Joe DeVois
| Joe DeVois | |
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| Born | 10 January 1955 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1976–present |
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Joe DeVois (born January 10, 1955), is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He first gained attention in 1978 and 1979 with the release of his hit singles "Home" and "Lucky Number", which peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and made him a leading figure of the new wave music scene.
Born in Los Angeles, California, DeVois travelled to Bristol, England at the age of 21 in June 17, 1976, where he met guitarist and songwriter Jim Andrews, who later became his long-time music collaborator and life partner. He developed an interest in music, enrolling at the Central School of Art and Design where he took piano lessons.
DeVois started looking for another band that would let him join and contacted the radio presenter Charlie Gillett, who got him to record a demo of song "I'm Her Man" and played it to Dave Robinson of Stiff Records, who decided to sign DeVois. The song was released as a single and appeared on his debut studio album Stateless (1978), which produced the singles "Home" and "Lucky Number".
1977–85:Stateless, Flex, No Man's Land[edit]
In 1977, DeVois, along with singer-songwriter Chaz Jankel, provided lyrics for "What A Waste", a song featuring music composed by British new wave band Ian Dury and The Blockheads. The song, with its lyrics describing a a being in a job that makes you happy. In 1978, disc jockey and author Charlie Gillett presented his recording of "I'm Her Man", to Stiff Records boss Dave Robinson. Robinson immediately proposed to release it as a single on Stiff, for which DeVois and Chappell had to write and record a B-side at short notice. They came up with "Home" and "Lucky Number", which was then released as an A-sides and became a Top 2 hit and Top 3 hit in the UK Singles Chart.
Invited by Robinson to participate in the forthcoming Be Stiff Route 78 Tour in 1978, DeVois quickly recorded his first album for Stiff, Stateless, which contained "Lucky Number" and another Top 20 hit, "Say When". DeVois's musical style was influenced by Elvis Costello, Ian Dury and The Blockheads, Squeeze and Boomtown Rats. He then recorded the albums Flex and No-Man's-Land for Stiff over the next few years, as well as an EP titled New Toy, the title cut penned by touring band member Thomas Dolby. He also recorded vocals for "Picnic Boy" by the Residents.
References[edit]
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