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Scialfa, Patti (29 July 1953-Present)

Guitarist and singer-songwriter from Deal, New Jersey, who began her professional career on the local club circuit as a background vocalist upon graduating from high school.  She attended the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and then relocated to the Big Apple where she earned a degree in music from N.Y.U.

She did her post-graduate work on the streets of Greenwich Village, busking and waiting tables.  Along with Lisa Lowell and Soozie Tyrell, she started up a trio entitled Trickster.  Other artists and groups she worked with included Cats on a Smooth Surface, David Johansen (a.k.a. Buster Poindexter), and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.

In 1984, Bruce Springsteen invited her to become a member of the E Street Band, which was getting ready to embark on an international tour in support of The Boss’s monster album, Born in the U.S.A.  Following this tour, she recorded with The Rolling Stones on their 1986 release, Dirty Work.  She also accompanied Keith Richards on his solo debut album, Talk is Cheap.

In 1988, she reunited with the E Street Band on their Tunnel of Love Express tour, and found herself to be tabloid fodder when she and The Boss began working late hours together.  At the time, Bruce was still married to the actress and model, Julianne Phillips.

In 1989, Bruce divorced Julianne and the E Street Band, and he and Patti moved to Beverly Hills, California.  A year later, they had their first child, Evan James.  They officially tied the knot on 8th June 1991.  Their second child, Jessica Rae, was born later the same year.  Samuel Ryan was born in 1994, a year that also saw Patti give birth to a solo career with a debut CD entitled Rumble Doll.  The family relocated to Rumson, New Jersey, in 1995.  Since 1998, Patti has appeared in concert with Bruce off and on, but motherhood has always been her #1 priority.

In 2004, she released her long-awaited second album, 23rd Street Lullaby.  Its follow-up, Play it as it Lays, hit the shelves in 2007.  Since then, she has toured extensively with the E Street Band, although a horse-riding accident kept her sidelined for several shows.

On 28th April 2009, Bruce and Patti made an appearance at Tom Hanks’ Film Society of Lincoln Center Gala Tribute.

In 2014 she was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band.

Sources:

  1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patti_Scialfa
  2. http://www.pattiscialfa.net/#
  3. http://www.amazon.com/Play-as-Lays-Patti-Scialfa/dp/B000T98874
  4. http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/FallConcert/story?id=4033480&page=1&page=1
  5. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20275282,00.html
  6. http://www.myspace.com/pattiscialfa1