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Terri Nunn

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Terri Nunn
Terri Nunn performing at Oracle OpenWorld 2010.
Terri Nunn performing at Oracle OpenWorld 2010.
Background information
Birth nameTerri Kathleen Nunn
Born (1961-06-26) June 26, 1961 (age 63)
Baldwin Hills, California United States
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
GenresRock, new wave, industrial rock, post-punk, dance, synthpop
OccupationSinger/Actress
InstrumentVocals
Years active1974–present
LabelsDGC Records
Purple Pyramid

Terri Kathleen Nunn (born June 26, 1961[1]), is an American singer and actress. She is best known as the lead vocalist of the new wave/synthpop band Berlin.

Biography

Nunn was born in Los Angeles, California. She joined Berlin in 1978 and temporarily left the group the following year to pursue an acting career. In 1981, she rejoined the group as the lead vocalist and soon forged her recording career in the band. Her greatest success in Berlin was the top-selling 1986 single "Take My Breath Away", the love theme in the film Top Gun. It reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. She sang other popular songs with Berlin, including "Sex (I'm A...)", "The Metro", "You Don't Know", "No More Words" and "Masquerade".

In 1976, she posed, under the name Betsy Harris, for nude photos for the February Penthouse [2] [3]

Nunn acted in numerous television shows in the 1970s and '80s, including T.J. Hooker, Lou Grant and James at 15. She also unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of Princess Leia in Star Wars.[4] According to her interview on Audience Network She was offered the part of Lucy on the upcoming series Dallas but turned it down because she would have to sign a 7 year contract, and she wanted to pursue music as well and it would have prevented her from doing so. She appeared in the 1978 film Thank God It's Friday. In 1979, she played a part in the short-lived CBS TV series, Time Express.

In 1985, Nunn left Berlin[5] and recorded the song "Dancing in Isolation" for the film Better Off Dead. It was produced by Rupert Hine. In 1989, she performed a duet with Paul Carrack called "Romance", which was included on the soundtrack to the film Sing. In the early 1990s, she sang backup for 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.[6]

Nunn sang briefly in a rock band called Sin City, which played at The Martini Lounge (now known as The Larchmont) on May 14, 1996 and the (West Hollywood) House of Blues on Dec. 29, 1996. [citation needed]

Nunn obtained usage rights to the band name "Berlin" in 1996,[7] and reformed that band with new members, who began recording and touring. Berlin released two EPs (Fall Into Heaven and Fall Into Heaven 2) in 1999, followed by their first live album, Sacred and Profane in 2000. Voyeur hit shelves in 2002. 4Play (2005) contains original songs and cover versions of some of the band's favorite songs.

In 2006, Nunn was a guest vocalist for Pamela Moore's album, Stories from a Blue Room. [citation needed]

In 2003, Berlin’s original lineup reunited, for the VH1 series "Bands Reunited".

In 2008, Nunn contributed sex and dating advice to Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna's book, Cherry Bomb.[8][9]

Berlin released a live DVD/CD in June 2009, which was recorded at The House of Blues.[specify]

Nunn sang across the United States on the 2009 Regeneration Tour,[10] which also featured Martin Fry of ABC, Wang Chung, and Cutting Crew.

In 2010, Nunn appeared as a guest judge on season 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race, mentoring the contestants in a rock-themed singing challenge.

Berlin toured with INXS in the summer of 2011.

Nunn co-hosts "Between the Sheets", a popular podcast on webcast media station Hottalkla.com.[11]

In January 2012, Nunn debuted her radio show on KCSN-FM. It features interviews and live performances.[12]

In September 2013 Nunn and Berlin released their "electronic and especially dance-oriented" album Animal.

Personal life

Nunn is married to attorney Paul Spear. She has one daughter and two stepsons.[13] One of the stepsons is a medic in the United States Army. The family has lived in Santa Rosa Valley, California since 2012.[12] Nunn is a vegan, formerly a vegetarian, since the age of 19.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ Gale, "Nunn, Terri", Biography in Context.
  2. ^ http://kearth101.cbslocal.com/tag/terri-nunn/feed/
  3. ^ http://nyc.podcast.play.it/media/d0/d0/d1/d5/dO/dK/dB/15OKB_3.MP3?listeningSessionID=578ba2edc644d573_2583892_KWAzoPRp__00000001Htj
  4. ^ Rinzer, JW (2007), The Making of Star Wars, NY: Ballantine Books, pp. 103–5, ISBN 978-0-345-47761-3.
  5. ^ You tube, Google.
  6. ^ Nunn, Terri, "Release", Moment of Truth, Discogs.
  7. ^ "Obtained Berlin Trademark". US: PTO. August 13, 1996.
  8. ^ "Cherry bomb: Carrie Borzillo‐Vrenna's ultimate how‐to for budding rock chicks". LA Weekly. July 30, 2008.
  9. ^ "Who says coolness can't be taught?". Skope. 2008-05-07. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  10. ^ "Regeneration Tour". 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  11. ^ "INXS Announce North American Tour, Select Dates With Berlin". Pop in stereo. May 26, 2011.
  12. ^ a b "Berlin's Terri Nunn: An Agoura Girl at Heart", Augora Hills Patch, Agoura Hills, CA, US, November 23, 2011.
  13. ^ "Terri Nunn, Lead Singer of Berlin, Speaks to QV", by Luther Orrick-Guzman, QVMagazine.com
  14. ^ "An interview with Terri Nunn (of "Berlin")". Girlie Girl Army. October 2, 2008.
  15. ^ Spitalnick, Amy (December 17, 2013). "Veg celeb: Q&A with Terri Nunn". Vegetarian Times.