|
Suzi Quatro (born Susan Kay Quatronella,[1]) June 3, 1950, Detroit, Michigan) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, radio personality and actress. She was born into a Catholic musical family. Her father, Art, a part time jazz musician, was of Italian descent, while her mother, Helen Sanislay, was Hungarian. She is the aunt of actress Sherilyn Fenn, whose mother is Quatro's sister Arlene. Quatro began her musical career playing bass in the all-female band Pleasure Seekers and Cradle with her sisters Patti, Nancy, and Arlene. Her first bass was a 1957 Fender Precision, given to her by her dad. Patti Quatro later joined the band Fanny, one of the earliest all-female rock bands to gain national attention. She has a brother, Michael Quatro, who is also a musician. Quatro moved to the UK in 1971 after being discovered in Detroit by record producer Mickie Most, who produced The Animals, Jeff Beck, Lulu and Donovan. By this time he had started his own label RAK Records, which made stars of Hot Chocolate and Mud. Quatro's first single "Rolling Stone" did not achieve popularity anywhere except Portugal, where it made number one. Most introduced Quatro to the songwriting and production team Nicky Chinn/Mike Chapman.[10] Her second single "Can the Can" (1973) was a number one hit throughout Europe and in Australia. It was followed up by three further hits: "48 Crash" (1973), "Daytona Demon" (1973) and "Devil Gate Drive" (1974) on RAK Records. Her first two albums were also European and Australian successes. These recordings, however, met little success in her native U.S., despite tours in the mid-1970s supporting Alice Cooper, and, except in Australia, the popularity of Quatro's rocking glam rock declined from 1975. In the interim, she did enjoy success as a session player. Quatro's fortunes did not change until 1978 when "If You Can't Give Me Love" became a hit in the UK and Australia. This did nothing to prompt Stateside success, but "Stumblin' In", a duet recorded that same year for RSO Records with Chris Norman of Smokie secured peaked at #4. Both tracks featured on the 'If You Knew Suzi' album. A year later, Quatro released 'Suzi... And Other Four Letter Words'. She called it her favourite album. This featured singles, such as "She's In Love With You", which made number 11 in the UK , Mama's Boy (34) and I've Never Been In Love (56). This success proved brief however, and her last UK hit was "Heart of Stone" in late 1982. In 1985 Quatro collaborated with Bronski Beat and members of The Kinks, Eddie & The Hot Rods, and Dr Feelgood on the Mark Cunningham-produced version of David Bowie's classic "Heroes", released the following year as the 1986 BBC Children In Need single. In December 2005, a documentary chronicling Quatro's life, "Naked under leather" directed by former Runaway Victory Tischler Blue appeared. In February 2006, Quatro released "Back To the Drive", produced by Sweet guitarist Andy Scott. The album's title track was penned by her former collaborator Mike Chapman. March 2007 saw Quatro release a version of The Eagles' "Desperado", followed by publication her autobiography, "Unzipped." She is known in the United States as Leather Tuscadero in the TV show Happy Days. Show producer Garry Marshall offered the role without an audition after seeing her on his daughter's bedroom wall. Leather was the younger sister of Fonzie's girlfriend, hot-rod driver Pinky Tuscadero. Leather fronted an all-girl rock band joined by principal character Joanie Cunningham. The character returned in other cameo roles, including once for a date to a fancy fraternity formal with Ralph Malph. Marshall offered Quatro a Leather Tuscadero spin-off, but she refused saying she did not want to be typecast. ~ Wikipedia.com
|
