Myra English

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Myra English, popular performer and celebrity in Hawaii, USA, was 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". The song, written by Bill Mack, became her signature song.

Born in 1933, 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.

While working in Seattle, Washington in 1968, English heard the song "Drinking Champagne" on the radio. 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 Bureau. Continuing to perform successfully, she gained some notoriety in Japan.

Married to Chelliot Gibbs for 46 years, English had four children, eleven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren at the time of her passing. In addition to her success as a performer and promoter of Hawaii tourism, she also worked as an assistant to various state legislators in Hawaii. Her cousin, J. Kalani English, was elected to the Hawaii state senate in 2000.

Myra English died in 2001 at the age of 68.