Joe Esposito (singer)
Encyclopedia
Joe Esposito is a Grammy winning American
singer/songwriter
whose career spans from the 1970s to the present day. Esposito's songs have been recorded by Donna Summer
, Aretha Franklin
, Labelle
, and Stephen Stills
and others.
, best known for their collaboration with Donna Summer
on "Heaven Knows" and "Bad Girls
". Giorgio Moroder
asked Esposito to collaborate on his 1982s "Solitary Man" project which became Esposito's first solo album. In the 1980s, he's best known for his performances of the hit songs "Lady, Lady, Lady
" from the "Solitary Man" album and 1983 film Flashdance
. Esposito had originally recorded the title track "Flashdance... What a Feeling
" then Irene Cara was brought in to record, since it would be from a woman's perspective. "You're the Best
" is from the 1984 film The Karate Kid. Also Esposito supplied vocals on Brenda Russell
's 1988 "Piano in the Dark", as well as a duet with Laura Branigan
on "Come Into My Life" from The Coming to America soundtrack (1988). Esposito released his solo debut in 1982.
Esposito is the father of Mike Esposito
, who has pitched for Major League Baseball
's Colorado Rockies
.
."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer/songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
whose career spans from the 1970s to the present day. Esposito's songs have been recorded by Donna Summer
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
, Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, Labelle
Labelle
Labelle is an American all female singing group who were a popular vocal group of the 1960s and 1970s. The group was formed after the disbanding of two rival girl groups in the Philadelphia/Trenton areas, the Ordettes and the Del-Capris, forming as a new version of the former group, later changing...
, and Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
Stephen Arthur Stills is an American guitarist and singer/songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash . He has performed on a professional level in several other bands as well as maintaining a solo career at the same time...
and others.
Biography
Esposito was a member of the band Brooklyn DreamsBrooklyn Dreams (group)
The Brooklyn Dreams was a successful singing group of the late 1970s and early 1980s mixing R&B harmonies with contemporary dance/disco music and best-known for a number of collaborations with singer Donna Summer. The band consisted of Joe "Bean" Esposito, Eddie Hokenson and Bruce Sudano...
, best known for their collaboration with Donna Summer
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
on "Heaven Knows" and "Bad Girls
Bad Girls (song)
"Bad Girls" is a 1979 single released by American singer Donna Summer, co-written by Summer and the Brooklyn Dreams. The inspiration for her to write the song came after one of her assistants was offended by a police officer who thought she was a street prostitute.A rough version of the song had...
". Giorgio Moroder
Giorgio Moroder
Hansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
asked Esposito to collaborate on his 1982s "Solitary Man" project which became Esposito's first solo album. In the 1980s, he's best known for his performances of the hit songs "Lady, Lady, Lady
Flashdance (soundtrack)
-Chart positions:AlbumSingles-References:...
" from the "Solitary Man" album and 1983 film Flashdance
Flashdance (soundtrack)
-Chart positions:AlbumSingles-References:...
. Esposito had originally recorded the title track "Flashdance... What a Feeling
Flashdance... What a Feeling
"Flashdance... What a Feeling" is a song from the 1983 film Flashdance, written by Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey, and Irene Cara, and performed by Cara. Despite the title, the word "Flashdance" is never used in the lyrics; however, the line "In a flash, take a hold of my heart" refers to the...
" then Irene Cara was brought in to record, since it would be from a woman's perspective. "You're the Best
You're the Best
"You're the Best" is a song performed by Joe Esposito and written by Bill Conti and Allee Willis, which came to prominence as the music to the All-Valley Karate Championships montage in the 1984 movie The Karate Kid in which the protagonist, Daniel LaRusso , proves a surprisingly formidable...
" is from the 1984 film The Karate Kid. Also Esposito supplied vocals on Brenda Russell
Brenda Russell
Brenda Russell is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter and keyboardist. Known for her eclectic musical style, her recordings have encompassed several different genres, including pop, soul, dance, jazz and adult contemporary...
