Pacovelli
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Pacovelli (born February 20, 1973 in Little Rock, Arkansas) is an American dance/electronica singer and music producer. He also produces a series of racy MTV style long music videos. From 2000 to 2005, Pacovelli used “The World’s Most Erotic Music Artist” to promote his albums and racy erotic music videos. In December 2005, Pacovelli dropped the "World's Most Erotic Music Artist" in his effort to win mainstream consumer appeal.
Where the majority of unsigned artists have used the Internet in their attempts in getting a major label deal, Pacovelli has used the Internet as a successful platform in building a career without the support of a major record label or talent agent.
Currently, Pacovelli has 5 albums and 7 club music singles that have been commercially successful since the launch of his official web site. Pacovelli is also an advocate for first amendment, gay, and musician rights. He is currently a member of Human Rights Committee, Free Speech Coalition, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the American Federation of Musicians.
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[edit] Early life
Pacovelli grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. The half African-American and half Puerto Rican in his early years expressed more of an interest in politics than in music. In 1980, at the age of 7, Pacovelli met then Governor of Arkansas Bill Clinton. And for the next two years, Pacovelli showed signs of becoming a lawyer. That all changed in 1983, when Pacovelli watched in horror as his mother, a schoolteacher for the Little Rock School District, suffered a head injury when she fell at school while putting up a bulletin board. His mother was forced into retirement soon after. Pacovelli’s mother never received worker's compensation for her injuries. A decade later, Pacovelli's father, an engineer, was injured on the job in 1993. He was forced into retirement.
The traumatic impact of Pacovelli's mother's inquiry had a profound impact on him. To help deal with the financial hard times that his parents faced, Pacovelli resorted to music as a form of escape. Influenced by Prince, Madonna and Janet Jackson, Pacovelli began singing in the choir during his years in elementary and middle school. A year later, Pacovelli played trombone in the beginning band. But it wasn’t until Pacovelli stated playing the piano that Pacovelli's musical talents really started to developed. His academics in grade school however took a turn for the worse. By his senior year in high school, Pacovelli was ranked last in his class and was voted most likely not to succeed.
After graduating high school from Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School, Pacovelli attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on a musical scholarship. Pacovelli's time at the Arkansas-Pine Bluff was very brief. After being seriously beaten and robbed by security officials at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Pacovelli was forced to withdraw from Arkansas-Pine Bluff. A semester later, Pacovelli re-enrolled in college at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Pacovelli was able to put the Arkansas-Pine Bluff incident behind and end his first semester in college with a 3.25 GPA.
[edit] The Road to Success
As an undergraduate at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Pacovelli continue to balance education while building a career. From 1992 to 1994, Pacovelli was turned down by several major record labels. However, PolyGram Records in New York saw potential in Pacovelli and offered him a summer internship in its college music division. As a summer intern, Pacovelli used his knowledge to form his first record label, LEW Entertainment Group and released two albums. His self titled debut album failed to make an impression at the retail stores.
After graduating with his second undergraduate degree, Pacovelli released his second album, Act 1: Wild. Act 1 became a big hit online thanks to fledgling web sites like Mp3.com and Billboard’s Talentnet.com. The singles of Act 1, Red and QT stayed in the Top 40 position on GLBT, underground urban and club radio stations in North America, the UK and Japan for weeks. Pacovelli briefly support Act 1 with a small tour of clubs and music festivals. Seeing how the majority of clubs treat unsigned artist, Pacovelli quit the tour and focused on sharpening his skills a businessperson. He took a year off from the music business and worked a series of odd jobs in Little Rock. A year later, after saving up enough money from royalties of his Act 1 album and the series of odd jobs, Pacovelli moved to London. Living in a student hostel, Pacovelli attended Webster University.
The high cost of living in London forced Pacovelli returned to his hometown of Little Rock. Arkansas. When he returned to Little Rock, Pacovelli finished working on his Masters at Webster University Little Rock campus. While working on his Master’s Degree, Pacovelli released his third album, Act 2: Picture Show at several online retailers that cater to unsigned and indie artist. The single of Act 2: Naughty Boy, M, and Making Love 2 Me were the first Pacovelli singles to go #1 on GLBT, underground and club radio stations in North America, W. Europe, Japan, and Australia. The single, MV which Pacovelli composed about a visit to gay porn star site of Mike Vista helped Pacovelli to become a favorite among the gay adult film industry elite. After listening to a copy of the Act 2 album by Clear Channel Executives, Pacovelli was offered a showcase gig for the Little Rock date to Janet Jackson’s 2001 All for You Tour. Honored, Pacovelli kindly turned the offer in favor of pursing his Master's degree and to sharpen his skills as an entrepreneur in the entertainment industry.
