Holly Vincent
Encyclopedia
Holly Beth Vincent is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumental musician. Her band Holly and the Italians
was one of the first American punk bands led by a female and signed to a major label.
She is often known for Holly and the Italian's 1980 song Tell That Girl to Shut Up
(in 1988 a UK top 50 hit for Transvision Vamp
). Her Holly Beth Vincent album, titled "Holly and the Italians" [to fulfill contractual obligations with Virgin Records] is one of Ira Robbins/Trouser Press record guide's top albums of all-time. In 1982, she arranged, sang, played instruments, co-produced (with Wham/George Michael
producer Steve Brown
), a duet/cover version of the song I Got You Babe
with Ramones
Vocalist Joey Ramone
, which became a cult hit and was a limited release on Virgin Records UK. After her contact expired, she moved back to the U.S., where she performed live around New York and the east coast with musicians Jimmy Rip, Fred Smith
, Jay Dee Daugherty
, Dolette McDonald, and Mary Davis
.
In the nineties, she relocated to Los Angeles, where she had grown up, and formed a band called The Oblivious, and wrote, played instruments, and was producer for an album called America for fan Amy Ray
of the Indigo Girls
. They toured extensively in the U.S. with the band Concrete Blonde
. She then released an album called Vowel Movement with Johnette Napolitano
of Concrete Blonde
, which the women wrote, produced and performed. In the later nineties, she released a compilation of demo recordings called Demos Federico, from which a song was used as background for a 2011 episode of American Idol
Season 10.
Some other places her music appears are the song "Mercy" in the 1993 Tony Bill
movie Untamed Heart
, the (Vowel Movement) song "Jesus" in the 1997 indie-film The Boys Club
, and again the song Tell That Girl to Shut Up
in the 2003 MTV reality series, Rich Girls
. Other of her songs recorded by artists include "You Can Love Her" by Shirley Manson
circa the band Angelfish
. In the 2000s, Holly has been voiceover talent in commercials for Nike
, Pepsi
, Squirt
, and Nintendo
.
Her most recent recording is Minnesota-California, released 2009. Previous to that is the largely electronic, self-performed album Super Rocket Star, in 2007. She is the sole writer and co-producer of both, and the main or sole guitarist on all her recordings.
Vincent was born in Chicago
. Her mother is of Swedish and French background; her father, Italian. She was raised in Lake Tahoe
and then southern California, where she attended high school. At age 18, she moved to London, where she lived with Chris Wood
of the band Traffic
and his wife.She dated Mark Knopfler
of Dire Straits
. After she broke up with him, he wrote the songs "Romeo and Juliet," "Love Over Gold
," and "It Never Rains
" about her.
She lives in Los Angeles
.
Holly and the Italians
Holly and the Italians were a short-lived American pop punk band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1978 by Chicago born singer and guitarist Holly Beth Vincent, bassist Mark Sidgwick, and drummer Steve Young...
was one of the first American punk bands led by a female and signed to a major label.
She is often known for Holly and the Italian's 1980 song Tell That Girl to Shut Up
Tell That Girl to Shut Up
"Tell That Girl to Shut Up" was the second single from UK pop/rock band Transvision Vamp, released in 1988. It is taken from their debut album Pop Art and was originally recorded by Holly and the Italians and was written by Holly Beth Vincent....
(in 1988 a UK top 50 hit for Transvision Vamp
Transvision Vamp
Transvision Vamp were a British alternative rock group. Formed in 1986 by Nick Christian Sayer and Wendy James the band enjoyed chart success in the late 1980s...
). Her Holly Beth Vincent album, titled "Holly and the Italians" [to fulfill contractual obligations with Virgin Records] is one of Ira Robbins/Trouser Press record guide's top albums of all-time. In 1982, she arranged, sang, played instruments, co-produced (with Wham/George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
producer Steve Brown
Steve Brown
Steve Brown may refer to:* Steve Brown , American football player* Steve Brown , American pastor, syndicated radio host, and seminary professor* Steve Brown , American baseball player...
), a duet/cover version of the song I Got You Babe
I Got You Babe
"I Got You Babe" is a 1965 #1 single by American pop music duo Sonny & Cher.-Background and composition:Sonny Bono, a songwriter and record producer for Phil Spector, wrote the lyrics to and composed the music of the song for himself and his then-wife, Cher, late at night in their basement. Session...
with Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
Vocalist Joey Ramone
Joey Ramone
Joey Ramone was an American vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist in the punk rock band the Ramones. Joey Ramone's image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon.-Early life:Joey Ramone was born Jeffry Hyman to parents Noel and Charlotte Hyman...
, which became a cult hit and was a limited release on Virgin Records UK. After her contact expired, she moved back to the U.S., where she performed live around New York and the east coast with musicians Jimmy Rip, Fred Smith
Fred Smith
-In literature:*Frederick Smith, 3rd Earl of Birkenhead , British peer and author*Frederick E. Smith , British author*Frederick M. Smith , American religious leader and author-In medicine:*Frederick W...
, Jay Dee Daugherty
Jay Dee Daugherty
Jay Dee Daugherty is an American drummer and songwriter most known for his work with Patti Smith. As a member of the Patti Smith Group, he has been nominated twice to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.- Biography :...
, Dolette McDonald, and Mary Davis
Mary Davis
-Motion pictures:Davis debuted in Hollywood with a role in Leave It To Cissy . This appearance was followed by parts as Mary I. Davis in I Accuse and Mary G. Davis in The Haunted Manor, both from 1916....
.
