Q Lazzarus
| Q Lazzarus | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1965 (age 50–51) |
| Origin | United States |
| Genres | New wave, synthpop |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1986–1996 |
Q Lazzarus (born 1965) is an American singer, best known as a one-hit wonder for the 1988 song "Goodbye Horses", which was featured in Married to the Mob, The Silence of the Lambs (the Buffalo Bill song), Clerks II (imitating Silence of the Lambs), Lakai Footwear's Fully Flared, Unhinged: The Jesse Hicks Story (also imitating Silence of the Lambs), Maniac, Rockstar's video game Grand Theft Auto IV, EA's video game Skate 3, and TV shows Family Guy (also imitating Silence of the Lambs) and Nip Tuck.
Career
Q Lazzarus is known for having a deep, husky contralto voice. She was born in New Jersey, married young, fled a marriage of domestic abuse which later would inspire her to write her song: "Tears of Fear". Q's full name is Quiana Diana Lazzarus. After she fled her marriage, Q moved to New York City and became a nanny for an English man named Swan who did not encourage her musical gifts, trying to steer her towards a "practical occupation". Q decided to drive a taxi instead and continued making music independently at times from The Resurrection. She was discovered as a singer when she worked as a taxi driver in New York City. She picked up famous director Jonathan Demme, was whisked off to Hollywood where despite Jonathan's encouragement, record companies refused to sign her. They would say "Q we don't want to sign you because you cannot be marketed. Q replied " I market myself, I'm an African American woman who wears locks and sings American Rock n Roll." The ensemble of Q Lazzarus and the Resurrection dissolved at some point before 1996. Q Lazzarus's original band was called Q Lazzarus and the Resurrection. The members included: Mark Barrett and songwriter William Garvey, GG (Glorianna Galicia, Janice Bernstein, backup singers: GG, Denise, Liz and Yvette W. Howie Feldman and Ron Resigno. Q Lazzarus and the Resurrection appeared at chic Soho Gallery parties and often performed at Boy Bar on Saint Mark's Place and The Pyramid Club.
The music and lyrics of the song "Goodbye Horses" were written by William Garvey. It was originally recorded by Q Lazzarus in 1988, appeared in "Married to The Mob" the 1988 Jonathan Demme film, but later re-released as a single in 1991, with a greater duration, as a result of its appearance in Silence of the Lambs. However the song first appeared in "Married To The Mob" 1988 in the romance scene between Mathew Modine and Michelle Pfeiffer. However it is most remembered for the infamous scene in which Buffalo Bill begins his macabre crossdressing scene as the track played. This garnered it the popular nickname "The Buffalo Bill Song".
Q Lazzarus song "Candle Goes Away"appeared in the 1986 film Something Wild performing "The Candle Goes Away" and in the 1993 film Philadelphia performing "Heaven" from the Talking Heads album Fear of Music. She also contributed music to the 1996 underground film Twisted. Her original demo that Jonathan Demme was given featured " Candle Goes Away", Goodbye Horses", a raggae version of the Gershwin classic "Summertime", "Tears of Fear" written by Q, "Love Dance" written by Peter Crawford and "Hellfire" a song that Q wrote about the notorious underground club called Hellfire.
William Garvey died in August 2009.[1]
References
- ↑ Proffer, Arabella. "R.I.P. William Garvey". Arty Farty [author's blog]. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
Q Lazzarus worked as a taxi driver and picked up famous film director Jonathan Demme who heard her demo playing in the taxi. This led to her music being played in "Something" Wild". "Married to The Mob" where "Goodbye Horses" was originally debuted, then on to her appearance in the movie "Philadelphia" prior to her recording "Goodbye Horses" Q. moved to England and began recording straight ahead Rock n Roll. This a reaction to American record labels not thinking that she was marketable singing diverse Rock songs. Thereafter, she went under the radar.
The original band lineup included backup singer GG (Glorianna Galicia), Janice Bernstein, Ron Resigno.
External links
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