Suzie McNeil

Susan Jane "Suzie" McNeil is a Canadian pop rock singer and songwriter. After garnering attention as a contestant on Rock Star: INXS in 2005, McNeil began pursuing a musical career and released her debut album, Broken & Beautiful, on April 10, 2007.[1] Its second single, "Believe" was re-recorded with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in support of Canada's Own the Podium campaign, and served as the official anthem of the Canadian team for the 2010 Winter Olympics.[2] McNeil performed alongside Theory of a Deadman and Andrée Watters at the halftime show during the 96th Grey Cup.[3] Her second studio album, Rock-n-Roller (2008), spawned the successful single "Supergirl", a cover of the Saving Jane song. In 2011, McNeil signed with Canadian label 604 Records and enjoyed mainstream success with the songs "Drama Queen" and "Merry Go Round". They preceded the release of her third studio album, Dear Love, which came out on August 7, 2012.

Suzie McNeil
Suzie McNeil in April 2011
Background information
Birth nameSusan Jane McNeil
Born (1976-10-15) October 15, 1976
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
GenresPop rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, television singing competition judge
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboard, accordion
Years active2005–present
LabelsCurve
Universal Music Canada
604 Records
Associated actsLoving Mary, Jerome Godboo, INXS, Marti Frederiksen, Steven Tyler
Websitesuziemcneil.com

In 2014, after a two-year hiatus from her solo career, McNeil teamed up with Elisha Hoffman, Rebecca Lynn Howard, and Marti Frederiksen to form the country rock quartet Loving Mary.[4] They have recorded an EP released in 2015, and have reportedly written enough songs for a full-length album to follow shortly thereafter.

Biography

Early life

Suzie McNeil was born Susan Jane McNeil on October 15, 1976 in Mississauga, Ontario. She has two sisters, Laura Norris and Sarah McNeil, and a brother, Andrew McNeil.

Personal life

McNeil dated bandmate, Canadian musician Sean Cotton, while competing on Rockstar INXS. They were exclusive for several years before she moved to pursue her musical career. McNeil briefly dated screen actor Scott Walters in 2007 after the pair met working on We Will Rock You; they got engaged that summer, but ended up separating.[2] On October 14, 2013, McNeil became engaged to musician Andrew McTaggart while in Las Vegas celebrating her birthday.[5] The pair moved to Nashville, Tennessee in early 2014 and married on June 7, 2014. McNeil had a son named Findlay born November 17, 2017.[6]

Career

2002—2007: Career beginnings and Broken and Beautiful

McNeil began performing on the late 1990's by working as a backing vocalists for a number of Canadian artists including Jeff Healey, Ronnie Hawkins, and Glass Tiger's Alan Frew.[7] In 1999 she was hired to perform as part of Abbamania, an Abba cover band[8] where she performed the parts originated by Agnetha Fältskog.[9]

In 2005, McNeil was a contestant on Rock Star: INXS, finishing fourth overall in the competition.[10] In January 2006, McNeil moved to Los Angeles, to develop her music career. On January 26, 2006 she announced plans to record her first CD with Executive Producer John Kalodner and Producer Marti Frederiksen. In the summer of 2006, McNeil performed as a backup singer for Pink on her North American tour.[11]

McNeil's single "Hung Up" gained significant radio airplay, especially in Canada. The music video was released to MuchMoreMusic on the week of February 19, 2007, and was uploaded to YouTube on March 29, 2007.[12]

McNeil's song "Believe" was originally recorded on her debut studio album, Broken & Beautiful, released on April 10, 2007.[13] It was featured on NBC's promo for the reality weight-loss show The Biggest Loser,[14] as well as throughout season four of Beauty and the Geek.[15] The song had debuted exclusively on "King Ben's Injection of Perfection" radio programme on 2RRR in Sydney, Australia, on September 9, 2006 to positive reaction. The single was also used as a fundraiser for Own the Podium for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.[16] The Olympic inspired video for "Believe" was recorded with the National Arts Centre Orchestra and released on September 17, 2007. The video stars Canadian Olympians Steve Omischl (freestyle skiing – aerials), Joannie Rochette (figure skating), and Clara Hughes (speed skating).[17]

McNeil appeared on Matt Nathanson's album Some Mad Hope singing background vocals on the songs "Sooner Surrender" and "Bulletproof Weeks",[18] and on Clay Aiken's album A Thousand Different Ways as guest vocalist on "I Want to Know What Love Is", a cover of the Foreigner song.[19]

McNeil appeared as the character Oz in the Canadian production of "We Will Rock You" at the Canon Theater in Toronto until August 4, 2007.[20]

