Mary Lu Zahalan

Last updated

Mary Lu Zahalan
Born1958
Renfrew, Ontario, Canada
Died27 May 2023(2023-05-27) (aged 64–65)
GenresCountry, pop, rock
Occupation(s)Singer, actress, author, professor
Website www.maryluzahalan.com

Mary Lu Zahalan (October 25 1958 - 27 May 2023), was a Canadian rock singer and actress. [1]

Contents

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

Studio albums

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart positionsAlbum
CAN CAN
AC
1982"Try a Little Love Sometime"29Think of Me
"Turn of the Wheel"25
"If I Had One Wish"19
1985"Call Me"11Non-LP single
1990"I Can't Forget About You"6624Zahalan
1991"Fallen Angel"90
"While We're Still Young"

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Paul Benedetti, "Mary Lu Who? It's Zahalan and she knows where she's going". Hamilton Spectator , 8 October 1982.
  2. "Miss Nova Scotia wins Canadian beauty pageant". North Bay Nugget , 4 November 1975.
  3. Farrell, David (19 March 1983). "Loverboy, Rush are top Juno nominees". Billboard . p. 56. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  4. "Bravo CANO! Local fans revel in revitalized band". Toronto Star , 14 February 1985.
  5. 1 2 Greg Burliuk, "Popular Recordings: Zahalan". Kingston Whig-Standard , 22 December 1990.
  6. 1 2 Randy Boswell, "Canadian earns first Beatles degree". Calgary Herald , 27 January 2011.
  7. 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.
  8. "Becoming | Haley Marie | Home". Haley Marie. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  9. Kenny, Kelly (13 June 2024). "Live musical documentary set for Kincardine stage this July". Kincardine News . Retrieved 17 June 2024.