fbpx
Wikipedia

Birtha (band)

January 06, 2023

Birtha was an American all-female rock band of the early 1970s. Formed in Los Angeles, the band consisted of Shele Pinizzotto (guitar), Rosemary Butler (bass), Sherry Hagler (keyboards), and Olivia "Liver" Favela (drums).[1] Each of the band members contributed lead vocals and harmonies.

Biography

Pinizzotto, Butler, and Hagler grew up in Los Angeles and Orange County and played together in bands during their high school years. Both Pinizzotto and Butler were in the Fullerton girl band named The Ladybirds. Afterwards, they formed the group Birtha.[2] They were joined by Favela in 1968, at which time the group began playing clubs along the West Coast from California to Alaska. Over the next three years, Birtha worked on improving their craft and by 1971 they started to write their own material. Most of the band's songs were composed by members of the group, but there were occasional outside songwriting contributions, from Mark Wickman and Gabriel Mekler. The band was managed by Pinizzotto's brother, Michael.[3]

Birtha signed a record deal with Dunhill Records in 1972 and released their debut self-titled album, produced by Mekler, later that year. After the album's release, Birtha toured the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The group achieved some notoriety when, during a UK tour with The Kinks, publicity flyers for the shows stated, "Birtha has balls".[4] In 1972 they appeared on the UK television music show, 'The Old Grey Whistle Test.' When Birtha made return visits to Los Angeles, they would often play Whisky a Go Go and The Troubadour, as well as a club in Glendale called The Sopwith Camel.

In 1973, Birtha released their second album, Can't Stop the Madness, produced by Christopher Huston. The band continued touring and was on the road for more than 250 days a year, performing with such acts as Fleetwood Mac, Alice Cooper, Poco, Black Oak Arkansas, Cheech & Chong, B.B. King, Three Dog Night, James Gang, and more. The band broke up in 1975.[2]

The band's song "Too Much Woman for a Hen Pecked Man" was featured in the soundtrack of the 2013 Chris A. Jiménez-directed Spanish film, "Perdedores Natos" ("Natural Born Losers").[5]

Guitarist Michele "Shele" Pinizzotto (born on April 2, 1947 in Artesia, California) died on February 4, 2014, aged 66.[3]

Discography

Studio albums

  • Birtha (1972), single "Free Spirit"[6]
  • Can't Stop the Madness (1973)

References

  1. ^ Burns, Kristine Helen (2002). Women and Music in America Since 1900: An Encyclopedia. Westport, Conn.: Oryx (Greenwood Publishing Group). p. 37. ISBN 978-1573563086.
  2. ^ a b Pavletich, Aida (1982). Sirens of Song. New York: Da Capo Press. p. 139. ISBN 978-0306801624.
  3. ^ a b "Obituary: Michele Urquhart (Pinizzotto) 1947-2014". The Sheet. February 14, 2014.
  4. ^ Larkin, Colin (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Seventies Music. London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 41. ISBN 978-0851127279.
  5. ^ IMDb page for Natural Born Losers
  6. ^ Is This Your Life?: Images of Women in the Media - Page 159 Josephine King, Mary Stott - 1977 - 'Free Spirit' by Michele Pinizzotto

External links

January 06, 2023
birtha, band, birtha, american, female, rock, band, early, 1970s, formed, angeles, band, consisted, shele, pinizzotto, guitar, rosemary, butler, bass, sherry, hagler, keyboards, olivia, liver, favela, drums, each, band, members, contributed, lead, vocals, harm. Birtha was an American all female rock band of the early 1970s Formed in Los Angeles the band consisted of Shele Pinizzotto guitar Rosemary Butler bass Sherry Hagler keyboards and Olivia Liver Favela drums 1 Each of the band members contributed lead vocals and harmonies Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 2 1 Studio albums 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditPinizzotto Butler and Hagler grew up in Los Angeles and Orange County and played together in bands during their high school years Both Pinizzotto and Butler were in the Fullerton girl band named The Ladybirds Afterwards they formed the group Birtha 2 They were joined by Favela in 1968 at which time the group began playing clubs along the West Coast from California to Alaska Over the next three years Birtha worked on improving their craft and by 1971 they started to write their own material Most of the band s songs were composed by members of the group but there were occasional outside songwriting contributions from Mark Wickman and Gabriel Mekler The band was managed by Pinizzotto s brother Michael 3 Birtha signed a record deal with Dunhill Records in 1972 and released their debut self titled album produced by Mekler later that year After the album s release Birtha toured the U S Canada and Europe The group achieved some notoriety when during a UK tour with The Kinks publicity flyers for the shows stated Birtha has balls 4 In 1972 they appeared on the UK television music show The Old Grey Whistle Test When Birtha made return visits to Los Angeles they would often play Whisky a Go Go and The Troubadour as well as a club in Glendale called The Sopwith Camel In 1973 Birtha released their second album Can t Stop the Madness produced by Christopher Huston The band continued touring and was on the road for more than 250 days a year performing with such acts as Fleetwood Mac Alice Cooper Poco Black Oak Arkansas Cheech amp Chong B B King Three Dog Night James Gang and more The band broke up in 1975 2 The band s song Too Much Woman for a Hen Pecked Man was featured in the soundtrack of the 2013 Chris A Jimenez directed Spanish film Perdedores Natos Natural Born Losers 5 Guitarist Michele Shele Pinizzotto born on April 2 1947 in Artesia California died on February 4 2014 aged 66 3 Discography EditStudio albums Edit Birtha 1972 single Free Spirit 6 Can t Stop the Madness 1973 References Edit Burns Kristine Helen 2002 Women and Music in America Since 1900 An Encyclopedia Westport Conn Oryx Greenwood Publishing Group p 37 ISBN 978 1573563086 a b Pavletich Aida 1982 Sirens of Song New York Da Capo Press p 139 ISBN 978 0306801624 a b Obituary Michele Urquhart Pinizzotto 1947 2014 The Sheet February 14 2014 Larkin Colin 1993 The Guinness Who s Who of Seventies Music London Guinness World Records Limited p 41 ISBN 978 0851127279 IMDb page for Natural Born Losers Is This Your Life Images of Women in the Media Page 159 Josephine King Mary Stott 1977 Free Spirit by Michele PinizzottoExternal links EditBirtha discography at Discogs Birtha Rocks Usurped a fansite Video on YouTube Performing Free Spirit on Old Grey Whistle Test Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Birtha band amp oldid 1126045513, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.