Dale Bozzio

Dale Frances Bozzio (née Consalvi; born March 2, 1955) is an American progressive rock and new wave vocalist. She is best known as co-founder and lead singer of the 1980s pop/new wave band Missing Persons, and also known for her work with Frank Zappa. In her solo career, Bozzio released three albums and one EP. While with Zappa, she performed significant roles in two of his major works, Joe's Garage, and Thing-Fish.

Bozzio co-founded Missing Persons in 1980 with former Zappa musicians Warren Cuccurullo and Terry Bozzio (her husband from 1979 to 1986). In addition to being the band's lead vocalist, she also contributed lyrics. Missing Persons released one EP and six albums, including Spring Session M, which achieved gold record status.

After Missing Persons disbanded in 1986, Bozzio was signed to Prince's Paisley Park label, which released her first solo album, Riot In English. Its first single, Simon Simon, successfully charted. Bozzio subsequently established Missing Persons and continues to perform the band's repertoire at venues across the United States. She has also participated periodically in reunions of the original band and has continued her work as a solo artist.

Early life

Bozzio was born in Medford, Massachusetts. She later worked as a Bunny at the Playboy Club in Boston.^[1] She was named Boston Playboy Club Bunny of the Year in 1975.^[2]

In 1976, Bozzio traveled to Playboy Mansion West in Los Angeles at the request of Hugh Hefner to interview for the position of Valentine party hostess.^[3]:07:35 The opportunity provided for both a continuing relationship with Playboy and for living arrangements in Los Angeles, from which she could pursue an acting career.^[1][2]

Bozzio did not accept Hefner's offer, and she did not secure living arrangements. However, shortly thereafter, she chanced upon musician and composer Frank Zappa, whom she had met previously at one of his concerts in Boston. That encounter led to her employment with Zappa.^[3]:07:20

With Frank Zappa

At their meeting, seeing potential in Bozzio, Zappa hired her to voice the part of Mary in his rock opera Joe's Garage, which was under development at that time.^[3]:08:03 In that role she sang about issues expressed on the album such as the Roman Catholic Church, sexuality, and the culture of rock bands.^{[4]:152–155} In "Scene Sixteen-Packard Goose", Bozzio, again as the voice of Mary, gave a brief monologue concerning how information, knowledge, wisdom, truth, beauty, love, and music relate to each other, with music as the best.^[4]:159

Bozzio's voice can also be heard in the film Baby Snakes (1979) and in the single "I Don't Wanna Get Drafted" (1980), a criticism of the U.S. military draft policy at that time. I Don't Wanna Get Drafted was also included on the album The Lost Episodes (1996).^[5]

In 1984, Bozzio was cast in Zappa's musical, Thing-Fish. In voicing the part of Rhonda, she played opposite her real-life husband at the time, Terry Bozzio, who voiced the character Harry, Rhonda's husband. In Thing-Fish, Bozzio articulated some of the album's topics such as feminism, female sexuality, young urban professionals, and the state of Broadway musical theater.^{[4]:188–194}

In November 1991, participating along with other alumni in Zappa's fiftieth birthday tribute concert, Zappa's Universe, Dale revised the words in her recitation of her lines in "Packard Goose" to, "Music...and Frank Zappa...are the best."^[6]

Missing Persons

Bozzio, along with Zappa touring guitarist Warren Cuccurullo and Terry Bozzio who had been one of Zappa's drummers, founded Missing Persons in 1980. Missing Persons had several hits during the first half of the 1980s but broke up in 1986, shortly after the release of their third full-length album Color In Your Life.

Dale Bozzio continued to record and perform since the breakup of the original Missing Persons band. During the early 1990s, Bozzio toured with her own hired band using the name "Missing Persons" and performing Missing Persons songs.^[7]

In June 2005, Missing Persons featuring Bozzio appeared on week five of the NBC show Hit Me Baby One More Time.^[8]

Solo

Bozzio's solo album Riot In English was released in 1988 on Prince's Paisley Park Records.^[9]

New Wave Sessions was released on October 9, 2007, on compact disc by Cleopatra Records.^[10] New versions of Missing Persons' hits "Words" and "Destination Unknown", plus covers of '80s classics "Funkytown", "Der Kommissar", "Turning Japanese", "I Know What Boys Like", and "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", are included.^[11]

In 2010, Bozzio's Make Love Not War album came out on Electrik Blue Records.^[12]

Influences and influence upon other artists

Bozzio was influenced by black and white film era stars including Jean Harlow and Marlene Dietrich.^[3]:06:21 She was also influenced by Judy Garland, and Frank Zappa.^[3]:11:57 For her work with Missing Persons, Bozzio drew inspiration from the screen images of black and white era actresses; however, she incorporated color into her presentation.^[3]:07:02

Personal life

During her work with Zappa, she met Zappa drummer, Terry Bozzio, in 1976. They married in 1979, after Terry had become a member of the band UK, and divorced in 1986, with Dale Bozzio retaining her married name.^[1] She has two children.^[13]

Discography

With Frank Zappa

• Joe's Garage Act I (1979)
• Joe's Garage Acts II, and III (1979)
• Thing-Fish (1984)
• The Lost Episodes (1996)

With Missing Persons

• Missing Persons EP (1980)No. 46 US
• Spring Session M (1982, 1995)No. 17 US
• Rhyme & Reason (1984, 2000)No. 43 US
• Color In Your Life (1986, 2000)No. 88 US
• The Best of Missing Persons (1987)
• Late Nights Early Days (1998)
• Remixed Hits (1999)
• Lost Tracks (2002)
• Classic Masters: Missing Persons (2002)
• The Best of Missing Persons: 10 Best Series (2002)
• Walking in LA: The dance mixes (2006)
• Live From the Danger Zone!: Dale Bozzio & Missing Persons (March 2008 Acadia Records UK – Europe & Airline Records – USA)

Solo releases

• Riot In English (1988)
• New Wave Sessions (2007)
• Talk Talk EP (2010)
• Make Love Not War (2010)

Filmography and videography

Filmography

• Baby Snakes (1979)
• Lunch Wagon (1981)
• Zappa's Universe (1993)
• US Festival 1983 Days 1-3 (2009)

Videography

Missing Persons

• Words (1981)
• Mental Hopscotch (1982)
• Destination Unknown (1982)
• Noticeable One (1983)
• Surrender Your Heart (1984)
• Give (1984)
• Right Now (1984)
• I Can't Think About Dancing (1986)

With Frank Sinatra

• L.A. is My Lady (1984)

Solo

• Simon Simon (1988)

References

External links

• Dale Bozzio's official site
• Missing Persons facebook site
• Dale Bozzio at the Internet Movie Database