| Genya Ravan | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Genyusha Zelkowitz |
| Also known as | Goldie Zelkowitz, Patsy Cole |
| Born | April 19, 1940 |
| Origin | Łódź, Poland |
| Genres | Rock, Blues, Pop, Indie |
| Occupations | Musician, Producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, Harmonica |
| Associated acts | Goldie & the Gingerbreads, Ten Wheel Drive |
| Website | genyaravan.com |
| Notable instruments | |
| Harmonica | |
Genya Ravan, aka Goldie Zelkowitz (born Genyusha Zelkowitz, April 19, 1940, in Łódź, Poland) is an American rock singer and producer. She is the former lead singer of The Escorts, Goldie & the Gingerbreads, and Ten Wheel Drive.
She arrived in the USA in 1949, accompanied by her parents and one sister. She had two brothers, who died. These were the only family members who had survived the Nazi Holocaust in Europe.
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On arrival in America, her mother changed her daughter's name to Goldie. Goldie kept the name when she joined Richard Perry's band The Escorts as lead singer and later, when she became co-founder (at age 17) of the groundbreaking all-female rock band Goldie & The Gingerbreads.
In 1966, during a temporary breakup of the Gingerbreads, she recorded the singles, "Disappointed Bride", under the name Patsy Cole and "Going Back" (b/w "Headlines"), as Goldie.
When Goldie and the Gingerbreads disbanded in 1968, Goldie, now as Genya Ravan, became the lead singer of the newly formed rock band Ten Wheel Drive.
In 1974, for one of her first solo records, and in honor of her father, she changed her name once more back to Goldie Zelkowitz. Since then and on any new editions of her earlier releases, she is again Genya Ravan.
Genya Ravan had worked as a producer for different record labels. Amongst others, she was responsible for the debut album Young, Loud and Snotty by the punk rock band Dead Boys (1977) and the comeback album Siren by Ronnie Spector (1982). She also contributed vocals to the latter album. In 2001 Genya discovered TriPod at CBGBs and produced their demo CD, adding backup vocals to one track.
In 2006 Ravan was recruited by Steven Van Zandt to host a monthly radio show on Van Zandt's Underground Garage radio channel - heard throughout North America on Sirius Satellite Radio - and worldwide on Sirius Internet Radio. She joined a team of hosts that includes original Rolling Stones manager/producer Andrew Loog Oldham, rock star Joan Jett, punk rock singer Handsome Dick Manitoba, producer/humorist/Beatles historian Martin Lewis, veteran FM radio deejay Kid Leo and rock entrepreneur Kim Fowley.
In the movie The Warriors (1979), the song that plays when Cochise, Rembrandt and Vermin are in the Lizzie's HQ is Love is a Fire by Genya Ravan. The song is featured in the soundtrack album.