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Cindy Valentine

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Cindy Valentine
Photo from 2013 music video for Le Derrière
"Le Derrière" (2013)
Background information
Birth nameValentine Cinzia Leone
Also known as
  • Cindy Valentine
  • Valentine Leone
BornItaly
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresDance-pop, rock
Occupation(s)Singer, actress, composer, producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboards, percussion
Years active1984–present
Labels
Sony, Polygram, Arista,

Atlantic, BMG, RCA, A&M, Polydor, CBS Columbia Records

Websitewww.valentineproductions.com

Cindy Valentine (Valentine Cinzia Leone) is an Italian-born composer, producer, actress and performing artist, raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada who is now a U.S. citizen, residing primarily in New York, New York. Valentine hit the Billboard Dance/Club charts in 1989 with "Secret Rendez-Vous" and "Pick Up the Pieces (To My Heart)", both songs co-written by Tony Green and Cindy Valentine.[1] Valentine also co-wrote the songs, "Finest Hour" and "Never Gonna Be the Same Again" for the 1989 Halloween classic, Teen Witch and played the part of Shana the Rock Star in the film. As a composer and performer, additional soundtrack credits include: Repossessed (1990), Mannequin Two: On the Move (1991), and Another 9 1/2 Weeks (1997).

Early life

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Valentine studied music at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto at the age of 7, Valentine entered a singing contest, winning first place and a month of opera training at the Il conservatorio Di Milano, Italy under Claudio Villa.[2]Juno Award-winning composer and producer, Tony Green was present at one of the Milan recording sessions and took note of Valentine's talent. Green had already been to the top of the charts for his Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single, "Come to Me", performed by France Joli.[3] Valentine signed with Green as her producer under the CBS Columbia Records label in 1984.[4] Valentine Leone took the stage name Cindy Valentine, curiously missing the Leone surname she shares with the family patriarch, famed Spaghetti Western director Sergio Leone.[2]

Career

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During her six years as a lead vocalist with CBS, PolyGram and Arista Records, Valentine remained engaged with the creative process. A formally trained pianist, Valentine also contributed percussion, keyboards, and backup vocals,[5] in addition to song writing on her records.[2] After, "Secret Rendez-vous" and "Pickup The Pieces (To My Heart)" made the Billboard charts,[6] Alisha (RCA), Lori Ruso (Capitol) and European singer C. C. Catch (Polygram) recorded songs composed by Valentine.[7][8][9][10] A guest appearance on Jellybean Benitez's Spillin' The Beans (Atlantic Records, 1990) was Valentine's last appearance on a major record label before moving her career toward soundtrack and film.[11]

In addition to various acting roles,[2] Valentine's early soundtrack credits include Teen Witch (1989), co-composing two signature songs in the film with Larry Weir, Teen Witch has become a cable television and midnight-theater Halloween favorite. Valentine co-wrote the title song for Repossessed (1990) with Charles Fox (known for his work on the television series Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley), and her hit single "Pickup The Pieces (To My Heart)" appears in the film Mannequin Two: On the Move (1991). For much of the 1990s into 2003, Valentine worked behind the scenes in film and television, as a composer and musician. Composer Dominic Messinger and Valentine teamed in 1997, with credited works for the sequel to Mickey Rourke's Another 9 1/2 Weeks,[12] and the television series As the World Turns and Sirens.

Since 2000, Valentine has involved herself with horror, documentary and art genre films, such as the critically acclaimed 4Chosen: The Documentary (2008)[17] and is credited as Producer on Ruth (2000) and co-executive producer on Souvenir Views (2003). She is an occasional television host on Time Warner's, New York City, local interest show, On the Beat, and hosted the documentary film Lisa Loeb Songwriting: Just Like You (2008), about a song-writing workshop, featuring Lisa Loeb and a girl's fourth-grade class, composing a new song.[18] Valentine appears as Luisa in the comedy The Great Chameleon (2012), starring Stacy Keach and Robert Davi.[19]

Discography

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Rock and Roll Heart Attack

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Valentine's first album, Rock & Roll Heart Attack (1984), had three singles released from the album, "Victim", "Make It Through the Night" and "Big Kiss". The majority of the songs on the album were written by Valentine's manager, Tony Green. Valentine co-wrote the song "Lust" with Aubrey Singer and Lorne Ould and was the sole composer of the song "Using Me".

Michael Damian played the part of the love-interest in the music video for the song "Victim", with Valentine singing and playing the lead role.

