Pat DiNizio

Infobox Musical artist


Img_size = 150 |
Name = Pat DiNizio
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Pat DiNizio
Born = Birth date|1955|10|12|df=yes
Died =
Origin =
Instrument = Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals
Genre = Rock, Power pop,
Occupation = Singer-songwriter, Musician,
Years_active = 1980-present
Label = Koch Enigma Capitol d-tone WB Records Eastwest Records RCA
Associated_acts = The Smithereens
URL = [http://www.patdinizio.com Patdinizio.com]
Notable_instruments =

Pat DiNizio (born October 12 1955) is the lead singer and songwriter for the band The Smithereens. DiNizio, of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, formed The Smithereens in 1980 with Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken and Mike Mesaros, from Carteret, New Jersey. [Cahillane, Kevin. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9806E7DC143BF933A25753C1A9629C8B63 "Not Fade Away: The Smithereens' Monument to Persistence"] , "The New York Times", October 10, 2004. Accessed November 3, 2007. "The band formed in 1980 when three Carteret High School graduates (class of 1975) and childhood friends (Mr. Babjak, Dennis Diken on drums and Mike Mesaros on bass) met Pat DiNizio, a Scotch Plains singer-songwriter-garbage man."]

After releasing his first solo album, "Sounds and Songs", he released an album called "This is Pat DiNizio" comprised of covers rearranged for vocal and piano. In 2007, he released his third solo album, "Pat DiNizio".

In 2000, DiNizio made an unsuccessful run for the New Jersey seat of the United States Senate, running on the Reform Party ticket. The campaign was chronicled in the film "Mr. Smithereen Goes to Washington." [ [http://www.242inc.com/mr_smithereen.html 242 Productions, Inc ] ]

The same year, he launched the "Living Room Tour," a five-month jaunt where he played solo request-only acoustic shows at the homes of fans. The tour was a success, and he still allows bookings for living room shows for a nominal fee. [ [http://www.patdinizio.com/lrc.php Pat DiNizio - Living Room Concerts ] ]

In 2001, he was one of the first musicians to throw his support behind XM Satellite Radio, becoming host and program director for the XM Unsigned station.

In 2006, he was the focus of a reality special on ESPN2 called "7th Inning Stretch." The special focused on DiNizio's recovery from a "life-threatening and very debilitating nervous disorder" [ [http://www.patdinizio.com/article.php?AID=315 Pat DiNizio ] ] by attempting to try out for minor-league baseball team the Somerset Patriots.

Discography

Solo discography

*Songs and Sounds, 1997 (Koch Records)
*This is Pat DiNizio, 2006 (Koch Records)
*Pat DiNizio, 2007 (Eastwest records/Warner Brother Records)

With The Smithereens

*"Girls About Town", 1980 (d-tone)
*"Beauty and Sadness", 1983 (Little Ricky Records/Capitol)
*"Especially for You", 1986 (Enigma/Capitol)
*"Green Thoughts", 1988 (Enigma/Capitol)
*" Smithereens 11", 1989 (Enigma/Capitol)
*"Blow Up", 1991 (Capitol)
*"A Date with the Smithereens", 1994 (BMG/Excelsior)
*"God Save the Smithereens", 1999 (Velvel/Koch Entertainment)
*"Meet the Smithereens", 2007 (Koch) (A tribute to The Beatles, covering the entire 'Meet The Beatles' album.)
*"Live in Concert! Greatest Hits and More", 2008 (Koch)
*"B-Sides the Beatles", 2008 ( [Koch Entertainment|Koch] ) (Another compilation of Beatles covers, this time including only "flip-sides" of singles)

Filmography

Filmography

*Singles, 1992 Actor
*Mr. Smithereen Goes to Washington, 2001, Actor
*King Leisure S.O.B. (Straight Outta The 'Burbs), 2004, Writer/Director/Actor
*Dead Horse, 2004, Actor/Producer/Composer

For TV

*7TH Inning Stretch, 2006, Actor/Director/Writer/Producer

References

External links

* http://hawkfan.com/Smithereens/
* http://www.patdinizio.com