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Regina (American singer)

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For the Brazilian singer, see Regina "Queen" Saraiva.
Regina
Regina in 1980
Regina in 1980
Background information
Birth nameRegina Marie Cuttita[1]
Also known asRegina Lee
BornBrooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres
OccupationSinger
Years active1978–1993
Labels

Regina Marie Cuttita, also known as Regina Richards or simply Regina, is an American singer born in Brooklyn, New York. She began her career in the late 1970s as the frontwoman of the new wave band Regina Richards and Red Hot. She is perhaps best known for the hit single "Baby Love", which reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986. "Baby Love" was her only song to chart on the Hot 100, making her a one-hit wonder. The song also reached number 50 on the UK Singles Chart that same year.[2]

Career

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Regina, who majored in theater at Marymount Manhattan College, began her music career in the late 1970s, recording and performing with the new wave band Regina Richards and Red Hot.[3] The band regularly played New York City music venues such as CBGB, Max's Kansas City, and Irving Plaza. With the help of Richard Gottehrer, the band signed with A&M Records. The first single released was titled "Tyger", with "Tug of War" as the B-side. The second single "Don't Want You Back", with "Company Girl" as the B-side, was followed by a self-titled album; the records did not attain mainstream success. Subsequently, she dissolved the group and focused on writing songs for other artists and helping them record demos with Stephen Bray, her former Red Hot drummer.[3] One of the artists who approached them was Madonna, who was trying to secure a recording deal at the time; Regina helped Madonna with vocal harmonies on her demos.[3]

In 1986, Regina and Bray co-wrote "Baby Love", initially planning on selling it to Madonna or another artist.[4] Her record label, Atlantic Records, however, requested that Regina sing the song herself.[3] The single reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year and was included on Regina's Curiosity album, which also included "Say Goodbye", a song she had originally written with Kenny Rogers in mind. Another song from the album appeared on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart that year: "Beat of Love". Music publications of the time often commented on perceived similarities to Madonna, and called her the "queen of the wanna-bes".[5]

In 1987, she appeared in an anti-drug public service announcement with McGruff the Crime Dog that aired well into the 1990s.[6] In 1988, Regina released the song "Extraordinary Love". It reached #11 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. In 1990, no longer with Atlantic, she released her final single "Track You Down". Plans to release an album titled Best Kept Secret the same year were shelved indefinitely.[7]

In 1991, Australian singer Dannii Minogue released a cover of "Baby Love" as a single, reaching number 14 on the UK Singles Chart.[8]

Discography

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With Red Hot

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  • Regina Richards and Red Hot (1981)

Solo

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Charts

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Chart performance for singles by Regina
Title Year Peak chart positions
US
[10] 		US
Dance
[11] 		US
R&B
[12] 		UK
[2]
"Baby Love" 1986 10 1 30 50
"Beat of Love (Remix)" — 40 — —
"Head On" — — — —
"Extraordinary Love" 1988 — 11 — —

Note: Billboard incorrectly lists "Day by Day" as a 1997 hit for Regina. The song actually belongs to Regina "Queen" Saraiva.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Miss Cuttita Wed To Dr. Mark Lee". New York Times. October 21, 1990. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 458. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ a b c d Matsumoto, Jon (August 15, 1986). "Regina: She's The Proud Parent Of 'Baby Love'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  4. ^ staff (September 28, 1986). "This Singer Sounds Just Like Madonna". Quad-City Times. p. 64. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  5. ^ "Artists". Musician (93–98). Amordian Press: 122. 1986. ISSN 0733-5253.
  6. ^ "Users are Losers and Winners don't Use (Drugs) – YouTube". YouTube. March 18, 2010. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  7. ^ Trolli, Craig (April 25, 2003). "Lost Gens: Regina". Seattle Gay News. p. 40. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  8. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 368. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  9. ^ "Regina – Chart history – Billboard.com". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  10. ^ "Regina Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  11. ^ "Regina Chart History: Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  12. ^ "Regina Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
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