All The Babes
Stacey Q
Career
Active 1981 – present
Biography
About Stacey Q
Stacey Q, born Stacey Lynn Swain, launched her career not in a studio but under the big top. After high school in 1976, she joined the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, first as a showgirl, then as an elephant rider, later also marching in the Disney Main Street parade. That background gave her an unmistakable flair, which caught the ear of Jon St. James at Fullerton's Casbah Recording Studio in 1981. He saw in this stylish former circus performer a perfect fit for synthpop, a genre she adored, along with bands like The Plastics and The B-52's and the music of David Bowie.
St. James built a band around her, originally named Q, but Quincy Jones' legal claim to that moniker forced a rename. They became SSQ, a nod to both Stacey Swain's initials and a joke about a tiny fishing boat. SSQ released their debut album Playback in 1983 on Enigma Records, featuring the single "Synthicide" and its music video. In 1985, Swain signed with Columbia Records as a solo act under the name Stacey Q. Her debut single "Shy Girl" came out that year, and an early version of "Two of Hearts" appeared on a limited cassette release, though the song was first performed by Sue Gatlin.
After selling several thousand singles, she moved to Atlantic Records, with St. James as manager and SSQ members as her backup band. In 1986, "Two of Hearts" exploded, hitting number one in Canada, number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, and the top ten in five other countries. Now 67, the American singer and actress, born in Fullerton, California, is a Caucasian woman with brown hair and green eyes. She stands 5'2" with a petite, slim build. Her Instagram following sits at 5k, and she remains active in the industry since 1981.
Record
Profile details
Frequently asked
Why did the band change its name from Q to SSQ?
Producer Quincy Jones reportedly had established use of the 'Q' moniker, so the band changed to SSQ, which stood for Stacey Swain's initials and was partly inspired by a joke about a tiny fishing boat.
What were her main roles in the circus before music?
She joined the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus after high school, performing as a showgirl in her first year and as an elephant rider in her second.
How did 'Two of Hearts' perform in different countries?
The 1986 single reached number one in Canada, number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, and the top ten in five other countries.
What was the significance of the song 'Two of Hearts' in relation to Sue Gatlin?
Sue Gatlin originally performed 'Two of Hearts' before Stacey Q released her own version, which appeared in an early form on her 1985 eponymous album.
Did you know
- She can turn ordinary fabric into a fashion statement, once attending a renaissance fair in Agoura wearing only two pieces of soft leather bought in Anaheim.
- Her first singing gig was a Los Angeles radio spot where she impersonated members of The Go-Go's while introducing programs.
- The band name SSQ was partly inspired by a joke Jon St. James made about fishing in a lake 'no bigger than a bathtub'.
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