[go: up one dir, main page]
Wikipedia

Dale Bozzio

Dale Frances Bozzio (née Consalvi; born March 2, 1955) is an American rock and pop vocalist. She is best known as co-founder and lead singer of the '80s new wave band Missing Persons and for her work with Frank Zappa. While with Zappa, she performed significant roles in two of his major works, Joe's Garage (1979) and Thing-Fish (1984). Bozzio has released four solo albums and one EP.

Dale Bozzio
Bozzio performing with Warren Cuccurullo in 2009
Bozzio performing with Warren Cuccurullo in 2009
Background information
Birth nameDale Frances Consalvi
Also known asDale
Born (1955-03-02) March 2, 1955 (age 69)
Medford, Massachusetts, U.S.
GenresRock, new wave, synthpop
OccupationSinger
InstrumentVocals
Years active1976–present
LabelsPaisley Park/Warner Bros. Records, Capitol Records, Cleopatra Records,[1] GRA Records

She 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 (1982), which achieved gold record status.[2]

After Missing Persons disbanded in 1986, Bozzio was signed to Prince's Paisley Park label which released her first solo album, Riot in English (1988). Bozzio later reformed Missing Persons and continues to perform the band's repertoire at venues across the United States. She also occasionally performs in reunions of the original band and continues her work as a solo artist. In 2014, Bozzio signed to Cleopatra Records and released a new studio album titled Missing in Action.[3] During the summer of 2014, she signed with GRA Records for a new album to be produced by Stephan DeReine.

Early life

edit

Bozzio was born Dale Frances Consalvi in Medford, Massachusetts. From the age of 16, she studied drama at Emerson College and worked as a Bunny at the Playboy Club in Boston.[4] She was named Boston Playboy Club Bunny of the Year in 1975.[5]

In 1976, Bozzio traveled to Playboy Mansion West in Los Angeles at the request of Hugh Hefner, to interview for a position as a Valentine party hostess.[6]: 07:35  The opportunity provided for both a continuing relationship with Playboy and for living arrangements in Los Angeles, where she could pursue an acting career.[4][5] Bozzio rejected the offer. Shortly after, she met and gained employment with Frank Zappa.[6]: 07:20 

Bozzio posed nude for Hustler in an edition published in February 1985.[7]

With Frank Zappa

edit

Zappa hired Bozzio to voice the part of Mary in his rock opera Joe's Garage (1979) which was under development at the time.[6]: 08:03  In that role she sang about issues such as the Roman Catholic Church, sexuality, and the culture of rock bands.[8]: 152–155  In "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 one another, with music as the best.[8]: 159 

Bozzio's voice can also be heard in the 1979 film Baby Snakes 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).[9]

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.[8]: 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."[10]

Missing Persons

edit
Main article: Missing Persons (band)

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 multiple hits during the first half of the 1980s and disbanded in 1986, shortly after the release of their third album titled Color in Your Life (1986).

Bozzio continued to record and perform after the breakup of the original Missing Persons band. During the early 1990s, she toured with her own group using the band name and performing Missing Persons songs.[11] In June 2005, Missing Persons featuring Dale Bozzio appeared on week five of the NBC show Hit Me Baby One More Time.[12]

Dale and Missing Persons were referenced in season 2 of the CW TV network show iZombie in 2015. A recurring character played by Jessica Harmon is FBI agent Dale Bozzio, who works on missing persons cases.[13]

Missing Persons released their first album of completely original material in 37 years, Hollywood Lie, on November 10, 2023.[14]

Solo career

edit

Bozzio's solo album Riot in English was released in 1988 on Prince's Paisley Park Records, under the mononym Dale.[15] The lead single "Simon Simon" reached #33 on the Billboard dance chart.[16]

New Wave Sessions was released on October 9, 2007, on compact disc by Cleopatra Records.[17] The album included new versions of the Missing Persons hits "Words" and "Destination Unknown", and covers of the 1980s songs "Funkytown", "Der Kommissar", "Turning Japanese", "I Know What Boys Like", and "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun".[18]

In 2010, Bozzio's Make Love Not War album and Talk Talk EP was released on Electrik Blue Records.[19]

In 2014, Bozzio's Missing in Action was released on Cleopatra Records.[3]

In 2020, she released her second solo album as Missing Persons titled Dreaming. It contains mostly covers of some classic rock / pop songs from 1960s, 1970s and 1980s decades.[20]

Influences and influence upon other artists

edit

Bozzio was influenced by black and white film era stars including Jean Harlow and Marlene Dietrich.[6]: 06:21  She was also influenced by Judy Garland, and Frank Zappa.[6]: 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.[6]: 07:02 

