Luba (singer)
Encyclopedia
Luba is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter and recording artist. She was commercially active from 1980 to 1990, 2000 to 2001 and is active again from 2007 to present. She was initially the vocalist for a band named Luba before signing as a solo artist under the one-name moniker. She has released a total of six albums as a solo artist. (A pre-solo album released under the name Luba was done as a member of a band.) Two of her albums are certified platinum by the Canadian music industry (sales in excess of 100,000 units). She has nine top-40 hits on the Canadian pop charts. Her signature song is "Everytime I See Your Picture" (1983). Her most successful song is a cover of Percy Sledge
's "When a Man Loves a Woman
" which reached #6 on the Canadian pop chart and #3 on the Canadian adult contemporary chart (1987). She is a three-time winner of the Canadian music industry Juno Award for Female Vocalist of the Year
(1985–1987). Her success is limited to her native Canada as she has never charted in the US or elsewhere. She continues to record music under her own independent label.
, Quebec
, Canada
in 1958 to Ukrainian immigrant parents. Growing up she studied piano, guitar, flute and voice. During her teens she traveled across Canada to perform traditional Ukrainian
folk songs at weddings and festivals.
signed Luba Kowalchyk as a solo artist under the one name moniker Luba in 1982. A self-titled EP followed in late 1982 and the top 40 hit "Everytime I See Your Picture" in early 1983. In 1984 Luba released her first full-length album called Secrets and Sins
. It issued the singles "Let It Go" and "Storm Before The Calm" both reaching the Canadian top-40 charts. Luba earned her first Canadian music industry Juno Award for Female Vocalist of the Year
in 1985. Later the same year, she recorded several songs written by Stephen Lunt, Jon Stroll and Kevin Gillis for the first season of the Canadian cartoon series The Raccoons
. Several of these songs were later re-recorded by Lisa Lougheed
for use in later seasons. Two of Luba’s songs are featured on the 1986 movie soundtrack 9 1/2 Weeks starring Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke. Let It Go from her Secrets and Sins album and one not previously released by Luba, The Best is Yet to Come. In 1986, Luba released Between the Earth & Sky
, which included the single "How Many (Rivers To Cross)". This top 20 Canadian hit had represented Canada at the 1985 World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo
, Japan
and made the finals. Also in 1986, Luba won her second straight Juno as Canada's best female vocalist. Shortly after the album release, Luba's band was involved in a serious bus accident, although Luba herself was not on board the bus at the time. Luba and her band took some time off, returning in 1987 with Over 60 Minutes With Luba
, a compilation of her hits with one new track, a live recording of "When A Man Loves A Woman". This track would become her biggest Canadian hit, peaking at #6 on the RPM top 100. She would cap the year with her third straight "Best Female Vocalist" Juno.
, was recorded over a year and half across 7 studios using more than a dozen session musicians. Released in the fall of 1989, the album included the singles "Giving Away A Miracle," "No More Words", and "Little Salvation". The band recorded an acoustic, live-in-the-studio show in Toronto and released as Live on Tour in 1990. Although All Or Nothing reached platinum status in Canada, it did nothing in the US. Her label then dropped her before the end of the year.
that required intensive care. Finally, Luba felt she was missing out on a "regular" life from years of long hours in the music industry. Altogether, Luba decided to put her career on hold and focus on other priorities.
, was released in 2000 on her own label Azure Music. While the album won some critical acclaim, and produced the Top 30 single "Is She A Lot Like Me?", it did not match the sales or radio airplay as her earlier albums. At year's end, she was featured in a concert performance on a Canadian program entitled An Evening With The Stars, which included both new and old material.
In addition to her Juno Awards, Luba has also received CASBY
and Félix Award
s, and a Black Music Association Award for "Female Entertainer of the Year". Most recently, her music has been featured on Canadian Idol
.
Two new songs by Luba have recently appeared on a member music page of the popular social networking site MySpace
. One is a ballad called "Heaven," and the other more upbeat called "Time." These are possibly singles for an upcoming album release, which is mentioned on both this Luba MySpace page and Luba's official website. An April 18, 2007 update on Luba's official website states that Luba chose to use MySpace in order to connect with her fans as well as for posting her music. Additional information is included on there, as well as a link to her MySpace page. Both new singles are available for adding to other MySpace members' music profiles.
Luba has recently moved from Canada as of mid-2007 and now lives in the Caribbean Islands
. She is still very focused on her passion, writing and singing, and is working on a new album which will highlight her roots in Soul/R&B music. As well, she is pursuing another passion in the way of photography. Her work has already garnered tremendous critical acclaim, due to her distinct compositional style and innovative approach. Luba is also closely involved with animal causes, working with various animal shelters in providing service dogs to people suffering from physical and psychological trauma.
