Love Sometime" | — | 29 | Think of Me |
| "Turn of the Wheel" | — | 25 | ||
| "If I Had One Wish" | — | 19 | ||
| 1985 | "Call Me" | — | 11 | Non-LP single |
| 1990 | "I Can't Forget About You" | 66 | 24 | Zahalan |
| 1991 | "Fallen Angel" | 90 | — | |
| "While We're Still Young" | — | — | ||
References
edit- ^ a b c d Paul Benedetti, "Mary Lu Who? It's Zahalan and she knows where she's going". Hamilton Spectator, 8 October 1982.
- ^ "Miss Nova Scotia wins Canadian beauty pageant". North Bay Nugget, 4 November 1975.
- ^ Farrell, David (19 March 1983). "Loverboy, Rush are top Juno nominees". Billboard. p. 56. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
- ^ "Bravo CANO! Local fans revel in revitalized band". Toronto Star, 14 February 1985.
- ^ a b Greg Burliuk, "Popular Recordings: Zahalan". Kingston Whig-Standard, 22 December 1990.
- ^ a b Randy Boswell, "Canadian earns first Beatles degree". Calgary Herald, 27 January 2011.
- ^ Graham Rockingham, "The men behind the music of the Beatles: Local musician creates live show telling the behind-the-scene stories of the Fab Four". Hamilton Spectator, 3 December 2020.
- ^ "Becoming | Haley Marie | Home". Haley Marie. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ Kenny, Kelly (13 June 2024). "Live musical documentary set for Kincardine stage this July". Kincardine News. Retrieved 17 June 2024.