Johnette Napolitano

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Johnette Napolitano
Born September 22, 1957 (1957-09-22) (age 50)
Hollywood, California, United States
Origin New York City
Genre(s) Alternative rock
Occupation(s) Musician
Songwriter
Instrument(s) Bass guitar
Years active 1982 – present
Label(s) Hybrid Recordings
Associated acts Dream 6
Vowel Movement
Pretty & Twisted
Concrete Blonde
Website http://www.johnettenapolitano.com/

Johnette Napolitano (b. September 22, 1957, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California) is an American singer, songwriter and bassist best known for her lead vocal work on the song "Joey" she did with the alternative rock group Concrete Blonde in the early 1990s, although the song was written in the 1980s.

Contents

[edit] Solo career

She has also recorded as a solo artist, with the albums Sketchbook (2002), Sketchbook 2 (2006), Scarred (2007) and as a member of:

  • Dream 6 (a precursor to Concrete Blonde).
  • Vowel Movement, a side project; a semi-improvisational musical collaboration with Holly Beth Vincent
  • Pretty & Twisted, a side project; a band that also featured former Wall of Voodoo guitarist Marc Moreland.
  • Lead singer for the album tour for THE HEADS, the re-formed Talking Heads' project, with Jerry Harrison, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth. She is featured on the 1996 album No Talking, Just Head. This was, at the time, intended to turn into a full-time project, with further studio albums and tours. A live CD/video of the first tour was planned, featuring performances from many of the album's guest artists & Johnette on vocals for the songs originally recorded by The Talking Heads. David Byrne sued the band, saying their name and presentation was too evocative of Talking Heads, and put an end to those plans.
  • Johnette also recorded a solo album titled Sound Of A Woman around 1996-1997, and performed many of the songs on a solo tour opening for Paul Westerberg. The album was set to be released on IRS (a subdivision of Island Records), the label of her old band, Concrete Blonde. 1997-1998 was a bad time for Island, starting with the sudden departure of founder/CEO Chris Blackwell and ending with the total reorganization of the label. SoaW was, effectively, lost in the shuffle, and at this point is unlikely to ever be officially released. Although bootleg copies of this album are to be found, Johnette has personally requested no further distribution of these recordings.

Johnette is currently a resident of Joshua Tree, California. She composes music for films and works as a gallery artist, specializing in working with discarded and reclaimed materials.

[edit] Other projects

She has contributed music to many films, including the 2006 Australian film Candy. Also, the following films featured songs performed by Concrete Blonde.

"Beavis and Butt-Head" (1993) {Blood Drive (#1.1)}

Performed by Concrete Blonde

"Beverly Hills, 90210" (1990) {One Man and a Baby (#1.11)}

Performed by Concrete Blonde

"Passions" (1999)

by Concrete Blonde

"Sopranos, The" (1999) {Calling All Cars (#4.11)}

Concrete Blonde

Deadly Love (1995) (TV)

Performed by Concrete Blonde

Girls in Prison (1994) (TV)

Performed by Concrete Blonde

Hidden, The (1987)

Performed by Concrete Blonde

Jimmy Hollywood (1994)

Performed by Concrete Blonde

Losing Isaiah (1995)

Performed by Concrete Blonde

Me, Myself and I (1992)

Performed by Concrete Blonde

Point Break (1991)

Performed by Concrete Blonde Produced by Concrete Blonde with Chris Tsangarides

Pump Up the Volume (1990)

Performed by Concrete Blonde

Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, The (1986)

by Concrete Blonde

Soundtrack: Dead Silence (2007) (writer: "Who's Holding You Now?") (performer: "Who's Holding You Now?") Candy (2006) (performer: "Wedding Theme From Candy") "The Sopranos" (1 episode, 1999)

   - Nobody Knows Anything (1999) TV episode ("Highs Are Too High")

The Basketball Diaries (1995) (performer: "Dancing Barefoot")

Composer: West (2007) Pep Squad (1998) ... aka I've Been Watching You 2: Prom Night (UK: video title)

Actress: Cry Radio (1998) .... Narrator

In 1996, Johnette produced an album by Australian group "In Vivo."

Napolitano collaborated with Danny Lohner (Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, Black Light Burns) on the horror film Dead Silence. The pair had successfully collaborated previously for the films Underworld and Wicker Park.

Napolitano contributed vocals to an album by John Trudell.

Napolitano is performing back vocals in "Struck a Nerve" by Bad Religion on the Recipe For Hate album.

Napolitano performed the main vocals on the score of the Australian film West, written and directed by Daniel Krige. She also sang the title song, "Falling in Love".

Napolitano provided vocals on the track "I Am Where it Takes Me" by rock band Black Light Burns.

[edit] Pretty & Twisted

Pretty & Twisted, self-titled album, was released and produced by Johnette Napolitano in 1995 on Warner Brother Records, Inc., a Time Warner Company in New York City. Pretty & Twisted's line up for this album includes: Johnette Napolitano, Marc Moreland and Danny Montgomery.

'Pretty & Twisted' track list

  1. The Highs Are Too High - 6:10
  2. Mother of Pearl - 5:05 (written by Bryan Ferry)
  3. Souvenir - 5:09
  4. No Daddy No - 4:34
  5. iRide! - 3:40
  6. Train Song (Edge of Desperation) - 6:30
  7. Stranger - 2:59 (written by Paul Westerberg & Johnette Napolitano)
  8. Singing is Fire - 3:11
  9. Don't Take Me Down - 4:37
  10. Come Away With Me - 5:55 (words: Janis Joplin, music: Johnette Napolitano)
  11. Dear Marlon Brando - 3:30
  12. Billy - 3:39
  13. Watching the Water - 4:17

[edit] Scarred

Napolitano's solo album, Scarred, was released May 28, 2007 on Hybrid Recordings in New York City.

'Scarred' track list

 Music sample:

"Amazing" Image:Amazing.ogg

From the new Johnette Napolitano CD 'Scarred'.
Problems listening to the file? See media help.
 Music sample:

"Just Like Time"

From the new Johnette Napolitano CD 'Scarred'.
Problems listening to the file? See media help.
  • "Amazing"
  • "The Scientist"
  • "Scarred"
  • "Poem For The Native"
  • "My Diane"
  • "Just Like Time"
  • "Save Me"
  • "Like A Wave"
  • "Crazy Tonight"
  • "Everything For Everyone"
  • "All Tomorrow's Parties"
  • "I'm Up Here"

[edit] Links


Persondata
NAME Napolitano, Johnette
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Musician, Songwriter
DATE OF BIRTH 1957-9-22
PLACE OF BIRTH Hollywood, California, United States
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
Languages