Her influence was behind Gelvin Guitars SSM guitar they made specifically for her with a Spring Session M theme to it.[21][22]

Personal life

edit

During her work with Zappa, she met drummer Terry Bozzio in 1976. They married in 1979 after Terry had become a member of the band U.K. They divorced in 1986 with Dale retaining her married name. She has two children from her marriage to Richard McKenzie.[23][24]

In 2009 she was convicted of animal cruelty after several dead and malnourished cats were found at her home in Ossipee, New Hampshire while she was touring with her band; she claimed that the caretaker she had hired to stay at her house did not arrive.[25] She was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 250 hours of community service, barred from keeping pets and ordered to pay a $2700 euthanization bill.[26]

Discography

edit

With Frank Zappa

edit

With Missing Persons

edit
  • 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)
  • Missing in Action (2014) [3]
  • Dreaming (2020)
  • Hollywood Lie (2023)

Solo releases

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

Filmography and videography

edit

Filmography

edit

Videography

edit

Missing Persons

edit
  • 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

edit
  • L.A. is My Lady (1984)

Solo

edit
  • Simon Simon (1988)

Guest appearances

edit

"Walking in LA" live with Lunden Reign, Live at LA Pride Festival (June 7, 2014)

References

edit
  1. ^ Greg Prato "Dale Bozzio - Discography", AllMusic, Retrieved Oct.27, 2017
  2. ^ "Dale Bozzio Bio | Dale Bozzio Career | MTV". MTV. 29 March 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-03-29. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Missing Persons feat. Dale Bozzio – Missing in Action (CD)". Cleorecs.com.
  4. ^ a b Deirdre Donahue "They May Be Missing Persons, but Terry and Dale Bozzio Have Found Each Other" People Magazine Vol. 22 No. 22 November 26, 1984
  5. ^ a b Treacy, Christopher John (January 5, 2007). "Missing Persons Finds New Life". The Boston Herald. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2013.(subscription required)
  6. ^ a b c d e f Chris Cordani "Interview with Dale Bozzio" Revenge of the 80s Radio June 27, 2008.
  7. ^ Patrick Goldstein,A Missing Person Is Found In The Nude, LA Times, January 6, 1985
  8. ^ a b c Lowe, Kelly Fisher (2007). The Words and Music of Frank Zappa (1st paperback ed.). Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, printers. ISBN 978-0-8032-6005-4. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  9. ^ "Review, Lost Episodes" The AllMusic Guide
  10. ^ "Frank Zappa" classicbands.com para 20
  11. ^ Hanifin, C. (27 June 1998). "Missing Persons". Molwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  12. ^ "Episode Detail: Hit Me Baby One More Time - Hit Me Baby One More Time" Hit Me Baby One More Time 2005 Season 1 Episode 5, TV Guide retrieved November 22, 2012
  13. ^ Room, iZombie Writers (October 27, 2015). ".@RobThomas isn't the only 1 sharing a name with a star singer. Meet Dale Bozzio from missing persons. #iZombiepic.twitter.com/gO2oUjnxY9". Twitter.com.
  14. ^ Gotto, Connor (November 6, 2023). "Missing Persons - Hollywood Lie". Retro Pop. Retro Pop. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  15. ^ Nager, Larry (17 June 1988). "Bozzio flexes her muscles solo". Spokane Chronicle. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  16. ^ "Simon Simon (song by Dale) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com.
  17. ^ "New Wave Sessions". iTunes. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  18. ^ Tracy, Liz (25 August 2011). "Who's the Bozz?: Missing Persons Heads Up Respectable Street's Anniversary Bash". Broward-Palm Beach New Times. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  19. ^ "Make Love Not War". iTunes. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  20. ^ "Missing Persons Feat. Dale Bozzio – Dreaming". Cleorecs.com. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  21. ^ "RockSolidPickups – Professional pickups and more". Rocksolidpickups.com.
  22. ^ "MorleyView: Missing Persons featuring Dale Bozzio Interview". Antimusic.com.
  23. ^ "Missing Persons". Qvmagazine.com. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  24. ^ Life Is So Strange. (The Autobiography of Dale Bozzio.) 2021 Cleopatra Records. Chapter 24, page 164.
  25. ^ http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/81321-Dale-Bozzios-life-is-so-strange/ Dale Bozzio's Life is so Strange], The Boston Phoenix, May 27 2009.
  26. ^ Rigazio, Ashley. "Dale Bozzio sentenced to jail", The Boston Phoenix, May 27 2009. Retrieved on 3 August 2015.
edit
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dale Bozzio.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dale_Bozzio&oldid=1240363938"