Ray Lyell

Ray Lyell (born 1962 in Hamilton, Ontario) 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 1989. 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 travelled to Nashville, Tennessee, 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, meshed with his ability to coach singers toward better and healthier vocal performances.[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 Lyell a gold album. He also co-wrote tracks on half-ALIVE and It's a Business Doing Pleasure with Hackman.

Lyell wrote all of the songs from his four albums, with an occasional collaboration with other writers such as Billy Crain.

Discography

Albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
[2][3]
Ray Lyell & the Storm
(as Ray Lyell and the Storm)
  • Released: 1989
  • Format: LP, CD, cassette
  • Label: Festival Records (D30261)
 44
Desert Winds
  • Released: 1992
  • Format: CD, cassette
  • Label: Festival Records (D30892)
 -
Working Man
  • Released: 1995
  • Format: CD, cassette
  • Label: Magada International (MAGCD-33)
 -
Running On Faith
  • Released: 2005
  • Format: CD, cassette
  • Label: Ray Lyell
 -

Singles
List of singles, with Australianchart positions
Year Title Peak chart
position		 Album
AUS
[2]
1989 "Carry Me"
(as Ray Lyell and the Storm)		 - Ray Lyell and the Storm
"Another Man's Gun"
(as Ray Lyell And The Storm)		 -
1990 "(Running From) Another Man's Gun" / "Colour of Money"
(as Ray Lyell and the Storm)		 57
1992 "Gypsy Winds" - Desert Winds
1993 "Bitter Creek" -
1995 "Wrong Kind of Love" - Working Man

References
  1. Pelletier, Cathy. "Ray Lyell: Still singing with soul". Dunnville Chronicle. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  2. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 182. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  3. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
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