In the nineties, she relocated to Los Angeles, where she had grown up, and formed a band called The Oblivious, and wrote, played instruments, and was producer for an album called America for fan Amy Ray
Amy Ray
Amy Elizabeth Ray is an American singer-songwriter and member of the contemporary folk duo Indigo Girls. She also pursues a solo career and has released four albums under her own name, and founded a record company, Daemon Records....
of the Indigo Girls
Indigo Girls
The Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
. They toured extensively in the U.S. with the band Concrete Blonde
Concrete Blonde
Concrete Blonde is an alternative rock band based in the United States. They were initially active from 1982 to 1995, and again from 2001 to 2004, and once again in 2010.-Biography:...
. She then released an album called Vowel Movement with Johnette Napolitano
Johnette Napolitano
Johnette Napolitano is an American singer, songwriter and bassist best known as the lead vocalist/songwriter and bassist for the alternative rock group Concrete Blonde.- Solo career :...
of Concrete Blonde
Concrete Blonde
Concrete Blonde is an alternative rock band based in the United States. They were initially active from 1982 to 1995, and again from 2001 to 2004, and once again in 2010.-Biography:...
, which the women wrote, produced and performed. In the later nineties, she released a compilation of demo recordings called Demos Federico, from which a song was used as background for a 2011 episode of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
Season 10.
Some other places her music appears are the song "Mercy" in the 1993 Tony Bill
Tony Bill
Gerard Anthony "Tony" Bill is an American actor, producer, and director. He produced the 1973 movie The Sting, for which he shared the Academy Award for Best Picture with Michael Phillips and Julia Phillips...
movie Untamed Heart
Untamed Heart
Untamed Heart is a 1993 film starring Christian Slater and Marisa Tomei. It mixes drama with romance and comedy and tells the story of a young woman, always unlucky in love, finally finding true love in a very shy young man. The film is directed by Tony Bill, and written by Tom Sierchio...
, the (Vowel Movement) song "Jesus" in the 1997 indie-film The Boys Club
The Boys Club
The Boys Club is a 1997 crime thriller film directed by John Fawcett, written by Doug Smith and Peter Wellington , and starring Devon Sawa, Chris Penn, Dominic Zamprogna, and Stuart Stone.-Plot:...
, and again the song Tell That Girl to Shut Up
Tell That Girl to Shut Up
"Tell That Girl to Shut Up" was the second single from UK pop/rock band Transvision Vamp, released in 1988. It is taken from their debut album Pop Art and was originally recorded by Holly and the Italians and was written by Holly Beth Vincent....
in the 2003 MTV reality series, Rich Girls
Rich Girls
Rich Girls was an MTV reality show that aired for one season in the fall of 2003 and winter of 2004.It followed the lives of the privileged Ally Hilfiger and her then-best friend, Jaime Gleicher...
. Other of her songs recorded by artists include "You Can Love Her" by Shirley Manson
Shirley Manson
Shirley Anne Manson is a Scottish recording artist and actress, best known internationally as the lead singer of the alternative rock band Garbage. For much of her international career Manson commuted between her home city of Edinburgh to the United States to record with Garbage but now lives and...
circa the band Angelfish
Angelfish
Angelfish may refer to:*Several groups of fish:**Freshwater angelfish, tropical cichlids of the genus Pterophyllum**Marine angelfish of the family Pomacanthidae**Angel shark of the family Squatinidae...
. In the 2000s, Holly has been voiceover talent in commercials for Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
, Squirt
Squirt
Squirt is a caffeine-free, citrus-flavored, carbonated soft drink, created in 1938 in Phoenix, Arizona.- History :Squirt was created by Herb Bishop in 1938, after experimenting with a similar citrus drink, Citrus Club. He created a new, carbonated drink which required both less fruit juice and less...
, and Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
.
Her most recent recording is Minnesota-California, released 2009. Previous to that is the largely electronic, self-performed album Super Rocket Star, in 2007. She is the sole writer and co-producer of both, and the main or sole guitarist on all her recordings.
Vincent was born in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Her mother is of Swedish and French background; her father, Italian. She was raised in Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
and then southern California, where she attended high school. At age 18, she moved to London, where she lived with Chris Wood
Chris Wood (rock musician)
Christopher Gordon Blandford 'Chris' Wood was a founding member of the English rock band Traffic, along with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, and Dave Mason....
of the band Traffic
Traffic (band)
Traffic were an English rock band whose members came from the West Midlands. The group formed in April 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason...
and his wife.She dated Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
of Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
. After she broke up with him, he wrote the songs "Romeo and Juliet," "Love Over Gold
Love over Gold
Love Over Gold is the fourth album by British rock band Dire Straits.- History :Due to its lengthy atmospheric instrumental passages, the album has been cited as the band's attempt at progressive rock....
," and "It Never Rains
Love over Gold
Love Over Gold is the fourth album by British rock band Dire Straits.- History :Due to its lengthy atmospheric instrumental passages, the album has been cited as the band's attempt at progressive rock....
" about her.
She lives in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Discography
- The Right to Be Italian by Holly and the Italians (1981)
- Holly and the Italians by Holly Beth Vincent (1982)
- I Got You babe by Holly and Joey (1982)
- America by the Oblivious (1993)
- Vowel Movement by Vowel Movement [Holly Beth Vincent and Johnette Napolitano] (1995)
- Demos Federico by Holly Beth Vincent (2003)
- Super Rocket Star by Holly Beth Vincent (2007)
- Minnesota-California by Holly Beth Vincent (2009)