(9) and Celine Dion
(6) have more.
Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge is an American R&B and soul performer who recorded the hit "When a Man Loves a Woman" in 1966.-Early career:...
's "When a Man Loves a Woman
When a Man Loves a Woman (song)
"When a Man Loves a Woman" is a song recorded by Percy Sledge in 1966 at Norala Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama. It made number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B singles charts. It was listed 54th in the List of Rolling Stone magazine's 500 greatest songs of all time...
" which reached #6 on the Canadian pop chart and #3 on the Canadian adult contemporary chart (1987). She is a three-time winner of the Canadian music industry Juno Award for Female Vocalist of the Year
Juno Award for Artist of the Year
The Juno Award for Artist of the Year has been awarded since 2002 as recognition each year for the best artist/musician in Canada. The category was originally divided by sex...
(1985–1987). Her success is limited to her native Canada as she has never charted in the US or elsewhere. She continues to record music under her own independent label.
Early life
Luba Kowalchyk was born in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1958 to Ukrainian immigrant parents. Growing up she studied piano, guitar, flute and voice. During her teens she traveled across Canada to perform traditional Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
folk songs at weddings and festivals.
Early career
In 1978 she formed a band under her first name Luba. Their debut album Chain Reaction was released on an independent label and received only minimal interest outside of their native Montreal.Breakthrough in Canada
Luba enjoyed her greatest success in Canada between 1983 and 1987. Capitol-EMI of CanadaCapitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
signed Luba Kowalchyk as a solo artist under the one name moniker Luba in 1982. A self-titled EP followed in late 1982 and the top 40 hit "Everytime I See Your Picture" in early 1983. In 1984 Luba released her first full-length album called Secrets and Sins
Secrets and Sins
Secrets and Sins is the first full length album on Capitol-EMI of Canada by Canadian singer, Luba and band. Produced by Daniel Lanois, this breakout album won Luba Juno Awards for "Best Female Vocalist" and "Female Vocalist of the Year" in 1985. Included is the calypso-reggae style hit single...
. It issued the singles "Let It Go" and "Storm Before The Calm" both reaching the Canadian top-40 charts. Luba earned her first Canadian music industry Juno Award for Female Vocalist of the Year
Juno Award for Artist of the Year
The Juno Award for Artist of the Year has been awarded since 2002 as recognition each year for the best artist/musician in Canada. The category was originally divided by sex...
in 1985. Later the same year, she recorded several songs written by Stephen Lunt, Jon Stroll and Kevin Gillis for the first season of the Canadian cartoon series The Raccoons
The Raccoons
The Raccoons is a Canadian animated television series which was originally broadcast from 1985 to 1991 with four preceding television specials beginning in 1980. The series was created by Kevin Gillis, and produced at Atkinson Film-Arts first-hand from 1984 to 1985, then at Hinton Animation Studios...
. Several of these songs were later re-recorded by Lisa Lougheed
Lisa Lougheed
Lisa Lougheed is a Canadian singer and voice actor. She is probably best known for her role as Lisa Raccoon in the animated television series The Raccoons, as well as for singing the series' various songs, including the theme song "Run With Us".-History:As a teenager, Lougheed attended Etobicoke...
for use in later seasons. Two of Luba’s songs are featured on the 1986 movie soundtrack 9 1/2 Weeks starring Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke. Let It Go from her Secrets and Sins album and one not previously released by Luba, The Best is Yet to Come. In 1986, Luba released Between the Earth & Sky
Between the Earth & Sky
Between the Earth & Sky is a follow-up release to the breakout album Secrets And Sins by Canadian singer, Luba and her band. The album helped Luba win a second Juno Award for "Female Vocalist of the Year", and was also her first album to go platinum in Canada...
, which included the single "How Many (Rivers To Cross)". This top 20 Canadian hit had represented Canada at the 1985 World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, 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...
and made the finals. Also in 1986, Luba won her second straight Juno as Canada's best female vocalist. Shortly after the album release, Luba's band was involved in a serious bus accident, although Luba herself was not on board the bus at the time. Luba and her band took some time off, returning in 1987 with Over 60 Minutes With Luba
Over 60 Minutes with Luba
Over 60 Minutes With Luba is a compilation of popular songs from the first three albums on Capitol-EMI of Canada by Canadian singer, Luba and band...
, a compilation of her hits with one new track, a live recording of "When A Man Loves A Woman". This track would become her biggest Canadian hit, peaking at #6 on the RPM top 100. She would cap the year with her third straight "Best Female Vocalist" Juno.
