TORONTO — Blues-rock classic “Black Velvet” is joining the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Alannah Myles’ sultry radio staple was co-written by David Tyson and Christopher Ward and will be celebrated June 10 in a virtual presentation.
Hall of Fame organizers say Tyson and Ward will be inducted on Global’s “The Morning Show.”
The event will include a video recording of the song, featuring Serena Ryder and Damhnait Doyle, along with Ward.
Hall of Fame executive director Vanessa Thomas hailed “Black Velvet” as “an incredible hit that has transcended time and genre.”
Ward and Tyson co-wrote the song for Myles’ eponymous debut album after Ward was inspired by a trip to Memphis for the 10th anniversary of Elvis’s death. It was released as a single in 1989, hitting mainstream rock charts by early 1990.
The track went on to become a global smash, picking up single of the year at the Juno Awards and earning a Grammy for best female rock vocal performance.
“Black Velvet” will join a celebrated catalogue at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame’s home at the National Music Centre in Calgary. The centre includes displays, artifacts and one-of-a-kind memorabilia celebrating Canada’s greatest songwriters and inductees.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2021.