Kay Hanley
Encyclopedia
Kathleen Marie Hanley is an American alternative rock
musician. She is best known as the vocalist for the band Letters to Cleo
.
. She grew up diagonally across the street from Donnie
and Mark Wahlberg
. She was a member of Letters To Cleo from 1990 to 2000 (the length of the band's existence, with the exception of the 2008-2009 reunion tour). The band name was conceived by Hanley in reference to a pen pal named Cleo that she had when she was younger. In 1997, she began working on other projects, beginning with a role in the Boston Rock Opera's performance of Jesus Christ Superstar
as Mary Magdalene
.
In 1999, Hanley made a cameo as herself in the film 10 Things I Hate About You
, singing a cover version of Nick Lowe
's "Cruel to Be Kind
" at the movie characters' high school prom, in addition to performing "Come On" with Letters to Cleo during an earlier scene at a club. Towards the end of Letters to Cleo's career, she began performing with her husband and fellow Letters To Cleo member Michael Eisenstein outside of the band. Around the same time, she gave birth to their daughter, Zoe.
Upon the split of Letters to Cleo, Hanley embarked upon a solo career. She performed music for the Kids WB cartoon series, Generation O!
along with the rest of Letters to Cleo and provided the singing voice for Rachael Leigh Cook
's character Josie in the movie Josie and the Pussycats. In 2002, she released her first solo album, Cherry Marmalade
. That same year, she appeared on the Dropkick Murphys
/Face to Face
split cd, providing guest vocals on the original version of the Dropkick Murphys song "The Dirty Glass".
In 2003, Hanley was approached by Jun Senoue
from Sega
to co-write and perform on an original song for their upcoming entry in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, entitled Sonic Heroes
. The result was the song "Follow Me".
In 2004, Hanley released a follow up to Cherry Marmalade, The Babydoll EP. That same year, she and her husband Michael Eisenstein had their second child, Henry Aaron, the name given in honor of baseball player Hank Aaron and their love for baseball.
In August 2005, Hanley recorded a cover of Iggy Pop
's "Lust for Life" for the soundtrack of the Reese Witherspoon
film Just Like Heaven In September 2005, she appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as part of a pretaped man-on-the-street segment, singing a song about falling in love at Starbucks
.
Hanley was quite popular with fans of the New England Patriots
, as on eight straight times she had sung the National Anthem for them at Gillette Stadium
, the Patriots won. The streak came to an end as the Patriots lost on January 5, 2010 to the Baltimore Ravens
. Hanley is also very involved with the Boston based charity "Hot Stove, Cool Music," both as performer and spokesperson for the semi-annual event.
She sings the main theme song for My Friends Tigger & Pooh
, a half-hour Disney Channel TV show that premiered on Playhouse Disney on May 12, 2007 and "We Are The Care Bears" from Care Bears: Oopsy Does It!
and Care Bears To The Rescue.
On Thanksgiving Day 2007, Hanley sang a song called "Caring Changes The World" in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
on the Care Bears
Float
as self-accompanied with her same-themed electric guitar
.
In 2007-08, Hanley toured as a back-up singer with Miley Cyrus
for Hannah Montana
concerts and events.
Hanley is an object of affection for Detroit rapper Violent J (real name Joseph Bruce) of Insane Clown Posse
, who has referenced her on several releases, notably Tunnel Of Love and The Amazing Jeckel Brothers
. In 1998 Hanley threatened Bruce with legal action and a restraining order but later confirmed on an episode of the Howard Stern
radio show that they had worked everything out.
Her latest album, Weaponize, was released May 27, 2008.
As of 2010 Hanley has teamed up with musician/producer Linus of Hollywood
and formed a new band called Palmdale. Their first EP, Get Wasted, was released on March 23, 2010.