All or Nothing; breaking into the US
By 1988 Luba still had not broken into the US market despite all her success at home the previous 5 years. Her label decided changes were needed and new management was brought in. Her next album, All Or NothingAll or Nothing (Luba album)
All or Nothing is the third full length studio release on Capitol-EMI of Canada by Canadian singer, Luba and band. A powerful follow-up to her previous album, Between the Earth & Sky it was another hit, and achieved platinum status due to hit singles such as "Giving Away a Miracle," "Little...
, was recorded over a year and half across 7 studios using more than a dozen session musicians. Released in the fall of 1989, the album included the singles "Giving Away A Miracle," "No More Words", and "Little Salvation". The band recorded an acoustic, live-in-the-studio show in Toronto and released as Live on Tour in 1990. Although All Or Nothing reached platinum status in Canada, it did nothing in the US. Her label then dropped her before the end of the year.
Withdrawal from music
During the 1990s, Luba experienced both professional and personal problems that resulted in her withdrawing from the music industry. In 1990, her marriage to band drummer and manager Peter Marunzak ended in divorce. Following her release from Capitol Records, she struggled to land a contract with another major record label. Her grandmother and then her mother both died. Finally, her sister, and lone relative left in Canada, developed multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
that required intensive care. Finally, Luba felt she was missing out on a "regular" life from years of long hours in the music industry. Altogether, Luba decided to put her career on hold and focus on other priorities.
Return to music
The latest album by Luba, From The Bitter To The SweetFrom the Bitter to the Sweet
From The Bitter To The Sweet is the latest release by Canadian singer, Luba. A primarily solo work on her own label and her first in more than a decade, it did not produce as much sales or radio airplay as her previous albums. The style of songs are much more subdued than in earlier works,...
, was released in 2000 on her own label Azure Music. While the album won some critical acclaim, and produced the Top 30 single "Is She A Lot Like Me?", it did not match the sales or radio airplay as her earlier albums. At year's end, she was featured in a concert performance on a Canadian program entitled An Evening With The Stars, which included both new and old material.
In addition to her Juno Awards, Luba has also received CASBY
CASBY Award
The CASBY Award is a Canadian award for independent and alternative music, presented annually by Toronto, Ontario radio station CFNY, currently branded as 102.1 The Edge. The name CASBY stands for Canadian Artists Selected By You....
and Félix Award
Félix Award
The Félix Award is a music award, given on an annual basis to artists in the Canadian province of Quebec.The first Félix awards were presented on September 23, 1979, by the Association du disque, de l'industrie du spectacle québécois...
s, and a Black Music Association Award for "Female Entertainer of the Year". Most recently, her music has been featured on Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show Pop Idol. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore was the "roving reporter" for the first three seasons...
.
Two new songs by Luba have recently appeared on a member music page of the popular social networking site MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
. One is a ballad called "Heaven," and the other more upbeat called "Time." These are possibly singles for an upcoming album release, which is mentioned on both this Luba MySpace page and Luba's official website. An April 18, 2007 update on Luba's official website states that Luba chose to use MySpace in order to connect with her fans as well as for posting her music. Additional information is included on there, as well as a link to her MySpace page. Both new singles are available for adding to other MySpace members' music profiles.
Luba has recently moved from Canada as of mid-2007 and now lives in the Caribbean Islands
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. She is still very focused on her passion, writing and singing, and is working on a new album which will highlight her roots in Soul/R&B music. As well, she is pursuing another passion in the way of photography. Her work has already garnered tremendous critical acclaim, due to her distinct compositional style and innovative approach. Luba is also closely involved with animal causes, working with various animal shelters in providing service dogs to people suffering from physical and psychological trauma.
Legacy
Luba remains one of the more successful female artists in Canadian music history despite never charting in the US. Her three consecutive Juno awards for Female Vocalist of the Year puts her in select company: only Anne MurrayAnne Murray
Morna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
(9) and Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
(6) have more.
