Suzi Quatro

Infobox musical artist 2
Name =Suzi Quatro

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Img_capt = Suzi Quatro at AIS Arena in Canberra, Australia on 26 September 2007.
Img_size = 150px
Landscape = yes
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =Susan Kay Quatronella
Born = birth date and age|1950|6|3
Origin = Detroit, Michigan, United States
Genre = Pop rock
Glam rock
Instrument = Vocals, bass guitar, piano
Associated_acts =Chris Norman,
Occupation = Singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, radio personality
Years_active = 1964–present (singer)
Label = EMI Int'l
EMI
Bgo - Beat Goes on
Disky Records
Razor & Tie
URL = [http://www.suziquatro.com/ Official Website]

Suzi Quatro (born Susan Kay Quatronella,cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/264706.stm|title=Quatro come-back |accessdate=2008-08-09 |publisher=BBC |date=1999-01-29] ) June 3 1950, Detroit, Michigan) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, radio personality and actress.

Biography

Early life

Quatro was born into a Catholic [cite news |last=Danziger | first =Danny |title =Relative Values: Suzi Quatro and her daughter, Laura Tuckey| publisher ="The Sunday Times" | date = 2007-08-19 | url =http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article2264735.ece] musical family. Her father, Art, a part time jazz musician, was of Italian descent, [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/02/23/bmquatro23.xml&sSheet=/arts/2006/02/23/ixartleft.html Quatro Crashes Back] ] while her mother, Helen Sanislay, was Hungarian. [cite news |last=Spence | first =Andrew |title =Suzi Quatro: Exclusive interview | publisher ="Bendinat"| url =http://www.bendinat.com/mallorca/pagina_articulo.en.html?cIte=141] She is the aunt of actress Sherilyn Fenn, whose mother is Quatro's sister Arlene. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/42/Sherilyn-Fenn.html Filmreference.com: Sherilyn Fenn] ] 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. [cite news |last= Anderman|first=Joan |title =Rocking the Boat| publisher="The Boston Globe"|date = 2007-04-20 | url =http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2007/04/20/rocking_the_boat/?page=3] She has a brother, Michael Quatro, who is also a musician. [ [http://www.quatrophonic.com/michael.htm Quatrophonic.com] ]

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. [cite news |last=Oglesbee| first =Frank W. |title =Suzi Quatro: A Prototype in the Archsheology of Rock| year = 1999 | url =http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2822/is_2_23/ai_61838449/pg_1] By this time he had started his own label RAK Records, which made stars of Hot Chocolate and Mud. [cite news |last=McDougall| first =Liam |title =Legendary British record producer Mickie Most dies of cancer aged 64| publisher="The Sunday Herald"|date = 2003-06-01 | url =http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20030601/ai_n12582169]

Career

Music

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. [cite news |last=Oglesbee| first =Frank W. |title =Suzi Quatro: A Prototype in the Archsheology of Rock| year = 1999 | url =http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2822/is_2_23/ai_61838449/pg_2] 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 albums. 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. [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/guntaandressen9/sq-timeline.html Suzi Quatro Timeline, Gunta Anderson] ]

In December 2005, a documentary chronicling Quatro's life, "Naked under leather" directed by former Runaway Victory Tischler Blue appeared. [cite news |last=Dwyer| first =Michael |title =Eternity In Black| publisher="The Sunday Herald"|date = 2005-03-21 | url =http://www.theage.com.au/news/Music/Eternity-in-black/2005/02/20/1108834658469.html] [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404267/ Naked Under Leather (2004) ] ] 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. [ [http://wm09.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:apfwxqrdldje All Music Guide: "Back to the Drive" review/credits] ]

March 2007 saw Quatro release a version of The Eagles' "Desperado", followed by publication her autobiography, "Unzipped" [http://www.suziquatro.com/news.htm Suzi Quatro Official website: News] ]

Suzi Quatro has sold 45 million records, in Australia surpassing the Beatles.Fact|date=August 2008