In 2011, Hanley provides vocals on the Bowling For Soup
track "I've Never Done Anything Like This" on their new album Fishin' for Woos
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
musician. She is best known as the vocalist for the band Letters to Cleo
Letters to Cleo
Letters to Cleo was an alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts perhaps best known for the 1993 single "Here & Now" from their full-length debut album Aurora Gory Alice...
.
Life and career
Hanley was born in Dorchester, MassachusettsDorchester, Massachusetts
Dorchester is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is named after the town of Dorchester in the English county of Dorset, from which Puritans emigrated and is today endearingly nicknamed "Dot" by its residents. Dorchester, including a large...
. She grew up diagonally across the street from Donnie
Donnie Wahlberg
Donald Edward "Donnie" Wahlberg, Jr. is an American singer, actor and film producer. He is a member of the popular 1980s and 1990s boy band New Kids on the Block. His work background includes music, feature films, and television...
and Mark Wahlberg
Mark Wahlberg
Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg is an American actor, film and television producer, and former rapper. He was known as Marky Mark in his earlier years, and became famous for his 1991 debut as a musician with the band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. He was named No. 1 on VH1's 40 Hottest Hotties of...
. She was a member of Letters To Cleo from 1990 to 2000 (the length of the band's existence, with the exception of the 2008-2009 reunion tour). The band name was conceived by Hanley in reference to a pen pal named Cleo that she had when she was younger. In 1997, she began working on other projects, beginning with a role in the Boston Rock Opera's performance of Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
as Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
.
In 1999, Hanley made a cameo as herself in the film 10 Things I Hate About You
10 Things I Hate about You
10 Things I Hate About You is a 1999 American teen romantic comedy film. It is directed by Gil Junger and stars Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholtz, and Larry Miller...
, singing a cover version of Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
's "Cruel to Be Kind
Cruel to Be Kind
"Cruel to Be Kind" is a 1979 single by Nick Lowe, co-written by Lowe and his former Brinsley Schwarz band-mate Ian Gomm, that peaked at #12 in both the British and US charts that summer...
" at the movie characters' high school prom, in addition to performing "Come On" with Letters to Cleo during an earlier scene at a club. Towards the end of Letters to Cleo's career, she began performing with her husband and fellow Letters To Cleo member Michael Eisenstein outside of the band. Around the same time, she gave birth to their daughter, Zoe.
Upon the split of Letters to Cleo, Hanley embarked upon a solo career. She performed music for the Kids WB cartoon series, Generation O!
Generation O!
Generation O! was an animated children's television series made by the now defunct Sunbow Entertainment, a division of Sony Wonder, with co-production provided by Wang Films in Taiwan and Ravensberger in Germany. There are also international versions of the series called "Molly O!"...
along with the rest of Letters to Cleo and provided the singing voice for Rachael Leigh Cook
Rachael Leigh Cook
Rachael Leigh Cook is an American actress, known for her role in the romantic comedy She's All That and her This is Your Brain on Drugs public service announcement.-Early life:...
's character Josie in the movie Josie and the Pussycats. In 2002, she released her first solo album, Cherry Marmalade
Cherry Marmalade
Cherry Marmalade is the first album by Kay Hanley, released in 2002 .-Track listing:#"Fall" – 4:57#"This Dreadful Life" – 4:32#"Satellite" – 4:19...
. That same year, she appeared on the Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
/Face to Face
Face to Face (punk band)
Face to Face is an American pop punk band from Victorville, California formed in 1991 by frontman Trever Keith. Originally known as "Zero Tolerance", Keith had been the only constant member of the band during their years of touring and recording albums. The group was initially signed by Dr. Strange...
split cd, providing guest vocals on the original version of the Dropkick Murphys song "The Dirty Glass".
In 2003, Hanley was approached by Jun Senoue
Jun Senoue
is a video game composer and musician from Wave Master, well known for some of his contributions in many Sonic the Hedgehog games. He is also the guitarist for the band Crush 40, which also contributes to many Sonic the Hedgehog games.-Biography:...
from Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
to co-write and perform on an original song for their upcoming entry in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, entitled Sonic Heroes
Sonic Heroes
is a 2004 platforming single-player/multiplayer video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series developed by Sonic Team USA. It is the first multiplatform title in the Sonic series, developed for Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox and released in Japan in December 2003, in North America in...