Singles
| Release date | Title | Chart peak | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
Canada A/C | |||
| 1980 | "Chain Reaction" | Chain Reaction Chain Reaction (Luba album) Chain Reaction is the only album by canadian band Luba featuring Luba Kowalchyk as vocalist. It was produced by Tony Green for his own label. The album contains songs in the early New Wave music style. It was made available on compact disc in 1996.... |
||
| January 1983 | "Everytime I See Your Picture" | 23 | Luba (EP) Luba (EP) Luba is a four song EP debut on Capitol-EMI of Canada by Canadian singer, Luba and band. Included is the hit single "Everytime I See Your Picture," a popular song in Canada at that time which eventually jumpstarted her major singing career... |
|
| May 1983 | "Scarlet Letter" | |||
| July 1983 | "Raven's Eyes" | |||
| August 1984 | "Let It Go" | 32 | Secrets And Sins Secrets and Sins Secrets and Sins is the first full length album on Capitol-EMI of Canada by Canadian singer, Luba and band. Produced by Daniel Lanois, this breakout album won Luba Juno Awards for "Best Female Vocalist" and "Female Vocalist of the Year" in 1985. Included is the calypso-reggae style hit single... |
|
| January 1985 | "Storm Before The Calm" | 37 | 13 | |
| April 1985 | "Secrets And Sins" | 95 | ||
| June 1985 | "Sacrificial Heart" | |||
| April 1986 | "The Best Is Yet To Come" | 9½ Weeks 9½ Weeks 9½ Weeks is a 1986 erotic drama film directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger. It is based on the novel of the same name by Elizabeth McNeill.... Soundtrack |
||
| May 1986 | "How Many (Rivers To Cross)" | 14 | Between The Earth & Sky Between the Earth & Sky Between the Earth & Sky is a follow-up release to the breakout album Secrets And Sins by Canadian singer, Luba and her band. The album helped Luba win a second Juno Award for "Female Vocalist of the Year", and was also her first album to go platinum in Canada... |
|
| August 1986 | "Innocent (With An Explanation)" | 61 | ||
| November 1986 | "Strength In Numbers" | 75 | ||
| February 1987 | "Act Of Mercy" | 90 | ||
| November 1987 | "When a Man Loves a Woman When a Man Loves a Woman (song) "When a Man Loves a Woman" is a song recorded by Percy Sledge in 1966 at Norala Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama. It made number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B singles charts. It was listed 54th in the List of Rolling Stone magazine's 500 greatest songs of all time... " |
6 | 3 | Over 60 Minutes With Luba Over 60 Minutes with Luba Over 60 Minutes With Luba is a compilation of popular songs from the first three albums on Capitol-EMI of Canada by Canadian singer, Luba and band... |
| September 1989 | "Giving Away A Miracle" | 9 | All Or Nothing All or Nothing (Luba album) All or Nothing is the third full length studio release on Capitol-EMI of Canada by Canadian singer, Luba and band. A powerful follow-up to her previous album, Between the Earth & Sky it was another hit, and achieved platinum status due to hit singles such as "Giving Away a Miracle," "Little... |
|
| January 1990 | "Little Salvation" | 11 | ||
| March 1990 | "No More Words" | 33 | 24 | |
| May 2000 | "Is She A Lot Like Me" | 29 | 20 | From The Bitter To The Sweet From the Bitter to the Sweet From The Bitter To The Sweet is the latest release by Canadian singer, Luba. A primarily solo work on her own label and her first in more than a decade, it did not produce as much sales or radio airplay as her previous albums. The style of songs are much more subdued than in earlier works,... |
| October 2000 | "Let Me Be The One" | |||
Albums
- Chain ReactionChain Reaction (Luba album)Chain Reaction is the only album by canadian band Luba featuring Luba Kowalchyk as vocalist. It was produced by Tony Green for his own label. The album contains songs in the early New Wave music style. It was made available on compact disc in 1996....
(1980) - Luba (EP)Luba (EP)Luba is a four song EP debut on Capitol-EMI of Canada by Canadian singer, Luba and band. Included is the hit single "Everytime I See Your Picture," a popular song in Canada at that time which eventually jumpstarted her major singing career...
(1982) - Secrets And SinsSecrets and SinsSecrets and Sins is the first full length album on Capitol-EMI of Canada by Canadian singer, Luba and band. Produced by Daniel Lanois, this breakout album won Luba Juno Awards for "Best Female Vocalist" and "Female Vocalist of the Year" in 1985. Included is the calypso-reggae style hit single...
(1984) - Between The Earth & SkyBetween the Earth & SkyBetween the Earth & Sky is a follow-up release to the breakout album Secrets And Sins by Canadian singer, Luba and her band. The album helped Luba win a second Juno Award for "Female Vocalist of the Year", and was also her first album to go platinum in Canada...
(1986) - Over 60 Minutes With LubaOver 60 Minutes with LubaOver 60 Minutes With Luba is a compilation of popular songs from the first three albums on Capitol-EMI of Canada by Canadian singer, Luba and band...
(1987) - All Or NothingAll or Nothing (Luba album)All or Nothing is the third full length studio release on Capitol-EMI of Canada by Canadian singer, Luba and band. A powerful follow-up to her previous album, Between the Earth & Sky it was another hit, and achieved platinum status due to hit singles such as "Giving Away a Miracle," "Little...
(1989) - Luba...Live On Tour (1990)
- From The Bitter To The SweetFrom the Bitter to the SweetFrom The Bitter To The Sweet is the latest release by Canadian singer, Luba. A primarily solo work on her own label and her first in more than a decade, it did not produce as much sales or radio airplay as her previous albums. The style of songs are much more subdued than in earlier works,...
(2000)