Suzi Quatro

Suzi Quatro
Quatro performing live at the AIS Arena, in Canberra, Australia, 2007
Background information
Birth name	Susan Kay Quatro
Born	(1950-06-03) 3 June 1950 (age 66) Detroit, Michigan, United States
Genres	rock hard rock pop rock
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter multi-instrumentalist record producer actress radio presenter
Instruments	Vocals bass guitar
Years active	1964–present
Labels	Mercury Rak Arista EMI Int'l EMI BGO Disky Razor & Tie RSO AIP First Night CD Baby Cherry Red
Associated acts	The Pleasure Seekers Cradle Chris Norman
Website	suziquatro.com
Notable instruments
1957 Fender Precision Bass Gibson Ripper Status Bass Guitars Gibson Les Paul bass Gibson EB2 Greco Bass (Custom) Yamaha BB2000 B.C. Rich 'Bich' Bass (Custom) BC Rich Eagle Bass

Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro (born 3 June 1950) is an American rock singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and actress. She was the first female bass player to become a major rock star, breaking a barrier to women's participation in rock music.

In the 1970s, Quatro scored a string of hit singles that found greater success in European and Australian territories than in her homeland. Following a recurring role as bass player Leather Tuscadero on the popular American sitcom Happy Days, her duet "Stumblin' In" with Smokie's lead singer Chris Norman reached No. 4 in the US and became her only No. 1 hit in Australia in 1979.

Quatro released her debut album in 1973. Since then, she has released fifteen studio albums, ten compilation albums, and one live album. Her solo hits include "Can the Can", "48 Crash", "Daytona Demon", "Devil Gate Drive" and "Your Mamma Won't Like Me".

Between 1973 and 1980, Quatro was awarded six Bravo Ottos. In 2010, she was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends online Hall of Fame. Quatro has sold over 50 million albums and continues to perform live, worldwide. Her most recent studio album was released in 2011 and she also continues to present new radio programmes.

Quatro says she was influenced at the age of six by the American singer and actor Elvis Presley, whom she saw on television. She also said she had no female role model but was inspired by Billie Holiday and liked the dress sense of Mary Weiss of the Shangri-Las "because she wore tight trousers and a waistcoat on top – she looked hot".

Quatro received formal training in playing classical piano and percussion. She is a self-taught player of the bass and guitar. Her father gave her a 1957 Fender Precision bass guitar in 1964, which she still possessed in 2007.