September 22, marks the birthday of remarkable American singer, poet, social activist, soundtrack composer, sculptor and bassist- Johnette Napolitano. Born September 22, 1957, she is best remembered for alternative rock group – concrete Blonde. As for the title Concrete Blonde, Johnette Napolitano remarked during an MTV interview “two words that sound good together”. The critics view the title as an amalgamation of hard and soft elements of the band. Though the official site of the group Concrete Blonde has the message “Thanks to everyone who heard and believed in the music. Music lives on. Keep listening. Keep believing, keep dreaming. Like a ripple, the music moves and travels and finds you. Drive to the music, Make love to the music, cry to the music. That’s why we made it. Long after we’re gone the music will still be there. Thanks to everyone who helped us bring the music to you & thanks to every face and every heart in every audience all over the world.” The group may have retired but Johnette Napolitano’s legacy will live on. The alternative rock trio was mainly active during 80s and early 90s. Napolitano started her journey by working at famous Gold Star studiosuntil she formed the band Dream 6 with guitarist James Mankey in Los Angeles in 1982. The Dream 6 later on became concrete Blonde at the suggestion of band member Michael Stipe and released their debut in 1987which included the band’s smash hit –JOEY. The band dismembered in 1995.
Napolitano collaborated in two minor projects Vowel Movement and Pretty and Twisted. Film “The Hidden” features the band Concrete Blonde.
The band reunited in 2001 and released the album Group Therapy in 2002 and Mojave in 2004.
Johnette Napolitano is indeed a gifted artist she sang for the Daniel Krige’s film WEST in 2007. Although retired her work and legacy live on.