Fast Facts:
Name: Vivienne Patricia Scialfa
Nickname: Patti, Red
Birthday: July 29, 1953
Marital Status: Married to Bruce Springsteen
Family: Patti and Bruce have 3 children. Sons Evan James and Sam Ryan
and daughter Jessica Rae.
Instruments: guitar, vocals, keyboards
Solo Projects: Rumble Doll and
23rd Street Lullaby
Biography:
Vivienne Patricia Scialfa was born on July 29, 1953 in Deal (New Jersey/ USA). Patti's mother is Irish and as Scialfa
is an Italian name, her father has, most likely, some Italian roots.
At the age of 18, Patti began to sing and play in bands around the Jersey Shore music scene. In the early 1980's she was even a
brief member (backup singer) of Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes.
Patti first auditioned for The E-Street Band when she was just seventeen, but Bruce told her to stay in school and finish before taking on another job.
She finished highschool, but stayed in touch with the Jersey Shore music.
In 1984 Bruce asked her for an audition for a spot in the 1984 E-Street Band line up who were to embark
on a worldwide tour.
One night, he invited her to play an acoustic set with him and Nils Lofgren. Afterwards he asked her to meet the band at
the soundstage near Philadelphia, where they were rehearsing for the BITUSA tour. After only three days Bruce sent Patti
back home. However, the very same night Bruce phoned her and asked if she liked to meet him in St. Paul.
Patti joined the E-Street Band on June 29 1984 (as the first woman) just a mere 3 days before the start of the "Born in the USA" tour.
She started as a backup singer but later also started playing the guitar.
"The first time I saw Bruce he was opening up for Jethro Tull, before he had a record deal.
I went to see Bruce because I was singing in
that area with different bands and I wanted to get in a good rock band and he had the best rock band."
It's been said that Patti had a longtime crush on Bruce when she joined the band.
Bruce's 1985 marriage to Julianne Philips led to a (finalized) divorce in 1989 after pictures of him and
Patti sharing an intimate moment
on a balcony in Rome during the Tunnel Of Love tour became public.
On July 25th 1990 Bruce and Patti became parents for the first time to son Evan James Springsteen.
On June 8th the following year (1991) Bruce and Patti married in a ceremony at their Beverly Hills home.
Bruce and Patti became parents for the second time on December 30th, 1991 when Patti gave birth to
daughter Jessica Rae Springsteen.
Little Steven announced the birth to millions of viewers during his New Years Eve performance on
Time Square.
Their third child, son Sam Ryan Springsteen was born on January 5th, 1994.
In the late 1970's, 1980's and the 1990's Patti sang background vocals on different albums for
different artists. She can be heard amongst others, on Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes - "Love is a Sacrifice" (1980);
Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes - "Reach Up and Touch the Sky" (1981);
Rolling Stones - "Dirty Work" (1986);
Keith Richards - "Talk Is Cheap" (1988);
Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers - "American Babylon" (1995);
Emmylou Harris "Red Dirt Girl" (1999).
Around 1982 Patti signed a record deal with Columbia Records. She was signed before joining The E-Street Band and marrying Bruce,
so she received a record deal purely on her own strength and talent. So unlike what some people
would like others to belief, Patti did not get a record deal because she's married to Bruce.
It can be said though, that Bruce's influence in the record business might have helped Patti in
assembling a great production team for her first album.
In 1993 Patti released the Mike Campbell produced album "Rumble Doll"
featuring 12 songs all written by Patti.
Critics called it a very good album but with only around 55000 records sold,
it was a commercial flop.
Patti has been a part of every Bruce Springsteen tour since the 1984-1985 Born In The USA Tour.
On April 2nd 2004 rumors about Patti's second album once again surfaced.
On March 18th 2004 Patti gave a performance of the yet to be released album in front of
trivia contest winners. The appearance would later be televised.
The album, titled "23rd Street Lullaby" was released
on June 15th 2004. The album contains 12 original songs written by Patti. A few of the songs had
been performed live before the release of the album. "Rose" was performed for the first time at
the 2000 Christmas shows while "Love (Stand Up" saw its debut during the 2001 Christmas shows.
"I'm A Big Girl Now" and "Romeo" could previously be found on the "No Looking Back" soundtrack.
The release of "23rd Street Lullaby" was followed by an extensive promotion campaign which included
tv appearances on the Conan O'Brien Show, David Letterman and The Today Show amongst many others.
Patti's first solo tour consisted of 5 shows which started on September 15th in Asbury Park and finished
in LA at the Roxy on September 25th 2004. Bruce joined Patti at 3 of the 5 shows and played guitar
and backing vocals on 2 songs.
No European tour has been announced although I for one would love to get the chance to see Patti
perform live.
Patti's last onstage performances were during the "Vote For Change" shows.
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