Secret Rendez-Vous

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"Secret Rendez-vous" (October 10, 1987) Peak
position
Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs[6] #43

Valentine's 1987 album was a departure from rock and roll into the dance and club music genre, Secret Rendez-Vous was released in Canada by Polygram. Valentine co-wrote on many of the songs, provided keyboards and percussion in addition to lead and backup vocals. "Secret Rendez-vous", spent two weeks on Billboard's Dance/Club chart, peaking at #43 on October 10, 1987.[6] An additional single, "In Your Midnight Hour", was also released from the Secret Rendez-vous album in 1987.

"Pickup the Pieces (To My Heart)"

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"Pickup the Pieces (To My Heart)" (November 4, 1989) Peak
position
Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs[6] #11

"Pick Up the Pieces (To My Heart)", was released as a single under Arista Records in 1989. "Pickup The Pieces (To My Heart)" climbed the Dance / Club charts, ending its 16-week run at #11.[6]

An Arista debut album was planned but never materialized. These sessions are known as the lost album. Which were later released by Valentine as Mp3 albums.

Spillin' The Beans

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Valentine is a featured artist on Jellybean Benitez's album Spillin' The Beans (Atlantic Records, 1990). Valentine's lead vocals from the CD included "What's Up", "Not This Time" and "Don't Let Love Come Between Us".[11]

Valentine's World Of Music

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Blame Yourself (2008) is a digital download, 13 track LP, the freshman release for Valentine's World Of Music.
Speak Your Mind (2009) is a digital download, 13 track LP of previously unreleased titles.
"Le Derrière" (2013) is a single, featuring Cindy Valentine and rapper REW***. The song was produced by Valentine and co-written with W. Nome and E. Talavara.[20]
"Wicked Ways" (2013), is a single, solely composed by Valentine and released Oct 1, 2013.
  • "Wicked Ways" debuted at #3 for Most Added Dance/Crossover Tracks hit on DJ Times Magazine.[21]
  • #22 on DJ Times National Club Charts - December 13, 2013.[22]
  • #15 on DJ Times National Dance/Crossover Chart January 16, 2014.[23]
  • A video for "Wicked Ways" will be shot in late November 2013 and released in 2014.

Compositions released by other artists

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Valentine compositions released by other artists
Year Artist Song Album Label Writers Notes
1987 Alisha "Into the Night" Nightwalkin RCA T. Green, C. Valentine [8]
1988 Kristin Baio "Don't Turn Your Back On Love" Don't Turn Your Back On Love A&M Records T. Green, C. Valentine [24]
1989 C. C. Catch "Midnight Hour" Hear What I Say PolyGram Metronome Records T. Green, C. Valentine [9]
1989 C. C. Catch "Midnight Hour" Midnight Hour (single) PolyGram Metronome Records T. Green, C. Valentine [10]
1989 Jessica Zayno "Hot Latin Lover" Hot Latin Lover (single) Autograph Records T. Green, C. Valentine [25]
1990 Lori Ruso "Never Gonna Be the Same Again" Show Off Capitol Records L.Weir, C.Valentine [7]
2007 Sara Niemietz "Finest Hour" Finest Hour (single) Caption Records L.Weir, C.Valentine [26]
2007 Heather Youmans "Never Gonna Be the Same Again" Teen Witch the Musical Caption Records L.Weir, C.Valentine [26]
2017 Emily Perry "Boom" (single) Dauman Music Emily Perry, Cindy Valentine,
Carlos Battey, William Nieves Jr,
Jules and Miles O’Keefe[27][28]		 Billboard #9[29]
2018 Emily Perry "Walk In Silence" (single) Dauman Music Emily Perry, Cindy Valentine,
Joe Cruz[30][31]		 Billboard #13[32]
2018 Emily Perry "Summer On Lock" (single) Dauman Music Damon Elliott, Emily Perry,
Cindy Valentine[33]		 Billboard #9[34]

Filmography

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Acting

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A music video for the 1984 single "Victim" starred Valentine with a young Michael Damian as the heart-breaker in the story. Damien would go on to play the character of Danny Romalotti on the daytime television series The Young and the Restless. Valentine would also appear in episode 39 of the CBS television series Night Heat in 1986.

The Pink Chiquitas (1987): Valentine appeared in the Sci-fi comedy film, The Pink Chiquitas, featuring Frank Stallone and Eartha Kitt. Valentine played Stella Dumbrowski, a competent teenage intern working in the weather department.[35]

Drop Out Mother (1988): Valentine was cast as a superstar named Virgin, in the made-for-TV movie Drop-out Mother with Valerie Harper and Wayne Rogers in the starring roles.[36]

Teen Witch (1989): Valentine appeared as Shana the Rock Star and co-wrote two signature songs for the movie, Teen Witch, with composer Larry Weir. The song "Finest Hour" would be played during plot climax and "Never Gonna Be the Same Again" would open the film and play during the plot resolution. There are two popular versions of the song, "Never Gonna Be The Same Again", Valentine's live performance on-camera version and Lori Ruso's off-camera version which opens the film.

