Genya Ravan
Encyclopedia
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.
'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.
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.
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
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
singer and producer. She is the former lead singer of The Escorts, Goldie & the Gingerbreads
Goldie & the Gingerbreads
Goldie & the Gingerbreads was an all-female American rock band from 1962 to 1967 consisting of 3 musicians and a singer. They were the first all-female rock band signed to a major record label....
, and Ten Wheel Drive
Ten Wheel Drive
Ten Wheel Drive were an American Jazz fusion band that existed from 1968 to 1974.-History:In 1968, after the final break-up of the all-female rock band Goldie & The Gingerbreads, Genya Ravan was looking for a new band, as were two New Jersey musicians and songwriters, Michael Zager and Aram Schefrin...
.
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.
Pseudonyms
On arrival in America, her mother changed her daughter's name to Goldie. Goldie kept the name when she joined Richard PerryRichard Perry
Richard Perry is an American music producer. Perry began as a performer in his adolescence, but shifted gears after graduating college and rose through the late 1960s and early 1970s to become a highly successful and popular record producer with over a dozen gold records to his credit by 1982...
'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
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "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
Ten Wheel Drive
Ten Wheel Drive were an American Jazz fusion band that existed from 1968 to 1974.-History:In 1968, after the final break-up of the all-female rock band Goldie & The Gingerbreads, Genya Ravan was looking for a new band, as were two New Jersey musicians and songwriters, Michael Zager and Aram Schefrin...
.
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.
Producer
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 rockPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Dead Boys (1977) and the comeback album Siren by Ronnie Spector
Ronnie Spector
Veronica Yvette "Ronnie" Spector is an American rock and roll and popular music vocalist, and was the lead singer of the 1960s hit-making girl group, The Ronettes, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. She is known as the "original bad girl of rock and roll."-Personal...
(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.
Radio host
In 2006 Ravan was recruited by Steven Van ZandtSteven Van Zandt
Steven Van Zandt is an Italian-American musician, songwriter, arranger, record producer, actor, and radio disc jockey, who frequently goes by the stage names Little Steven or Miami Steve...
to host a monthly radio show on Van Zandt's Underground Garage
Underground Garage
Underground Garage is the name shared by two related but different radio outlets, a syndicated show and a satellite radio station, both created and supervised by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt to present rock 'n' roll and garage rock on radio...
radio channel - heard throughout North America on Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
- and worldwide on Sirius Internet Radio. She joined a team of hosts that includes original Rolling Stones manager/producer Andrew Loog Oldham
Andrew Loog Oldham
Andrew Loog Oldham is an English producer, talent manager, impresario and author. He was manager and producer of The Rolling Stones from 1963, and was noted for his flamboyant style.-Biography:...
, rock star Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Joan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular...
, punk rock singer Handsome Dick Manitoba, producer/humorist/Beatles historian Martin Lewis, veteran FM radio deejay Kid Leo
Kid Leo
Lawrence J. Travagliante — better known by his on-air personality Kid Leo — serves as both program director and afternoon disc jockey on Little Steven's Underground Garage on Sirius XM Radio...
and rock entrepreneur Kim Fowley
Kim Fowley
Kim Vincent Fowley is an American record producer, impresario, songwriter, musician, film maker, and radio actor. He is best known for his role behind a string of novelty and cult rock pop singles in the 1960s, and for managing The Runaways in the 1970s...
.
Discography
- Construction #1, Ten Wheel Drive with Genya Ravan, 1969
- Brief Replies, Ten Wheel Drive with Genya Ravan, 1970
- Peculiar Friends, Ten Wheel Drive with Genya Ravan, 1971
- Genya Ravan, 1972
- They Love Me, They Love Me Not, 1973
- Goldie Zelkowitz, 1974
- Urban Desire, 1978 (CD edition 2004 at Hip-O Select)
- ...And I Mean It!, 1979 (CD edition 2004 at Hip-O Select)
- Best Of Ten Wheel Drive, 1995
- For Fans Only!, 2003 privately published
- Genya Ravan Live, 2006
- Undercover, 2010 (Collectables RecordsCollectables RecordsCollectables is a reissue record label founded in 1980 by Jerry Greene. Greene was previously associated with New York City's Times Square Record Shop, Philadelphia's Record Museum retail chain, and the Lost Nite and Crimson record labels....
)
Publications
- Lollipop Lounge, Memoirs Of A Rock And Roll Refugee, Genya Ravan, 2004, ISBN 0-8230-8362-4
Movies
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.External links
- [ Genya Ravan] at Allmusic
- Genya Ravan at itsaboutmusic.com