Cindy Valentine

Cindy Valentine (Valentine Cinzia Leone) is an Italian born composer, producer 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 1987 and 1989 with "Secret Rendez-Vous" and "Pick Up the Pieces (To My Heart)", both songs co-written by Tony Green and Cindy Valentine. 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

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.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. Valentine signed with Green as her producer under the CBS Columbia Records label in 1984. 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.

Career

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, in addition to song writing on her records. After, "Secret Rendez-vous" and "Pickup The Pieces (To My Heart)" made the Billboard charts, Alisha (RCA), Lori Ruso (Capitol) and European singer C. C. Catch (Polygram) recorded songs composed by Valentine. 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.

In addition to various acting roles, 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, and the television series As the World Turns and Sirens.

• Broadcast Music, Inc.s author's database credits Valentine with 107 (ASCAP) published works as of October 30, 2012.
• Valentine is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Grammy Awards as of 2009.
• In 2013, Valentine made several worst dressed lists at the red carpet appearance of the 55th annual Grammys in a rock-star styled ringleader's outfit.
• In many recent instances, Valentine is credited as Valentine Leone.

Since 2000, Valentine has involved herself with horror, documentary and art genre films, such as the critically acclaimed 4Chosen: The Documentary (2008) 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. Valentine appears as Luisa in the comedy The Great Chameleon (2012), starring Stacy Keach and Robert Davi.

Discography

Rock and Roll Heart Attack

Valentine's first album in 1984, Rock & Roll Heart Attack, 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 songs "Lust" with Aubrey Singer and Lorne Ould,and "Make it Through The Night", and was the solo 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

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. An additional single, "In Your Midnight Hour", was also released from the Secret Rendez-vous album in 1987.

"Pickup the Pieces (To My Heart)"

"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.

• "Pickup the Pieces (To My Heart)" was featured in the 1991 film Mannequin Two: On the Move and HBO's Just Can't Get Enough (2002).

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

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".

Valentine's World Of Music

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.

"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.
• #22 on DJ Times National Club Charts - December 13, 2013.
• #15 on DJ Times National Dance/Crossover Chart January 16, 2014.
• A video for "Wicked Ways" will be shot in late November 2013 and released in 2014.

Compositions released by other artists

Advocacy

• Diabetes Foundation
• North Shore Animal Hospital