[edit] The Bad Boy Years
In March 2001, Pacovelli launched his official web, Pacovelli.Com to moderate reviews from the online press. In the beginning, Pacovelli’s web site like his music was G-Rated. That changed in a year later after Pacovelli watched adult films produced by Chi Chi Larue and Jenna Jameson, two of the adult film industries biggest filmmakers. Soon after, Pacovelli began producing elaborate racy MTV style music videos. Pacovelli in a shrewd move to build his market value as unsigned artist and his niche in the adult entertainment and online music industry began using the trademark, “The World’s Most Erotic Music Artist”.
In March 2003, Pacovelli released his fourth album, Act 3: The Creation. Act 3 was Pacovelli’s first album in 3 years. The debut single, Naked which Pacovelli decided to release as a free MP3 download at several adult web sites became one of the most downloaded songs in online history. Two months later, Pacovelli debut his erotic music video, The Beat 2 My Heat which as followed by Naked and 2bad all singles from Act 3.
In a November 2005 interview with a local London radio station, Pacovelli defended his music videos by stating that "My music videos are like the one seen late at night on MTV After Hours and BET Uncut". Thanks to his line of erotic music videos, Act 3: The Creation spawned several #1 hits. The singles of Act 3, Naked, The Beat 2 My Heat, 2bad, and Give Up Da Dawg stayed in heavy rotation on GLBT, underground and club radio stations in North America, W. Europe, Japan, and Australia.
[edit] The Top and the Btm
Shortly before the release of receiving his Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Webster University, Pacovelli through his organization, Thundersexy formed a business arrangement with Sony Global DADC. The arrangement would have Sony Global DADC handle the music CD order from Pacovelli’s web site, manufacture and distribute all of Pacovelli’s music CDs directly to the customers instead of the retailers. Pacovelli had made a similar arrangement with Sony Global DADC for artist under his Thundersexy Music label. However, after seeing the trend in how consumers purchase music, the role of the record label, and music distributors, Pacovelli pull the plug on the Sony Global DADC arrangement before the release of his first compilation CD, The Top and The Btm. Instead, Pacovelli release the Top and The Btm exclusively from his web site.
In May 2005, Pacovelli released his fifth album, The Top and The Btm. Pacovelli’s The Top and The Btm album is a compilation of hit singles from Act 1 to Act 3 albums. The terms Top and Btm (Abbreviation for Bottom) are terms used by gay and bisexual males to identify their sexual position. Pacovelli used it as an attention grabber.
[edit] Revolution
Due to the corporate policy of the majority of arenas in North America showing favortism towards corporate concert promoters and recording artist, Pacovelli had to scrap plans to bring his Naughty Boy tour to the states, instead he toured overseas.
In a July 2007 interview with Mi2n.Com, Pacovelli felt that the main reason why the arenas in North America did not book was the from the backlash of his past erotic music videos. Pacovelli also stated that he did not have any regrets about his past erotic music videos.
On July 7, Pacovelli released his first single in 4 years, Curiosity. The single is from Pacovelli upcoming album, (R)evolution. Unlike his previous album, Pacovelli stated in recent press releases that this is most intimate album.
[edit] Discography
The Albums
(R)evolution Parts 1 and 2 2008
10th Anniversary Collection Parts 1 and 2 2008
Pacovelli One Night Live 2006
The Top and the Btm 2005
Act 3: The Creation 2003
Act 2: Picture Show 2000
Act 1: Wild 1997
The Singles
The Name is Pacovelli 2005
Homework 2004
Cruel Pretender 2004
Why? 2004
Size Queen 2003
2Bad 2003
The Beat 2 My Heat 2003
Naked 2003
Exotica 2001
Making Love 2 Me 2001
MV 2000
Naughty Boy 2000
Silent Thieves 1998
Red 1998
QT 1997
Sexy Girlfriend 1997
[edit] Videography
Erotic Music Videos
Size Queen 2004
Naked 2003
The Beat 2 My Heat 2003
Mainstream Music Videos
The Name Is Pacovelli 2005
Films
The Thirst 2008
[edit] News Articles
[1] The World's Most Erotic Artist, Gaywired.com
[2]Pacovelli, Hollywood Buzz, Gaywired.Com