Box office competition against Teen Witch was tremendous - Field of Dreams, starring Kevin Costner and Pet Sematary, written by Stephen King, were released on April 21, 1989, two days prior to the release of Teen Witch. Teen Witch flopped at the box office, but has since become a cult classic. The Teen Witch phenomena is fueled with regular television re-broadcasts, annual inclusion on ABC's 13 Nights of Halloween and midnight theater presentations where attendees dress in 1980s in fashion and singalong with the soundtrack.[37]

Sunset Heat (alternate title: Midnight Heat 1992): Valentine played the part of Holly in John Nicolella's 1992 feature film, Sunset Heat, starring Michael Paré, Adam Ant and Dennis Hopper.[38]

Skins (alternate title: Gang Boys 1994): Starring, Wings Hauser, Linda Blair and Cole Hauser, credited as Valentine Leone for her part in Dream Sex Sequence.

The Lesson (2000): a short drama, filmed in black and white, with Valentine playing the part of Angela, starring Cindy Valentine, Tracy Metro and Corbin Timbrook.

Bruco (2005): A feature-length film, written and directed by Antonio D'Alfonso, starring Frank A. Caruso, Jennifer Dale and Cindy Valentine.

The Gentleman (2007): Directed by Joe Valenti, starring Jon Doscher, Rachael Robbins and Monica Leigh, Valentine was cast as Stacy.[39]

Lisa Loeb Songwriting: Just Like You (2008): Valentine is the segment hosts for this documentary which features Lisa Loeb spending a day with a girl's fourth grade class composing a song. Starring Cindy Valentine, Lisa Loeb and Athena Reich. Directed by Joe Valenti.[18]

On the Beat (2009): Guest host for Time Warner's New York City local interest program On the Beat.[40]

The Great Chameleon (2012): Directed by Goran Kalezic, Valentine plays the part of Luisa, starring Victor Altomare, Stacy Keach and Robert Davi.[19]

Soundtrack

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Film
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Cindy Valentine Soundtrack
Year Film Title Capacity Composition Credit Notes
1989 Teen Witch Song Writer Performer "Finest Hour"
"Never Gonna be the Same Again"		 C. Valentine MGM
Trans World Entertainment
1990 Repossessed Song Writer Performer "Repossessed" Charles Fox, C. Valentine Carolco Pictures
1991 Mannequin Two: On the Move Song Writer Performer "Pick Up the Pieces (To My Heart)" T. Green, C. Valentine HBO
1997 Another 9 1/2 Weeks Song Writer Performer "Please" D. Meissinger, C. Valentine Trimark Pictures
2000 Ruth Composer, Sound
Executive producer		 Music and Score C. Valentine Coyote Productions
2002 Just Can't Get Enough Song Writer Performer "Pick Up the Pieces (To My Heart)" T. Green, C. Valentine HBO
BackFlash Original Music Composer C. Wurtz, C. Valentine Paragon Film Group
2003 Hellborn
(Asylum of the Damned)		 Composer Original Score S. Bauman and C. Valentine Paragon Film Group
Souvenir Views Composer Original Music L. Gallo, C. Valentine, S. Plant Izar Productions Inc.
2005 Remedy Song Writer Performer "I Swear"
"Change"
"We All Fall Down"		 C. Bradford, C. Valentine
S. Bauman, C. Valentine
C. Valentine		 Arthur J. Nascarella
Christian Maelen
Jon Doscher
Bruco Composer "Doomed"
"A Long Road"		 C. Valentine Antonio D'Alfonso
The Bartender Song Writer Performer "Say a Prayer"
"The Peaceful Chant"		 C. Valentine Goran Kalezic [41]
2007 The Gentleman Music Supervisor — Music: Jonathan Brodi Starline Films
2008 4Chosen: The Documentary Song Writer Performer "No Justice, No Piece"
featuring Apocolips		 C.Valentine Garden State Film Festival
Best Documentary Short [17]
2012 Antigone Composer Original Music C. Valentine Antonio D'Alfonso
Television
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Producer

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Advocacy

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  • Diabetes Foundation
  • North Shore Animal Hospital