's 1988 "Piano in the Dark", as well as a duet with Laura Branigan
Laura Branigan
Laura Ann Branigan was an American singer-songwriter and actress of Italian and Irish ancestry. She is best known in the United States for her 1982 Platinum-certified hit "Gloria" and in Europe for the number-one single "Self Control"...
on "Come Into My Life" from The Coming to America soundtrack (1988). Esposito released his solo debut in 1982.
Esposito is the father of Mike Esposito
Mike Esposito (baseball)
Michael Anthony Esposito is a Major League baseball starting pitcher in the Colorado Rockies organization...
, who has pitched for Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
's Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
Grammy nominations
- 1984 FlashdanceFlashdance (soundtrack)-Chart positions:AlbumSingles-References:...
, Album of the year. - 1984 Staying Alive, Best Motion Picture sound track.
- 1988 Piano in the DarkPiano in the Dark"Piano In The Dark" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Brenda Russell . It was the first single to be taken from Russell's 1988 album, Get Here.-Song Information:...
, Brenda RussellBrenda RussellBrenda Russell is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter and keyboardist. Known for her eclectic musical style, her recordings have encompassed several different genres, including pop, soul, dance, jazz and adult contemporary...
- Joe "Bean" Esposito, Best Pop Duo.
Soundtrack Discography
- American Hot WaxAmerican Hot WaxAmerican Hot Wax is a 1978 biopic film directed by Floyd Mutrux and written by John Kaye telling the story of Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed, who was instrumental in introducing and popularizing rock 'n' roll in the 1950s...
(1978) Kenny Vance on lead vocals with Brooklyn Dreams performing as The Planotones on backup. - FoxesFoxes (soundtrack)Foxes is the soundtrack to the 1980 film of the same name, starring Jodie Foster, Scott Baio, Sally Kellerman, Randy Quaid as well as The Runaways' lead singer Cherie Currie...
(1980) Lyrics: "Shake It" performed by the Brooklyn DreamsBrooklyn Dreams (group)The Brooklyn Dreams was a successful singing group of the late 1970s and early 1980s mixing R&B harmonies with contemporary dance/disco music and best-known for a number of collaborations with singer Donna Summer. The band consisted of Joe "Bean" Esposito, Eddie Hokenson and Bruce Sudano... - Zapped!Zapped!Zapped! is a 1982 teen sex comedy starring Scott Baio as a teen who acquires telekinetic powers. The film is regarded as a parody of Carrie but also includes spoofs of The Exorcist, Taxi Driver, Star Trek and the 1969 Kurt Russell film The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.-Cast:Baio stars as Barney...
(1982) performer: "Updikes Theme" - Joe "Bean" Esposito. - FlashdanceFlashdance (soundtrack)-Chart positions:AlbumSingles-References:...
(1983) performer: "Lady, Lady, Lady" - Joe "Bean" Esposito. - Staying Alive (1983) Lyrics: "Hope We Never Change", "Moody Girl", "I'm Never Gonna Give You Up", "The Winning End".
- The Karate Kid (1984) performer: "You're the BestYou're the Best"You're the Best" is a song performed by Joe Esposito and written by Bill Conti and Allee Willis, which came to prominence as the music to the All-Valley Karate Championships montage in the 1984 movie The Karate Kid in which the protagonist, Daniel LaRusso , proves a surprisingly formidable...
" - Joe "Bean" Esposito. - LovelinesLovelinesLovelines is a 1989 album released by The Carpenters.In 1989, Richard Carpenter decided to release an album of unreleased Carpenters tracks along with selected solo tracks by his sister, Karen Carpenter ....
(1984) performer: "A Time Like This Again" - Joe "Bean " Esposito. - Thief of HeartsThief of HeartsThief of Hearts is a 1984 film produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. It was written and directed by Douglas Day Stewart.-Plot:A burglar, Scott Muller , teams up with Buddy Calamara , a valet in a high society restaurant. While Buddy keeps an eye on a rich couple, Scott robs the couple's home...
