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Pat DiNizio

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Patrick Michael DiNizio (October 12, 1955 – December 12, 2017) was the lead singer, songwriter and founding member of the band The Smithereens, which he formed in 1980 with Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken and Mike Mesaros from Carteret, New Jersey.[1][2]

Pat DiNizio
DiNizio in 2009
DiNizio in 2009
Background information
Birth namePatrick Michael DiNizio
Born(1955-10-12)October 12, 1955
Plainfield, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedDecember 12, 2017(2017-12-12) (aged 62)
Summit, New Jersey, U.S.
GenresRock, power pop
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, actor, film producer, politician
Instrument(s)Guitar, harmonica, vocals
Years active1980–2017
LabelsFuel/Universal, East West Records, Koch Records, Enigma, Little Ricky Records/Capitol, BMG/Excelsior, Velvel Records/Koch Records, E1 Music, Warner Bros., D-Tone
Formerly ofThe Smithereens

Life and career

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DiNizio was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, to parents of Italian heritage, Nicholas and Antoniette,[3] and grew up in nearby Scotch Plains, where he attended Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.[4] DiNizio was a trash hauler, working for his father while trying to break into the music business. He has cited his influences as Buddy Holly and The Beatles.

In addition to his work with The Smithereens, he released a number of solo albums, Songs and Sounds (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).[4] An expanded 2-CD version of This is Pat DiNizio was issued in 2012.

 
DiNizio and Severo Jornacion of the Smithereens performing at Bar Anticipation in Belmar, New Jersey in 2012

DiNizio made an unsuccessful run in the 2000 United States Senate election in New Jersey, running on the Reform Party ticket.[4] He finished 4th with 19,312 votes (0.64%). The campaign was chronicled in the 2001 documentary film Mr. Smithereen Goes to Washington.[5]

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.[4] The tour was a success, and he later occasionally performed similar concerts for a nominal fee.[6] He considered fans to be friends and hosted Memorial Day picnics for them in his own backyard. In his own words, "This 'involving the audience' philosophy of mine is about breaking down the walls and barriers that traditionally have separated artists and audience."[7]

In 2001, DiNizio 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.[8] He was also an inaugural member of the Independent Music Awards' judging panel to support independent artists.[9] The Verge was not DiNizio's first radio hosting job; in 1990 he hosted the second season of the short-lived syndicated radio program "Soho Natural Sessions" and in 1991 its successor, "Maxwell House Coffeehouse Sessions".[10]

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.[11]

DiNizio also released a book (also available in audiobook format), Confessions Of A Rock Star, and continued to perform both solo acoustic shows and with The Smithereens.[citation needed] 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 Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.[2] Through September 2017, he toured nationally with The Smithereens and performed in venues near his home with his local band, The Scotchplainsmen.

Death

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DiNizio died in Summit, New Jersey, on December 12, 2017, at the age of 62. According to bandmates, his health declined following a series of problems that began in 2015 after a pair of falls that resulted in nerve damage that limited the use of his right hand and arm.[4][12]

Awards and honors

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• In 1987, DiNizio was nominated for two New York Music Awards (Best Rock Vocalist (Male) and Best Songwriter) and The Smithereens were nominated for four more, the Rising Star Award (Outstanding Debut Act), the Local Heroes Award (Outstanding Rock Band), Best Debut Album (Especially for You), and Best Independent Single (Blood and Roses), winning the latter three categories. In 1988, The Smithereens won the New York Music Awards for best rock band.[13]

• On June 7, 1990, The Smithereens' recording Smithereens 11 was certified gold (500,000 copies sold) by the RIAA.[14]

• On November 17, 2015, DiNizio was inducted into the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Hall of Fame.[15]

• On April 14, 2016, he was named one of "The 12 Greatest New Jersey Singers Ever" by the Asbury Park Press.[16]

• On April 18, 2018, the township of Scotch Plains ceremonially named the street near his former home "Pat DiNizio Way".[17]

• On January 18, 2019, DiNizio was inducted as an "Asbury Angel" at the 19th annual Light of Day Winterfest in Asbury Park, NJ.[18]

• On October 27, 2019, The Smithereens were inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in the Class of 2018.[19]

Discography

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See also: The Smithereens

Studio albums

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Compilation albums

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  • The Best of Pat DiNizio, 2015 (Airline Records)

Other appearances

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  • Acoustic Aid, 1992 (Kome 98.5, Oxymoron P & D Inc) – "Blood and Roses" (Recorded live in New York City as broadcast on KOME, December 1990)
  • Piss & Vinegar - The Songs of Graham Parker, 1996 (Buy Or Die Records) – "Local Girls" and "That's What They All Say" ("Local Girls" performed with Frank Black and Gary Lucas)
  • Who's Not Forgotten - FDR's Tribute to The Who, 2003 (Face Down Records) – "Behind Blue Eyes"

Filmography

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Films

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  • Singles (1992), actor
  • Mr. Smithereen Goes to Washington (2001), actor
  • King Leisure S.O.B. (2004), writer/director/actor
  • Dead Horse (2004), actor/producer/composer

Television

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Bibliography

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  • Meth, Clifford Lawrence (2003). Wearing the Horns. Foreword by Pat DiNizio. Aardwolf Publishing. ASIN B007AHL18Q.
  • Milano, Brett (2003). Vinyl Junkies. Foreword by Pat DiNizio. St Martin's Griffin. ISBN 978-0312304270
  • DiNizio, Pat (2009). Confessions Of A Rock Star.

References

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  1. ^ Cahillane, Kevin (October 10, 2004). "Not Fade Away: The Smithereens' Monument to Persistence". The New York Times.
  2. ^ a b "Pat DiNizio". Confessions of a Rock Star. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  3. ^ 'Mr. Smithereen Goes to Washington
  4. ^ a b c d e Slotnik, Daniel E. (December 13, 2017). "Pat DiNizio, Singer and Songwriter for the Smithereens, Dies at 62". The New York Times.
  5. ^ 242 Productions, Inc, 242inc.com; accessed October 12, 2016.
  6. ^ Pat DiNizio - Living Room Concerts Archived October 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, patdinizio.com; accessed October 12, 2016.
  7. ^ Lustig, Jay (December 17, 2017). "Pat DiNizio, in his own words". NJ Arts. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  8. ^ XM Program Team Grows, www.radioworld.com; accessed February 20, 2019.
  9. ^ Independent Music Awards - Past Judges Archived July 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Rosen, Craig (March 23, 1991). "Public Sampling Radio Shows Via Batch Of Retail Releases". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 12. p. 21.
  11. ^ a b "NUVO News | Indianapolis, IN". Nuvo.net. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  12. ^ Morris, Chris (December 12, 2017). "Pat DiNizio of the Smithereens Dies at 62". Variety. Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  13. ^ "SMITHEREENS -- '60S POP FOR THE '80S - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA) | HighBeam Research". December 13, 2017. Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  14. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  15. ^ Crowley-Hughes, Andrea (November 19, 2015). "Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS Hall of Fame Inducts Eight New Members". TAPinto. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  16. ^ Jordan, Chris; Biese, Alex. "The 12 greatest New Jersey singers ever". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  17. ^ "Scotch Plains Unveils Pat DiNizio Way in Honor of Local Music Legend". TAPinto. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  18. ^ BWW News Desk. "Asbury Angels Induction Show Starring The Ventures, The Weeklings, More, Fri. 1/18 at Stone Pony". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  19. ^ "New Jersey Hall of Fame Event Draws Jon Bon Jovi, George R.R. Martin, Jason Alexander". October 28, 2019.
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