JoCarolBlock

Jo-Carol
Block
(Davidson)

Born: 5-13-1956
Died: 6-4-2003
...from a cerebral aneurysm.

    Here we have another talented individual that has left us and little is known about her. Through various searches I have found that Jo-Carol was a "rebel-type" student at Bethlehem Senior Central High School in Albany New York. She graduated in 1974 and is honored in their "Alumni Hall Of Fame."
     We believe that she arrived in San Francisco around 1980. Jo-Carol told of how she became one of Patrick Cowley's Singers and started her "disco" career: "Lauren and I met through "Acapella Gold" which was a jazz vocal group ala Manhatten Transfer, only a bit more bizarre. There were six of us in the group including Michael Finden and Carol McMacken (the third Cowley Singer). One day Michael asked us if we wanted to sing on this little disco thing his friend Patrick had written. So we all said sure and went to Patrick and Tip Wirrick's studio and we cut "Menergy" with Michael adding his voice to the mix. So we all thought, that's that. I remember that Marty (Blecman) asked us if we wanted to earn $500.00 singing the song at Alfie's, this was after it was released as a 12" single on Fusion Records and starting to climb the dance charts. That was our first performance as the Patrick Cowley Singers and it led to us leaving "Acapella Gold" to go on the road doing club gigs."
     The road trips led to them playing such venues as The Hollywood Bowl, The Atlanta Civic Center and the Saint in Manhattan. As Patrick's battle with A.I.D.S. raged on he continued to utilize Lauren, Carol and Jo-Carol for both of his albums and various other projects. When Carol decided to leave the Patrick Cowley Singers in 1982, Lauren and Jo-Carol decide to continue on and with Cowley's blessings the duo became Jo-Lo. The first performance for the newly christened Jo-Lo was a birthday party for Sylvester. The flambouyant disco icon bonded with the girls immediately and to a mentors role in offering them sage advice, "more cheeks!, more eyes!"
     Their start as Jo-Lo was a bit rocky and they were not "out of the box" smashes. In fact they had a rough time establishing themselves. The girls took the time to hone their songwriting and music skills while performing anywhere and everywhere they could.
     After Cowley died Marty Blecman took over the reins of Megatone and the future careers of Paul Parker, Sylvester and Jo-Lo. The girls wrote two songs and convinced Maurice Tani and Arthur Adcock to aid them in producing them. The result was 1983's "On Hold" and "Violation." The Megatone 12" single was a moderate hit, but for a moment it looked as though they might become a blip on the disco radar. Blecman gave the duo instructions to write a "killer song" after passing on several compositions. So the girls locked themselves away for several days and wrote three tunes, one of which they felt very strong about. When it was presented to Marty he knew they had found their niche. Released 12 months after their first single, "Last Call" turned them into bonafide disco stars. The song became one of 1984's biggest club hits thanks to the production talents of Barry Beam and John Hedges. The producers were hot having just come off of a #-1 hit with Lisa (another Frisco favorite).
     1984-85 were spent touring with Sylvester, doing A.I.D.S. charitys and lending their voices to Modern Rocketry's "Cuba Libre" and "Thank God For Men." The double-sided 12" single become another top ten smash for Jo-Lo, this time produced by Ken Kessie and Morey Goldstein.
     1986 brought one final 12" single for Jo-Lo with the release of their spirited remake of Frankie Valli's "Soul." The song was another hit for the girls but problems were mounting with Megatone and Blecman and Jo-Carol opted for a stab at solo stardom and by year's end Jo-Lo was over.
     Jo-Carol's first solo effort was actually another collaboration with Modern Rocketry on yet another remake. 1987's "Born To Be Wild" was not the top ten hit that all expected it to be. However good it was, the promotion was just not there. Megatone was going through financial problems and their hold on the market place was beginning to slip. One final 12" single for Jo-Carol was released on Megatone, "You Turn Me On." The song brought her back to the top ten in the clubs, thanks to the writing and producing of the company's bright new star, Nick John.
     As Megatone folded and the dance market shifted Jo-Carol moved into other areas of the entertainment field. As a studio vocalist, Jo-Carol worked with Narada Michael Walden, Crystal Gayle and the Count Basie Orchestra. As a director, writer and performer of musical comedy, she conducted The Ethel Merman Memorial Choir, (which was featured in People Magazine and on Entertainment Tonight); portrayed Barbra Streisand in the annual cult theater classic, "A Karen Carpenter Christmas"; starred in "Songs In The Key Of Me," her original one-woman show at The Marsh; and led the San Francisco Giants to victory with her rousing rendition of the national anthem.
     As an accomplished composer, Jo-Carol scored both film and new media projects, including CBS/Fox’s animated feature film, "FernGully II," and "Frank Leaves For The Orient," a sitcom for TV'’s Comedy Central. Jo-Carol has composed and performed numerous advertising jingles for radio (Barbie, Pontiac, Bay Area Radio Station Live 105, Cartoon Network) and has created character voices and original music for CD-ROMs (Broderbund's "Carmen Sandiego," Living Books' "Arthur's Reading Race," Hasbro's "Play-Doh Creations,” Scholastic’s “Clifford the Big Red Dog”.)
     But her greatest joy was doing community and activist work, sharing her talent, passion, and humor with thousands of people at rallies and benefits throughout the country. She has lifted the rafters of the California State Capitol's March on Washington, led the Candlelight March at San Francisco City Hall and was invited by producers Bill Graham and George Lucas to headline In Concert Against A.I.D.S. Former San Francisco Mayor Frank Jordan appointed Jo-Carol to the position of Co-Chair of the A.I.D.S. Emergency Fund, thereby honoring her contribution to the fight against A.I.D.S.
     She was a neighborhood activist who served as a leader in the Cayuga Improvement Association, where she promoted the preservation of Cayuga Park and the unique sculptural creations of gardener Demi Braceros. She found time during this hectic schedule to also marry her love Tyler Davidson and work as public relations director for animation studio Wild Brain Inc., a position she previously held with Colossal Pictures, another San Francisco animation house.
     Jo-Carol collapsed on the Union Street sidewalk outside her hairdresser's salon on Sunday June 1, 2003. She was on her way to the second round of the San Francisco Cabaret Competition at Foley's Irish House. Though primarily known as a disco vocalist, she had hoped the competition would introduce her to cabaret audiences. She had already won the first round. On Wednesday June 4, 2003 she died from a brain aneurysm, leaving behind thousands of devastated fans and friends. By all accounts, (and from those that knew her closely) she was a marvelous special person. I wished I had the chance to work with her, for I know she was loved and respected in the industry.