(1984) performer: "Just Imagine (Way Beyond Fear) - Joe "Bean" Esposito. - 3:15 - The Moment of Truth (1986) performer: - Joe "Bean" Esposito
- Coming to AmericaComing to AmericaComing to America is a 1988 comedy film directed by John Landis. The screenplay was written by David Sheffield and Barry W. Blaustein, from a story by Eddie Murphy, who also stars in the film. Murphy plays an African prince, who heads to the United States in hopes of finding a woman he can marry...
(1988) performer "Come into My LifeCome into My Life (song)"Come into My Life" is a song recorded in 1988 as a duet between singers Laura Branigan and Joe Esposito. It was featured in the film Coming to America and was released in the United States as a single from the film's original soundtrack...
" - Laura BraniganLaura BraniganLaura Ann Branigan was an American singer-songwriter and actress of Italian and Irish ancestry. She is best known in the United States for her 1982 Platinum-certified hit "Gloria" and in Europe for the number-one single "Self Control"...
and Joe Esposito
Discography
- 1983 Solitary Man, Giorgio Moroder and Joe Esposito produced by Giorgio MoroderGiorgio MoroderHansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
, Oasis Records. - 1987 Joe, Bruce and Second Ave, produced by Michael OmartianMichael OmartianMichael Omartian is an Armenian-American singer-songwriter, keyboardist, and music producer. He has been a participant in over 350,000,000 albums and CD’s sold worldwide, as a producer, arranger, artist or musician, during a career that has spanned over 38 years...
, EMI America. - 1996 Treated and ReleasedTreated and ReleasedTreated and Released is Joe "Bean" Esposito's third R&B solo album. Esposito is best known as the lead singer of the Brooklyn Dreams. They scored a Billboard # 2 hit with "Heaven Knows", a duet with Donna Summer.-Solo Artist:...
, produced by Joe Esposito, Pool Party Records. - 2011 (TBA)
Current work
Esposito lives in Las Vegas where he performs as a vocalist at various casino hotels. Esposito is currently writing for film and television. Esposito is still in demand for studio vocal work. During the early 1990s he and Eddy Hokenson (of Brooklyn Dreams) toured with Kenny Vance and the Planotones, a vocal group created for the movie, "American Hot WaxAmerican Hot Wax
American Hot Wax is a 1978 biopic film directed by Floyd Mutrux and written by John Kaye telling the story of Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed, who was instrumental in introducing and popularizing rock 'n' roll in the 1950s...
."
See also
- Brooklyn DreamsBrooklyn Dreams (group)The Brooklyn Dreams was a successful singing group of the late 1970s and early 1980s mixing R&B harmonies with contemporary dance/disco music and best-known for a number of collaborations with singer Donna Summer. The band consisted of Joe "Bean" Esposito, Eddie Hokenson and Bruce Sudano...
- Donna SummerDonna SummerLaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
- Bruce SudanoBruce SudanoBruce Charles Sudano is a singer/songwriter/producer best known for his collaboration with and marriage to singer Donna Summer, and the group he co-founded, Brooklyn Dreams....
- Alive N Kickin'Alive N Kickin'Alive N Kickin’ is a Brooklyn band, led by singers Pepe Cardona and Sandy Toder, known mainly for their 1970 hit single "Tighter, Tighter" which reached #7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart...
- The MysticsThe MysticsThe Mystics is an American rock and roll group that began in Brooklyn, New York, in the late 1950s. The group was known as The Overons, a quintet that, when signed to Laurie Records, consisted of Phil Cracolici , Albee Cracolici , George Galfo , Bob Ferrante , and Al Contrera...
- Laura BraniganLaura BraniganLaura Ann Branigan was an American singer-songwriter and actress of Italian and Irish ancestry. She is best known in the United States for her 1982 Platinum-certified hit "Gloria" and in Europe for the number-one single "Self Control"...
External links
- [ Joe Esposito] at Allmusic
- Brooklyn Dreams Official website