Acting and radio hosting

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.Fact|date=December 2007

Other acting roles include a 1980 episode of British comedy-drama series "Minder" called "Dead Men Do Tell Tales", as the singer girlfriend of Terry's (Dennis Waterman). In 1985 she starred as a mentally disturbed ex-MI5 operative in Dempsey and Makepeace - "Love you to Death". In 1986, Quatro appeared as Annie Oakley in a 1986 London production of "Annie Get Your Gun". In 1994, she made a cameo appearance in an episode of the comedy "Absolutely Fabulous". She also was filmed in the 1990 Clive Barker horror film Nightbreed, but the studio drastically cut the film and cut out her character all together. [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0703001/ IMDb credits: Suzi Quatro] ]

In 2006, Quatro performed the voice of Rio in the "Bob the Builder" film "Built To Be Wild", [ [http://www.toonhound.com/built.htm "Bob the Builder: Built to be Wild"] ] and appeared in an episode of the second season of "Rock School". She also appeared in the episode "The Axeman Cometh" of "Midsomer Murders" alongside Phil Grainger.

In October 2006, Quatro was a contestant on the British reality television show "Trust Me - I'm A Beauty Therapist'. [cite news |last=Williams | first =Andrew |title =60 SECONDS: Suzi Quatro| publisher =Metro.co.uk | date = 2007-08-05 | url =http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=60090&in_page_id=11]

The following year, she appeared on Irish television show "The Podge and Rodge Show", in March 2007. Later that year, Quatro released her version of The Eagles' "Desperado", and her autobiography entitled "Unzipped."

In addition to touring, Quatro has hosted weekly Rock and Roll programmes on BBC Radio 2. The first one was "Rockin' with Suzi Q". Her current programme is called "Wake Up Little Suzi". It airs on Saturdays and can also be found on the BBC Radio web site [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/quatro/ Suzi Quatro Homepage] ] .

Personal life

Quatro married her longtime guitarist Len Tuckey in 1976. Although they had two children together (Laura in 1982 and Richard Leonard in 1984), they eventually divorced in 1992 and she married concert promoter Rainer Haas in 1993. She lives in the moated manor house in Essex she and Len bought in 1980, with her two children and grandchild. [cite news |last=Oglesbee| first =Frank W. |title =Suzi Quatro: A Prototype in the Archsheology of Rock| year = 1999 | url =http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2822/is_2_23/ai_61838449/pg_6]

Discography

Albums

*1973: "Suzi Quatro" ("Can The Can" in Australia)
*1974: "Quatro"
*1975: "Your Mama Won't Like Me"
*1976: "Aggro-Phobia"
*1977: "Live And Kickin"' (Japan & Australia only live album; re-released as double CD in 1990 in Australia)
*1978: "If You Knew Suzi..."
*1979: "Suzi... And Other Four Letter Words"
*1980: "Rock Hard"
*1982: "Main Attraction"
*1990: "Oh Suzi Q."
*1996: "What Goes Around"
*1998: "Unreleased Emotion"
*2006: "Back To The Drive"

ingles

Filmography

Television

*"Disco" (1 episode, 1974)
*"Happy Days" (7 episodes, 1977-1979)
*"Minder" (1 episode, 1982)
*"Rod and Emu's Saturday Special" (1 episode, 1983)
*"The Krankies Klub" (1 episode, 1983)
*"Dempsey & Makepeace" (1 episode, 1985)
*"Absolutely Fabulous" (1 episode, 1994)
*"Gene Simmons' Rock School" (1 episode on series two, 2006)
*"Midsomer Murders" (1 episode, 2007)

See also

* Pleasure Seekers

References

External links

* [http://www.suziquatro.com/ Official Suzi Quatro website]
*imdb name|id=0703001|name=Suzi Quatro
*tv.com person|44735|Suzi Quatro
* [http://www.bassgirls.com/bass_quatrosuzi.htm Suzi Quatro interview at BassGirls.Com]
* [http://www.jugi3.ch/homepage/suziq.htm Detailed Suzi Quatro Discography]
* [http://www.motorcitymusicarchives.com/pleasureseekers.html The Pleasure Seekers band info]
* [http://home.att.net/~s.m.geer/bands.htm#Pleasure%20Seekers Detroit area rock 'n' roll bands: The Pleasure Seekers]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/readings/ SUZI QUATRO – UNZIPPED! - Suzi Quatro reads from her autobiography] on BBC Radio 2 - streaming audio
* [http://www.suziquatrorocks.com/ Suzi R&R Hall of Fame Mission, Authorized by Suzi Quatro