Myra English
Encyclopedia
Myra English was a popular performer
and celebrity
in Hawaii
, USA, known as "The Champagne Lady" of Hawaiian music
. In 1968, she zoomed to the top of the local record chart
with her hit, Drinking Champagne. Written by Bill Mack
, it became her signature song.
on the island of Maui, English was raised in Paia
, Hawaii, where she first began performing as a singer and instrumentalist
. She graduated from Maui High School and attended business school
in Oahu
. She later moved to Honolulu, where she continued to hone her performing talent.
. At the time, the song was a hit for the country music
performer Cal Smith
. Due to her experience as an entertainer, she knew that the song was well suited for the Hawaiian audience. Returning to Hawaii, she recorded the song for Hula Records. Her version of the song became a regional hit, and went on to become a standard.
Due to her success with "Drinking Champagne," English established herself as a successful entertainer in Waikiki
. Her fame led her to become a leading spokesman
for the Hawaiian tourism industry
, and she worked for such companies as Aloha Airlines
, Hawaiian Air, United Airlines
, and the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau
. Continuing to perform successfully, she gained some notoriety in Japan
.
In addition to her success as a performer and promoter of Hawaii tourism, she also worked as an assistant to various state legislators.
They had four children: Pat cabrera, Wayne Gibbs, Kenneth Gibbs, and John Gibbs.
awarded English the 2001 Na Hoku Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the entertainment industry in Hawaii.
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
and celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, USA, known as "The Champagne Lady" of Hawaiian music
Music of Hawaii
The music of Hawaii includes an array of traditional and popular styles, ranging from native Hawaiian folk music to modern rock and hip hop. Hawaii's musical contributions to the music of the United States are out of proportion to the state's small size. Styles like slack-key guitar are well-known...
. In 1968, she zoomed to the top of the local record chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
with her hit, Drinking Champagne. Written by Bill Mack
Bill Mack
Bill Mack is one of the most recognizable voices in country music radio. For many years, Mack was best known as the host of The Country Roads Show, the overnight country music show on WBAP, a clear channel station in Fort Worth...
, it became her signature song.
Early life
Born February 22, 1933 in MakawaoMakawao, Hawaii
Makawao is a census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 6,327 at the 2000 census. Located in the rural northeast slope of Haleakala on East Maui, the community is known for being the hub of the "Upcountry", a part of the island dominated by mostly...
on the island of Maui, English was raised in Paia
Paia
Paia may refer to:*PAiA Electronics, a synthesizer kit company*Paia, Hawaii*Paia, a type of embutido*Promotion of access to information act...
, Hawaii, where she first began performing as a singer and instrumentalist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. She graduated from Maui High School and attended business school
Business school
A business school is a university-level institution that confers degrees in Business Administration. It teaches topics such as accounting, administration, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems, marketing, organizational behavior, public relations, strategy, human resource...
in Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
. She later moved to Honolulu, where she continued to hone her performing talent.
Career
While working in Seattle, Washington in 1968, English heard the song Drinking Champagne on the radioRadio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
. At the time, the song was a hit for the country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
performer Cal Smith
Cal Smith
Calvin Grant Shofner , known professionally as Cal Smith, is an American country musician, most famous for his 1974 hit "Country Bumpkin."-Career:...
. Due to her experience as an entertainer, she knew that the song was well suited for the Hawaiian audience. Returning to Hawaii, she recorded the song for Hula Records. Her version of the song became a regional hit, and went on to become a standard.
Due to her success with "Drinking Champagne," English established herself as a successful entertainer in Waikiki
Waikiki
Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City and County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oahu, in Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī....
. Her fame led her to become a leading spokesman
Spokesman
A spokesperson or spokesman or spokeswoman is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others.In the present media-sensitive world, many organizations are increasingly likely to employ professionals who have received formal training in journalism, communications, public relations and...
for the Hawaiian tourism industry
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, and she worked for such companies as Aloha Airlines
Aloha Airlines
Aloha Airlines was an American airline headquartered in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, operating from a hub at Honolulu International Airport...
, Hawaiian Air, United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
, and the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau
Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau
The Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau is a private, non-profit, 501-C-6 Corporation headquartered in the Waikīkī Business Plaza at 2270 Kalākaua Avenue, Suite 801 Honolulu, Hawaii, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu in Waikīkī...
. Continuing to perform successfully, she gained some notoriety in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
In addition to her success as a performer and promoter of Hawaii tourism, she also worked as an assistant to various state legislators.
Personal life
English was married to Chelliot Wayne Gibbs for 46 years, when she died on March 29, 2001 (aged 68).They had four children: Pat cabrera, Wayne Gibbs, Kenneth Gibbs, and John Gibbs.
Legacy
The Hawai'i Academy of Recording ArtsHawai'i Academy of Recording Arts
The Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts is a nonprofit organization formed in 1982 to stimulate interest in the local recording industry and the music of Hawaii.-External links:*...
awarded English the 2001 Na Hoku Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the entertainment industry in Hawaii.
External links
- Myra English Obituary. Accessed 28 September 2007.
- Comments about Myra English by Bill Mack. Accessed 28 September 2007.