. The result was the song "Follow Me".
In 2004, Hanley released a follow up to Cherry Marmalade, The Babydoll EP. That same year, she and her husband Michael Eisenstein had their second child, Henry Aaron, the name given in honor of baseball player Hank Aaron and their love for baseball.
In August 2005, Hanley recorded a cover of Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
's "Lust for Life" for the soundtrack of the Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon
Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon , better known as Reese Witherspoon, is an American actress and film producer. Witherspoon landed her first feature role as the female lead in the film The Man in the Moon in 1991; later that year she made her television acting debut, in the cable movie Wildflower...
film Just Like Heaven In September 2005, she appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as part of a pretaped man-on-the-street segment, singing a song about falling in love at Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
.
Hanley was quite popular with fans of the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, as on eight straight times she had sung the National Anthem for them at Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, 21 miles southwest of downtown Boston and from downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It serves as the home stadium and administrative offices for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution...
, the Patriots won. The streak came to an end as the Patriots lost on January 5, 2010 to the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
. Hanley is also very involved with the Boston based charity "Hot Stove, Cool Music," both as performer and spokesperson for the semi-annual event.
She sings the main theme song for My Friends Tigger & Pooh
My Friends Tigger & Pooh
My Friends Tigger & Pooh is a computer animated television series, inspired by Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne. The television series features Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, including two new characters: a brave 6-year-old red-headed girl named Darby and her dog Buster...
, a half-hour Disney Channel TV show that premiered on Playhouse Disney on May 12, 2007 and "We Are The Care Bears" from Care Bears: Oopsy Does It!
Care Bears: Oopsy Does It!
Care Bears: Oopsy Does It! is a computer-animated film released on August 4, 2007 by Kidtoon Films. It was developed by American Greetings as part of the Care Bears' 25th anniversary, and produced by SD Entertainment...
and Care Bears To The Rescue.
On Thanksgiving Day 2007, Hanley sang a song called "Caring Changes The World" in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, often shortened to Macy's Day Parade, is an annual parade presented by Macy's. The tradition started in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States along with America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, and four years younger than...
on the Care Bears
Care Bears
The Care Bears are characters created by American Greetings in 1981 for use on greeting cards. The original artwork for the cards was painted by artist Elena Kucharik. In 1983, Kenner turned the Care Bears into plush teddy bears...
Float
Float (parade)
A float is a decorated platform, either built on a vehicle or towed behind one, which is a component of many festive parades, such as those of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the Carnival of Viareggio, the Maltese Carnival, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Key West Fantasy Fest parade, the...
as self-accompanied with her same-themed electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
.
In 2007-08, Hanley toured as a back-up singer with Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus
Miley Ray Cyrus is an American actress and pop singer-songwriter. She achieved wide fame for her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana....
for Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana is an American television series, which debuted on March 24, 2006 on the Disney Channel. The series focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real...
concerts and events.
Hanley is an object of affection for Detroit rapper Violent J (real name Joseph Bruce) of Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. The group is composed of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, who perform under the respective personas of the "wicked clowns" Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore...
, who has referenced her on several releases, notably Tunnel Of Love and The Amazing Jeckel Brothers
The Amazing Jeckel Brothers
The Amazing Jeckel Brothers is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse, released on May 25, 1999, by Island Records, in association with Psychopathic Records. Recording sessions for the album took place from 1998 to 1999. The album is the fifth Joker's Card in the...
. In 1998 Hanley threatened Bruce with legal action and a restraining order but later confirmed on an episode of the Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
radio show that they had worked everything out.
Her latest album, Weaponize, was released May 27, 2008.
