Pat DiNizio
| Pat DiNizio | |
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| File:Pat DiNizio.jpg
Pat DiNizio and Severo Jornacion of the Smithereens performing at Bar Anticipation in Belmar, NJ on August 24, 2012.
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| Background information | |
| Born | October 12, 1955 Scotch Plains, New Jersey, United States |
| Origin | Carteret, New Jersey |
| Genres | Rock, power pop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, actor, film producer, politician |
| Instruments | Guitar, harmonica, vocals |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Labels | Fuel/Universal, East West Records, Koch Records, Enigma, Little Ricky Records/Capitol, BMG/Excelsior, Velvel Records/Koch Records, E1 Music, Warner Bros., D-Tone |
| Associated acts | The Smithereens |
| Website | Patdinizio.net |
Pat DiNizio (born October 12, 1955), of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, is the lead singer, songwriter, and member of the band The Smithereens, which he formed in 1980 with Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken and Mike Mesaros, from Carteret, New Jersey.[1]
In addition to the Smithereens' body of work, DiNizio has also released a number of solo albums, Sounds and Songs (1997), This is Pat DiNizio, a collection of cover songs arranged for piano and vocals (2006), Revolutions (2 CDs plus 1 DVD, limited edition of 300 copies, 2006), Pat DiNizio (2007), and Pat DiNizio/Buddy Holly (2008). An expanded 2-CD version of This is Pat DiNizio was issued in 2011.
In 2000, DiNizio made an unsuccessful run for the New Jersey seat of the United States Senate, running on the Reform Party ticket. He finished 4th with 19,312 votes (0.64%). The campaign was chronicled in the 2001 documentary film Mr. Smithereen Goes to Washington.[2]
The same year, he launched the "Living Room Tour," a five-month jaunt where he performed solo, by request only, in the homes of fans. The tour was a success, and he still occasionally books similar concerts for a nominal fee.[3]
In 2001, he was one of the first musicians to throw his support behind XM Satellite Radio, becoming host and program director for the XM Radio Unsigned station.
DiNizio was also an inaugural member of the Independent Music Awards' judging panel to support independent artists.[4]
In 2006, he was the focus of 7th Inning Stretch, an ESPN2 reality special. The special focused on DiNizio's recovery from a "life-threatening and debilitating nervous disorder" by training and attempting to try out for a Minor League Baseball team (The Somerset Patriots), along with tales of baseball folklore from other musicians such as Joan Jett, Gene Simmons, and Bruce Springsteen.[5]
DiNizio also released an audio book, Confessions Of A Rock Star, and continues to perform both solo acoustic shows and with The Smithereens. From November 2011 to June 2012, DiNizio presented a condensed, live adaptation of the book (with storytelling and full band accompaniment) in nightly performances at the The Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.[6]
Contents
Discography
Solo discography
- Songs and Sounds, 1997 (Velvel Records)
- This is Pat DiNizio, 2006 (Fuel/Universal)
- Pat DiNizio, 2007 (East West Records)
- Buddy Holly, 2009 (Koch Records)
With The Smithereens
- Girls About Town, 1980 (D-Tone)
- Beauty and Sadness, 1983 (Little Ricky Records/Capitol)
- Especially for You, 1986 (Enigma/Capitol)
- Green Thoughts, 1988 (Enigma/Capitol)
- Smithereens 11, 1989 (Enigma/Capitol)
- Blow Up, 1991 (Capitol)
- A Date with the Smithereens, 1994 (BMG/Excelsior)
- God Save the Smithereens, 1999 (Velvel Records/Koch Records)
- Meet the Smithereens!, 2007 (Koch Records) (A tribute to The Beatles, covering the entire Meet The Beatles! album.)
- Live in Concert! Greatest Hits and More, 2008 (Koch)
- B-Sides the Beatles, 2008 (Koch) (Another compilation of Beatles covers, this time including only "flipsides" of singles)
- The Smithereens Play Tommy, 2009 (eOne Music)
- 2011, 2011 (eOne Music)
Books
- "Removing the Horns" (introduction to Wearing the Horns by author Clifford Meth) (2003), Aardwolf Publishing[7]
- Confessions Of A Rock Star (2009)
Filmography
Films
- Singles (1992), Actor
- Mr. Smithereen Goes to Washington (2001)
- King Leisure S.O.B. (2004), Writer/Director/Actor
- Dead Horse (2004), Actor/Producer/Composer
Television
- Space Ghost: Coast to Coast (1996, Cartoon Network), Self
- 7th Inning Stretch (2006, ESPN2), Actor/Director/Writer/Producer[8]
References
- ↑ Cahillane, Kevin. "Not Fade Away: The Smithereens' Monument to Persistence", The New York Times, October 10, 2004. Accessed November 3, 2007. "The band formed in 1980 when three Carteret High School graduates (class of 1975) and childhood friends (Mr. Babjak, Dennis Diken on drums and Mike Mesaros on bass) met Pat DiNizio, a Scotch Plains singer-songwriter-garbage man."
- ↑ 242 Productions, Inc
- ↑ Pat DiNizio - Living Room Concerts
- ↑ Independent Music Awards - Past Judges
- ↑ http://www.nuvo.net/sports/article/rock-music-meets-baseball
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ http://www.aardwolfpublishing.com/Comics-and-books/wearing_the_horns.htm
- ↑ http://www.nuvo.net/sports/article/rock-music-meets-baseball
