Terri Nunn
Encyclopedia
Terri Kathleen Nunn is an American singer and actress. She is best known as the lead vocalist of the New Wave
band Berlin
.
, techno-pop band Berlin in 1978, but temporarily left the band the following year to pursue an acting
career. In 1981, Nunn rejoined the group as the lead vocalist and would soon forge her recording career with the band. Nunn's greatest success with Berlin was the top-selling single "Take My Breath Away
", the love theme from the film Top Gun
, which reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100
. Other popular songs voiced by Nunn include "Sex (I'm A ...)", "The Metro
", "You Don't Know", "No More Words", and "Masquerade".
She appeared in numerous television shows of the 1970s and 1980s, including T.J. Hooker and Lou Grant
. She auditioned for the role of Princess Leia
in Star Wars
and appeared in the 1978 film Thank God It's Friday
. in 1979, Nunn appeared in the short-lived CBS
TV series Time Express
.
In 1985 Nunn took a brief break as lead vocalist for Berlin and recorded the song "Dancing in Isolation" for the film Better Off Dead. The song was produced by British singer and producer Rupert Hine
. In 1989 Nunn performed a duet with ex-Squeeze member Paul Carrack
called "Romance", which was included in the soundtrack to the film Sing
. In the early 1990s, Nunn sang back-up vocals for the band The Sisters of Mercy
. In 1991 she recorded and released a solo album entitled Moment of Truth, in association with Prince
's Paisley Park Producer David Z.
Nunn briefly sang for a rock band called Sin City, which played in such smaller Los Angeles clubs as the Martini Lounge (now known as the Larchmont) on May 14, 1996 and the (West Hollywood) House of Blues
on Dec. 29, 1996.
Having obtained the rights to use of the band's name in 1996, Nunn resurrected the band with new members in 1996 and resumed recording and touring. Two EPs, Fall Into Heaven and Fall Into Heaven 2, were released in 1999, followed by Berlin's first live album, Sacred and Profane, in 2000. A subsequent album featuring all new songs, Voyeur, was released in 2002. The album 4Play, released in 2005, included both new songs and covers of some of the band's favorite songs by other artists. In 2006, Nunn appeared as a guest vocalist on Pamela Moore
's album Stories from a Blue Room
. In 2004, she and Berlin’s original line up reunited for the VH1 series "Bands Reunited
".
In 2008, Nunn was one of the contributors to Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna's book, Cherry Bomb. Nunn gave tips on sex and dating advice.
A new live DVD/CD was released in June 2009, recorded at the House of Blues.
Nunn toured the U.S. as part of the 2009 Regeneration Tour which also featured Martin Fry
of ABC
, Wang Chung
, and the Cutting Crew
.
Berlin toured with rock band INXS
during summer 2011, and is currently working on a new album.
When not touring or recording, Nunn co-hosts "Between the Sheets", a popular podcast on webcast media station Hottalkla.com.
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band Berlin
Berlin (band)
Berlin is an American New Wave/Synthpop band. The group was formed in Los Angeles in 1978 by John Crawford . The band contained Crawford, Terri Nunn , David Diamond , Ric Olsen , Matt Reid and Rod Learned . Learned left during the first EU tour and was replaced by Rob Brill...
.
Biography
Nunn joined the New WaveNew Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
, techno-pop band Berlin in 1978, but temporarily left the band the following year to pursue an acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
career. In 1981, Nunn rejoined the group as the lead vocalist and would soon forge her recording career with the band. Nunn's greatest success with Berlin was the top-selling single "Take My Breath Away
Take My Breath Away
American pop singer Jessica Simpson covered "Take My Breath Away" and released it as the third single from the album In This Skin in 2004. Her version was produced by Billy Mann. Simpson chose to cover this song because she felt that it was the theme song of her relationship with her then husband,...
", the love theme from the film Top Gun
Top Gun
Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
, which reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. Other popular songs voiced by Nunn include "Sex (I'm A ...)", "The Metro
The Metro (song)
"The Metro" is a new wave song written by John Crawford for his band, Berlin. The song has been covered by a number of artists, including System of a Down, Alkaline Trio, John Frusciante and Hannah Fury...
", "You Don't Know", "No More Words", and "Masquerade".
She appeared in numerous television shows of the 1970s and 1980s, including T.J. Hooker and Lou Grant
Lou Grant (TV series)
Lou Grant is an American television drama series starring Ed Asner in the titular role as a newspaper editor. Unusual in American television, this drama series was a spinoff from a sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Aired from 1977 to 1982, Lou Grant won 13 Emmy Awards, including "Outstanding Drama...
. She auditioned for the role of Princess Leia
Princess Leia Organa
Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe...
in Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
and appeared in the 1978 film Thank God It's Friday
Thank God It's Friday
The triple album was, unlike the movie, a commercial success. It contained contributions from some of the biggest names in disco at the time, including Donna Summer, Diana Ross, Thelma Houston, The Commodores, and many others....