As of 2010 Hanley has teamed up with musician/producer Linus of Hollywood
Linus Of Hollywood
Kevin Dotson , better known by his stage name Linus of Hollywood, is an American rock and pop singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer...
and formed a new band called Palmdale. Their first EP, Get Wasted, was released on March 23, 2010.
In 2011, Hanley provides vocals on the Bowling For Soup
Bowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup is an American pop-punk band which originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994...
track "I've Never Done Anything Like This" on their new album Fishin' for Woos
Fishin' for Woos
Fishin' for Woos is the eleventh studio album released by pop punk band Bowling for Soup. The album was released on Que-so Records/Brando Records in the United Kingdom on April 25, 2011, and worldwide on April 26, 2011.-Release:...
Discography
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Music from the Motion Picture Josie and the Pussycats Music from the Motion Picture Josie and the Pussycats Music From the Motion Picture Josie And The Pussycats is the soundtrack album for the 2001 film of the same name, starring Rachael Leigh Cook, Rosario Dawson, and Tara Reid.-Production:... |
Sony Sony , commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues.... |
| 2002 | Cherry Marmalade Cherry Marmalade Cherry Marmalade is the first album by Kay Hanley, released in 2002 .-Track listing:#"Fall" – 4:57#"This Dreadful Life" – 4:32#"Satellite" – 4:19... |
Zoe Records Zoë Records Zoë Records is an independent record label in the United States. It is a part of the Rounder Records group.Zoë predominantly distributes albums by folk rock and alternative pop artists... |
| 2003 | The Paradise - Boston, MA 5/30/03 (LIVE) | Instant Live Instant Live Instant Live is a service by Live Nation which provides for the distribution of digital live recordings of concerts and music events, available soon after a performance has ended... |
| 2004 | The Babydoll EP | Instant Live Instant Live Instant Live is a service by Live Nation which provides for the distribution of digital live recordings of concerts and music events, available soon after a performance has ended... http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6796708/a/Babydoll+EP.htm |
| The Paradise - Boston, MA 8/26/04 (LIVE) | Instant Live Instant Live Instant Live is a service by Live Nation which provides for the distribution of digital live recordings of concerts and music events, available soon after a performance has ended... |
|
| 2005 | Just Like Heaven [soundtrack] | Sony Sony , commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues.... |
| 2006 | Kay Hanley / Scamper split single CD | De Guerre/Scamper |
| 2008 | Weaponize | De Guerre |
| Featured on Bowling for Soups album; "Fishing For Woo's" - "I've Never Done Anything Like This." |
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 1999 in film The year 1999 in film involved several noteworthy events and has been called "The Year That Changed Movies". Several significant feature films, including Stanley Kubrick's final film Eyes Wide Shut, Pedro Almodóvar's first Oscar-winning film All About My Mother, science fiction The Matrix, Deep... |
10 Things I Hate About You 10 Things I Hate about You 10 Things I Hate About You is a 1999 American teen romantic comedy film. It is directed by Gil Junger and stars Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholtz, and Larry Miller... |
Letters to Cleo lead singer | Cameo appearance |
| 2000 | Generation O! Generation O! Generation O! was an animated children's television series made by the now defunct Sunbow Entertainment, a division of Sony Wonder, with co-production provided by Wang Films in Taiwan and Ravensberger in Germany. There are also international versions of the series called "Molly O!"... |
Molly O | TV series |
| 2001 2001 in film The year 2001 in film involved some significant events, including the first of the Harry Potter series and also the first of The Lord of the Rings trilogy... |
Josie and the Pussycats Josie and the Pussycats (film) Josie and the Pussycats is a 2001 comedy film released by Universal Studios and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Directed and co-written by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan, the film is loosely based upon the Archie comic of the same name... |
Josie McCoy | singing voice |
Further reading
- MacNeil, Jason. "Kay Hanley ". Allmusic. Retrieved April 9, 2004.