 Although '70s icon Suzi Quatro may be best known to American audiences as Leather Tuscadero from the TV sitcom "Happy Days," this no-holds-barred bubblegum rocker achieved success in her own right in Europe and the U.K., where she still maintains a strong following today. Born in Detroit, Mich., on June 3, 1950, Quatro made her music debut as Suzi Soul while still in her early teens. She soon joined the Pleasure Seekers with her sisters Arlene and Patti. As bassist for the Pleasure Seekers and her subsequent band, Cradle, Quatro found some measure of success, even playing to the troops in Vietnam with the Pleasure Seekers in 1967. In 1971, Quatro was spotted at a Cradle show by British producer Mickie Most who offered her a solo contract. Quatro toiled away for two years with no success until Most paired her with songwriters Mick Chapman and Nicky Chinn who would pen most of Quatro's hits. In 1973, "Can the Can" became a No. 1 single in the U.K. Well known for her leather-clad, tough girl persona, Quatro went on to have 10 more British hits including "48 Crash," "The Wild One" and "Devil Gate Drive." Quatro became a household name in America in the late '70s after landing the recurring role of Leather Tuscadero on the popular "Happy Days" sitcom and scoring a Top 5 hit with, "Stumblin' In," a duet with Chris Norman. Quatro faded from the scene in the '80s, but her impact on women in rock can be felt today in groups like L7, Hole and the Donnas. Joe Hauler
|