. in 1979, Nunn appeared in the short-lived CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
TV series Time Express
Time Express
Time Express is a short-lived American fantasy TV series, broadcast April–May 1979 on CBS and later syndicated. The series was created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts who had both previously been involved in the creation of Charlie's Angels...
.
In 1985 Nunn took a brief break as lead vocalist for Berlin and recorded the song "Dancing in Isolation" for the film Better Off Dead. The song was produced by British singer and producer Rupert Hine
Rupert Hine
Rupert Neville Hine is an English musician, songwriter and prolific record producer, having produced albums for artists including Kevin Ayers, Tina Turner, Howard Jones, Saga, The Fixx, Bob Geldof, Thompson Twins, Stevie Nicks, Chris de Burgh, Suzanne Vega, Rush, Underworld, Duncan Sheik, and ...
. In 1989 Nunn performed a duet with ex-Squeeze member Paul Carrack
Paul Carrack
Paul Carrack is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Carrack has been a member of several bands including Ace, Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics, and Roxy Music, been a session and touring musician for several others including Nick Lowe, and has enjoyed success as a solo artist as well...
called "Romance", which was included in the soundtrack to the film Sing
Sing (1989 film)
Sing is a 1989 film, starring Lorraine Bracco, Peter Dobson and Jessica Steen. The movie is about a fictional New York City SING! production...
. In the early 1990s, Nunn sang back-up vocals for the band The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...
. In 1991 she recorded and released a solo album entitled Moment of Truth, in association with Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
's Paisley Park Producer David Z.
David Z.
David Z is a music producer, engineer, mixer, and writer from Minneapolis, Minnesota who currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee. He is most well known for his long-standing work with Prince, but has also contributed to award winning albums by Etta James, Billy Idol, BoDeans, Buddy Guy, Neneh...
Nunn briefly sang for a rock band called Sin City, which played in such smaller Los Angeles clubs as the Martini Lounge (now known as the Larchmont) on May 14, 1996 and the (West Hollywood) House of Blues
House of Blues
House of Blues is a chain of 13 live music concert halls and restaurants in major markets throughout the United States. House of Blues first location was in Cambridge's Harvard Square. It was opened in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, star of The Blues Brothers...
on Dec. 29, 1996.
Having obtained the rights to use of the band's name in 1996, Nunn resurrected the band with new members in 1996 and resumed recording and touring. Two EPs, Fall Into Heaven and Fall Into Heaven 2, were released in 1999, followed by Berlin's first live album, Sacred and Profane, in 2000. A subsequent album featuring all new songs, Voyeur, was released in 2002. The album 4Play, released in 2005, included both new songs and covers of some of the band's favorite songs by other artists. In 2006, Nunn appeared as a guest vocalist on Pamela Moore
Pamela Moore
Pamela Moore is an American singer and songwriter, mixing hard rock, pop and electronica. She currently resides in Seattle, Washington in the United States.-History:...
's album Stories from a Blue Room
Stories from a Blue Room
Stories from a Blue Room is Pamela Moore's third full length solo album, released under Planet Sweet Records in 2006. It features songs written by Moore and Benjamin Anderson....
. In 2004, she and Berlin’s original line up reunited for the VH1 series "Bands Reunited
Bands Reunited
Bands Reunited is a television program produced by VH1 in 2004. Hosted by Aamer Haleem, the show documented the attempted reuniting of a formerly popular musical ensemble for a special concert in either London or Los Angeles....
".
In 2008, Nunn was one of the contributors to Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna's book, Cherry Bomb. Nunn gave tips on sex and dating advice.
A new live DVD/CD was released in June 2009, recorded at the House of Blues.
Nunn toured the U.S. as part of the 2009 Regeneration Tour which also featured Martin Fry
Martin Fry
Martin Fry is lead singer of the band, ABC.-Biography:He grew up in Bramhall, Stockport, alongside his younger brother Jamie .-ABC:...
of ABC
ABC (band)
ABC are an English band, that charted ten UK and five US Top 40 singles between 1981 and 1990. The band continues to tour and released a new album, Traffic, in 2008.-Formation:...
, Wang Chung
Wang Chung (band)
Wang Chung are an English New Wave musical group.The group found their greatest success in America, with five Top 40 hits in the US, all charting between 1983 and 1987, including "Dance Hall Days" , "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" and "Let's Go!" .-Pre-history: The Intellektuals and 57 Men :Jeremy...
, and the Cutting Crew
Cutting Crew
The Cutting Crew is a pop rock band formed in England in 1985, best known for their #1 hit, " Died in Your Arms".-Career:Vocalist Nick Van Eede founded the group along with Canadian guitarist Kevin MacMichael in 1985, and the two made demos that led to a recording contract, before bassist Colin...
.
Berlin toured with rock band INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
during summer 2011, and is currently working on a new album.
When not touring or recording, Nunn co-hosts "Between the Sheets", a popular podcast on webcast media station Hottalkla.com.