McNeil performing in December 2007

2008—2010: Rock-N-Roller and Grey Cup

In March 2008, prior to her April tour, she held a contest for her fans across Canada to sing her hit single "Believe" and post it on her website; viewers then voted for the winner.[21] In May 2008, McNeil released her third music video, "Lonely (Are You Coming Home?)". McNeil was one of the judges on the first four seasons of the children's Canadian reality TV show, The Next Star, on YTV, which premiered on July 18, 2008,[22] and also recorded the theme song for the show, "Let's Go"[23] which she performed on the show's first-season finale at Canada's Wonderland in Toronto on September 28, 2008.[24]

On November 4, 2008, McNeil released her second solo album Rock-n-Roller which featured her latest Top 20 hit "Let's Go".[25] Re-released as a deluxe edition in 2009, Rock n Roller: Reloaded spawned two singles, "Supergirl" and "Help Me Out".[26] She performed during 96th Grey Cup halftime show broadcast live on November 23, 2008 along with Theory of a Deadman and Andrée Watters.[27]

On March 28, 2009, McNeil headlined a concert held at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto to celebrate WWF's Earth Hour.[28]

In 2010, McNeil, an ex-smoker, appeared in commercials for Thrive lozenges a smoking cessation aid.[29] She also appeared on Canadian Idol winner Brian Melo's second album The Truth in the duet "Story of Us" released in 2010.[30]

2011—2013: Dear Love and This Is Christmas

McNeil began the Dear Love era on November 7, 2010 by releasing the first video Drama Queen Intervention 1 on her YouTube account.[31] She released the Drama Queen lyric video on iTunes on March 15, 2011[32] and the official music video release on March 17 on YouTube.[33] Nearly five months later, in July 2011, McNeil released the Merry Go Round lyric video on her YouTube account.[34]

In February 2012 the album's third single "Tough Love" was released on radio. The single was released on iTunes On May 8.[35] Dear Love, her third studio album was released August 7, 2012.[36] On November 20, 2012, McNeil released a collection of Christmas songs, both covers and originals, on her album This is Christmas.[37] During the promo tour, McNeil officially confirmed "Love Can't Save Us Now" as the official fourth single from the album Dear Love.

2014—present: Fourth solo album and Loving Mary

In 2013, McNeil began working on a duo project with previous songwriting collaborator Marti Frederiksen, which was reportedly intended to follow in the style of American country trio Lady Antebellum.[4] Instead, they teamed up with Grammy-winning country singer Rebecca Lynn Howard and songwriter Elisha Hoffman to form the band Loving Mary, which they envisioned as a sort of modern-day Fleetwood Mac.[4] The group's sound has been described as a combination of Americana, country, and rock n' roll.[4] An EP, Loving Mary – Live, was recorded and released in early 2015,[38] while a full-length album is in the final stages of recording.

In addition to her work with the band, McNeil confirmed through her Twitter account that she is also working on a fourth solo album, which is "already written".[39]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Details
Broken & Beautiful
  • Release date: April 10, 2007
  • Label: Curve Music
Rock-n-Roller
Dear Love

EPs
  • Live Acoustic (2010)
  • This is Christmas (2012)

Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
CAN
[40]		 CAN AC
[41]		 CAN CHR
[42]		 CAN Hot AC
[43]
2007 "Hung Up" 55—3614 Broken & Beautiful
"Believe" 6120—12
"Broken & Beautiful" ———50
2008 "Lonely (Are You Coming Home?)" ————
"Let's Go" ———23 Rock-n-Roller
(and Rock-n-Roller: Reloaded)
2009 "Supergirl" 26—293
"Help Me Out" ——4413
2011 "Drama Queen" 96——23 Dear Love
"Merry Go Round" 757—37
2012 "Tough Love" —23—34
"Love Can't Save Us Now"
(featuring Faber Drive)		 —25——
2015 "The Best is Yet to Come" —34—— Non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other charted songs
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
CAN AC
[41]		 CAN Hot AC
[43]
2007 "Il Suffit D'y Croire" 49— Non-album song
2008 "It's Christmas Time" 26— A Canadian Christmas, Vol. 4
2009 "Don't Tell Me Goodbye" —34 Rock-n-Roller
2011 "For Christmas Time" 2246 A 604 Records Christmas
2012 "This Is Christmas" 4— This Is Christmas
"Santa (I'm Waiting for You)" 13—
"Silent Night" 17—

Other appearances
Year Title Other artist(s) Album Notes
2005 "God's Top Ten" INXS Switch[44] Backing vocals
2006 "I Want to Know What Love Is" Clay Aiken A Thousand Different Ways[19] Featured artist
? Jesse McCartney Right Where You Want Me[45] Backing vocals
2007 "Bulletproof Weeks" Matt Nathanson Some Mad Hope[18]
"Sooner Surrender"
2009 ? Foreigner Can't Slow Down[46]
2010 "Story of Us" Brian Melo The Truth[47] Featured artist
2011 "(It) Feels So Good"[48] Steven Tyler N/A Backing vocals
2012 "Ain't Got No Home" Garth Hudson Chest Fever: A Canadian Tribute to the Band[49] Featured artist

