Born in Riverside, California in 1963, where her parents bred and trained racing horses, Heather Myles grew to embody the honky tonk Bakersfield sound of California country. As a child, she taught herself to play her father’s ukulele, eventually graduating to the guitar. She began performing with the Lonesome Myle Band in the 1980s before branching off to pursue a solo career.

Well respected for her stubborn adherence to the sounds and styles of traditional country music, Myles had been likened to Dwight Yoakam, a contemporary who later joined her in the studio during the recording of Sweet Talk & Good Lies. 1998’s Highways and Honky Tonks featured a guest appearance by Merle Haggard, one of Myles’ own sources of inspiration.