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). In her solo career, Bozzio has released four albums and one EP.

Dale Bozzio
Bozzio performing with Warren Cuccurullo in 2009
Background information
Birth nameDale Frances Consalvi
Also known asDale
Born (1955-03-02) March 2, 1955
Medford, Massachusetts, US
GenresRock, new wave, synthpop
Occupation(s)Singer
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1976–present
LabelsPaisley Park, Warner Bros. Records, Capitol Records, Cleopatra Records,[1] GRA Records
Associated actsFrank Zappa, Missing Persons, Prince, Missing Persons featuring Dale Bozzio

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 (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 subsequently reformed 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. In 2014, Bozzio was 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

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, from which she could pursue an acting career.[4][5] But Bozzio rejected Hefner's offer and thus failed to 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.[6]:07:20

Bozzio posed nude for Hustler, being featured in an edition published in February 1980.[7]

With Frank Zappa

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 each other, 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
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]

Solo career

Bozzio's solo album Riot in English was released in 1988 on Prince's Paisley Park Records, under the mononym "Dale".[14] The lead single "Simon Simon" reached #33 on the Billboard dance chart.[15]

New Wave Sessions was released on October 9, 2007, on compact disc by Cleopatra Records.[16] 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".[17]

In 2010, Bozzio's Make Love Not War album and Talk Talk EP was released on Electrik Blue Records.[18]

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.[19]

Influences and influence upon other artists

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.[20][21]

Personal life

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.[22]


Discography

With Frank Zappa

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)
  • Missing in Action (2014) [3]
  • Dreaming (2020)

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

Filmography and videography

Filmography

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)

Guest Appearances

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

References
  1. Greg Prato "Dale Bozzio - Discography", AllMusic, Retrieved Oct.27, 2017
  2. "Dale Bozzio Bio | Dale Bozzio Career | MTV". Web.archive.org. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  3. "Missing Persons feat. Dale Bozzio – Missing in Action (CD)". Cleorecs.com.
  4. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Nager, Larry (17 June 1988). "Bozzio flexes her muscles solo". Spokane Chronicle. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  15. "Simon Simon (song by Dale) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com.
  16. "New Wave Sessions". iTunes. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  17. 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.
  18. "Make Love Not War". iTunes. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  19. "Missing Persons Feat. Dale Bozzio – Dreaming". Cleorecs.com. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  20. "RockSolidPickups – Professional pickups and more". Rocksolidpickups.com.
  21. "MorleyView: Missing Persons featuring Dale Bozzio Interview". Antimusic.com.
  22. "Missing Persons". Qvmagazine.com. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
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