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Mary Lu Zahalan

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Mary Lu Zahalan
Born1958 (1958)
Renfrew, Ontario, Canada
Died27 May 2023(2023-05-27) (aged 64–65)
GenresCountry, pop, rock
Occupation(s)Singer, actress, author, professor
Websitewww.maryluzahalan.com

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

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

[edit]

Studio 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]
  1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b Greg Burliuk, "Popular Recordings: Zahalan". Kingston Whig-Standard, 22 December 1990.
  6. ^ a b 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.