Career
Born Kathleen Josey in Dallas, Texas, Cotton sang with Dallas area bands before moving to Los Angeles, California. Josie Cotton recorded her hit single "Johnny Are You Queer" under Bomp Records in 1981. The performance of the single attracted the attention of Elektra Records, which re-released both the single and a full album in 1982. The Convertible Music LP featured music reminiscent of the 1960s girl group tradition. Cotton made an appearance in the 1983 film Valley Girl, singing "Johnny Are You Queer?", "He Could Be the One" and "School Is In" during the film's prom scene. In 1984, Elektra issued Josie's follow-up album, From the Hip, which returned a minor hit with the cover of Looking Glass' "Jimmy Loves Maryann" (featuring guitar work by Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac). In 1986, Cotton appeared in a minor film role as the character Silver Ring in the John McTiernan horror film Nomads opposite Adam Ant and Pierce Brosnan. "Johnny Are You Queer" was later featured in Jackass: Number Two during the "Anaconda Ballpit" stunt and in the compilation album "A Date With John Waters". The punk band Screeching Weasel covered the song on their 1994 album How To Make Enemies And Irritate People.
Cotton recorded Frightened by Nightingales (as Josey Cotton) in 1993. The collection of songs by songwriter/violinist Bill Rhea was released on the French label Silences. Continuing to work behind the scenes, Cotton co-founded B-Girl Records, which issued recordings by Goldenboy and Alaska! A new album of her own music, The Influence of Fear on Salesmen, was planned for release in 2002 on B-Girl but failed to materialize under that title. Eventually, Cotton released Movie Disaster Music in 2006, followed by Invasion of the B-Girls, composed of B-movie theme song covers, also produced in part by Bill Rhea, in 2007. Building on the critical success of those disks, Cotton released Pussycat Babylon in late 2010.
In 2009, "Johnny Are You Queer" ranked at No. 81 on VH1's "Top 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders Of The 80's" list.
Read more about this topic: Josie Cotton
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