Awards and nominations
YearAwardNominated workResult
2008Juno Award for New Artist of the Year[50]Broken and BeautifulNominated
Independent Music Award for Favourite Pop Artist[51]N/AWon
Canadian Radio Music Award for Hot AC[52]"Hung Up"Nominated
Canadian Radio Music Award for AC[52]"Believe"

References
  1. Chisling, Matthew. "Broken and Beautiful – Suzie McNeil". AllMusic. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  2. Stevenson, Jane (November 20, 2008). "McNeil excited for Grey Cup gig". Canoe.ca. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  3. "Theory, Suzie McNeil, Andrée Watters to play Grey Cup show". CBC News. October 14, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  4. Kennedy, John R. (March 21, 2014). "Canadian singer Suzie McNeil launches new band Loving Mary". Global News. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  5. Kennedy, John R. (October 18, 2013). "Canadian singer Suzie McNeil engaged". Global News. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  6. Kennedy, John R. (June 7, 2014). "PICS: Singer Suzie McNeil marries musician Andrew Mactaggart". Global News. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  7. Mark Deming. "Artist Biography by Mark Deming". Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  8. "ABBA-Mania, the rock musical". Merritt Herald. July 17, 2002. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  9. Cherry, Nanciann (October 10, 2003). "ABBA-Mania aims to re-create an icon". Toledo Blade. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  10. "'Rock Star: INXS' cuts Suzie McNeil, selects its three finalists". Reality TV World. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  11. "Last woman standing". Toronto Star. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  12. "Hung Up". Retrieved February 2, 2016 – via YouTube.
  13. "Broken and Beautiful". AllMusic, a division of All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  14. "Basic Vacation Release 'I Believe' Video and Song Plays for Biggest Loser". DaysTune. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  15. "Music from Beauty and the Geek". Music from Film. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  16. "Suzie McNeil song aims to boost Canadian Olympians". CBC/Radio-Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  17. "Suzie McNeil song aims to boost Canadian Olympians". CBC News. September 18, 2007. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  18. "Some Mad Hope". AllMusic, a division of All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  19. "A Thousand Different Ways". AllMusic, a division of All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  20. "Suzie is rockin' on". Toronto Star. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  21. "Suzie McNeil "Do You Believe? contest". Retrieved February 2, 2016 – via YouTube.
  22. "Judge brings reality-show experience to The Next Star". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  23. "Marineland jingle McNeil's biggest hit". Niagara Falls Review. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  24. "The Next Star finale Sept. 28". Tv,eh?. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  25. "She Believed in herself". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  26. "Rock-n-Roller – Reloaded Suzie McNeil". iTunes Store. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  27. "CFL names Grey Cup halftime entertainment". OurSportsCentral.com. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
  28. "The World VOTES Earth!". WWF-Canada. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  29. "Everyone loves Suzie McNeil". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  30. "Brian Melo Biography". MapleMusic Ltd. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  31. "Suzie McNeil – Drama Queen Intervention 1". Retrieved February 2, 2016 – via YouTube.
  32. "Drama Queen (Regular) Preview Suzie McNeil". iTunes Store. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  33. "Suzie McNeil – Drama Queen". Retrieved February 2, 2016 – via YouTube.
  34. "Merry Go Round". Retrieved February 2, 2016 – via YouTube.
  35. "Tough Love – Single Suzie McNeil". iTunes Store. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  36. "Suzie McNeil new album 'Dear Love' released August 7th!". Retrieved February 2, 2016 – via YouTube.
  37. "This Is Christmas Suzie McNeil". iTunes Store. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  38. "Loving Mary Live – EP". Loving Mary. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  39. McNeil, Suzie (March 22, 2014). "Suzie McNeil on Twitter". Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  40. "Suzie McNeil Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  41. "Suzie McNeil Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  42. "Suzie McNeil Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  43. "Suzie McNeil Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  44. "Switch – INXS | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  45. "Right Where You Want Me – Jesse McCartney | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  46. "Can't Slow Down – Foreigner | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  47. "The Truth – Brian Melo | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  48. "(It) Feels So Good – Steven Tyler". AllMusic. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  49. "Chest Fever: A Canadian Tribute to the Band – Garth Hudson". AllMusic. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  50. "Juno Award nominee plans to knock 'em dead – with her dress". The Leader Post. CanWest MediaWorks. via canada.com. April 5, 2008. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  51. "Feist, Lund and The New Pornographers win Independent Music Awards". CanWest MediaWorks. via canada.com. March 8, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  52. "CAB Announces 2008 Canadian Radio Music Awards Nominations". Broadcaster. December 19, 2007. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
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