References

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  1. ^ "Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d "Cindy Valentine Biography". ArtistsDirect. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  3. ^ "France Joli". Billboard. 1979. Retrieved 31 October 2012. Billboard #15 (Dance Megamix - 16 weeks) and #43 Adult Contemporary..
  4. ^ "CBS Canada signs Cindy Valentine". Library and Archives Canada. 1984. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  5. ^ "Album Insert". Pickup The Pieces (To My Heart) (LP Album). Cindy Valentine. US: Arista. 1989. ADI-9857.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ a b c d e "Cindy Valentine". Awards. AllMusic. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Show Off". AllMusic. 1990. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Album Insert". Nightwalkin (LP Album). Alisha. US: RCA. 1987. 5248-1-R.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ a b "Album Insert". Hear What I Say (LP Album). C. C. Catch. London: PolyGram - Metronome. 1989. 841609-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ a b "Album Insert". Midnight Hour (CD Maxi Single). C. C. Catch. Germany: PolyGram - Metronome. 1989. 873 586-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ a b "Spillin' the Beans". Allmusic. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  12. ^ "Another 9 1/2 Weeks". Discogs.com. 1997. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  13. ^ Valentine, Cindy (31 July 2013). "Songwriter/Composer: VALENTINE CINDY". Broadcast Music Inc. Repertoire. CAE/IPI #: 138199351: 5.
  14. ^ "Cindy Valentine arrives at the 53rd Grammy Awards in Los Angeles". UPI.com. 13 February 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  15. ^ "World's Worst Dressed". People. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  16. ^ "Celebrity Fashion and Beauty". Grammys 2013: Beyoncé, Florence Welch: Best & Worst dressed. Digital Spy. 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013. Worst: Canadian singer Cindy Valentine wore a bizarre ringmaster style outfit on the red carpet at the 55th annual Grammy Awards, LA.
  17. ^ a b "2008 Festival Awards". 4 Chosen: The Documentary. Garden State Film Festival. 2008. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  18. ^ a b "Lisa Loeb Songwriting: Just Like You". On the Beat Time Warner Cable. 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  19. ^ a b "The Great Chameleon". CinemaMontreal. 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  20. ^ "Congratulations to Valentine Cindy Leone on her new single "Le Derrière"". Metropolis Artists Agency. 21 January 2013. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  21. ^ "Charts: Most Added Dance/Crossover Tracks". DJ Times. November 2013. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013. "Wicked Ways" debut Most Added Dance/Crossover Tracks #3 ()10-21-2013
  22. ^ "DJ Times National Club Charts: National Dance/Crossover Chart". Wicked Ways. DJ Times Magazine. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  23. ^ "DJ Times National Club Charts". National Dance/Crossover Chart. DJ Times. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  24. ^ "Album Insert". Don't Turn Your Back On Love (Vinyl Single). Kristin Baio. USA: A&M Records. 1988. VE-7011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ^ "Album Insert". Hot Latin Lover (Vinyl Single). Jessica Zayno. US: Autograph Records. 1989. ARMS-002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ a b "Teen Witch the Musical: Artists". Caption Records / Studio City Sound. Archived from the original on 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  27. ^ Boom at AllMusic
  28. ^ "Emily Perry Interview, Released New Single Called "Walk in Silence"". Soundigest. 2018-02-14. Archived from the original on 2018-04-08. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  29. ^ "Dance Songs: Top Dance Music Chart". Billboard. 2017-11-11. Archived from the original on 2018-04-04. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  30. ^ Walk In Silence at AllMusic
  31. ^ White, Tyler (2017-12-26). "Emily Perry's Mixology Lab" (PDF). Grab Magazine. Chicago, Illinois: Grabbys, LLC. pp. 32–33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-04-12. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
  32. ^ "Dance Songs: Top Dance Music Chart". Billboard. 2018-05-05. Archived from the original on 2018-05-09. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  33. ^ Summer On Lock at AllMusic
  34. ^ "Dance Songs: Top Dance Music Chart". Billboard. 2018-09-08. Archived from the original on 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  35. ^ "The Pink Chiquitas (1986)". Rotten Tomatoes. 1986. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  36. ^ "Drop-Out Mother". Rotten Tomatoes. 1988. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  37. ^ Wieselman, Jarett (7 February 2011). "Happy Birthday to the Most Popular Girl". The New York Post. Archived from the original on 29 January 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012. And while everyone born after 1999 thinks of star Robyn Lively as Blake's older sister, those in the know are hep to the fact that Robyn is not only the Most Popular Girl, but also the best/worst dressed witch in the history of teen cinema.
  38. ^ "Acting Credits". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 1992. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  39. ^ "The Gentleman". Movies, Actors and Actresses DBMovie.net. 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2013.[permanent dead link]
  40. ^ "Cristina Fontanelli: "On The Beat"". On the Beat Time Warner Cable. 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  41. ^ "The Bartender" (in French). International du Court Mertrage. 2005. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
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