Lorraine P. Segato (born June 17, 1956, in Hamilton, Ontario) is a Canadian pop singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist for and a principal songwriter of new wave and pop rock group The Parachute Club, with which she continues to perform.
History
Segato initially became known in the late 1970s as the vocalist in the Toronto rock band Mama Quilla II."Lorraine Segato: Emerging from the Shadows". Music Express, February 7, 2014. This band formed the core membership of The Parachute Club. The Parachute Club was particularly active in the 1980s, initially breaking up in 1989. Segato co-wrote nearly every song the band released, including all their singles. A reconstituted version of the band, including Segato, commenced performing in 2005 and continued to perform somewhat sporadically through 2014. After the initial break-up of Parachute Club, Segato released a solo album, Phoenix, in 1990.
In 1990, she collaborated on the one-off single "Can't Repress the Cause", a plea for greater inclusion of hip hop music in the Canadian music scene, with Dance Appeal, a supergroup of Toronto-area musicians that included Devon, Maestro Fresh Wes, Dream Warriors, B-Kool, Michie Mee, Lillian Allen, Eria Fachin, HDV, Dionne, Thando Hyman, Carla Marshall, Messenjah, Jillian Mendez, Lorraine Scott, Self Defense, Leroy Sibbles, Zama, and Thyron Lee White."Urban Music" at Encyclopedia of Music in Canada
Her second solo album, Luminous City, followed in 1998.
She has also worked in film production, writing and directing a documentary on Toronto's late 1970s/early 1980s Queen Street West scene, Queen Street West, The Rebel Zone, and appearing in the documentary film The Pinco Triangle,"Steelworkers, miners & faggots. Oh my". Daily Xtra, May 19, 1999. and as a lecturer and social justice activist. Segato also appeared on the science fiction show Lexx, singing a song as the "Time Prophet" on the episode "Brigadoom".Ross, Becki. The House That Jill Built: A Lesbian Nation in Formation, University of Toronto Press, 1995, , p281
She performed "Rise Up" at the state funeral of Jack Layton on August 27, 2011, supported by the choir of the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto."An Anthem to Remember". CBC News Network, August 27, 2011. In 2014, the surviving band members released a contemporary dance remix of the song in conjunction with Toronto's hosting of the 2014 edition of WorldPride."The Parachute Club releases remix version of 'Rise Up'". Toronto Star, June 23, 2014.
Her third solo album, Invincible Decency, was released in 2015. She is also preparing Get Off My Dress, a loosely autobiographical one-woman theatrical play.
Segato was one of the people named to the Order of Canada on December 29, 2022, citing "her contributions to the Canadian music scene and culture as a pioneer in 2SLGBTQI+ Canadian history.""Order of Canada appointees – December 2022". GG.ca, December 29, 2022.
Personal life
Segato is out as lesbian.Andrea Houston, "‘Rise Up’ composer would welcome partnership with WorldPride". Xtra!, January 22, 2013. She was previously married to Ilana Landsberg-Lewis, the daughter of Stephen Lewis and Michele Landsberg.https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2023/01/04/celebrated-actor-singer-songwriter-film-producer-among-2023-order-of-canada-recipients/360155/
Discography
Singles (Parachute Club) Release date Title Chart peak Album CanadaRPM July 1983 "Rise Up"9 The Parachute Club 1983 "Alienation" 1984 "Boy's Club" October 1984 "At the Feet of the Moon"11 At the Feet of the Moon February 1985 "Act of an Innocent"61 June 1985 "Sexual Intelligence" October 1986 "Love Is Fire" 24 Small Victories February 1987 "Love and Compassion"81 May 1987 "Walk to the Rhythm" 90 January 1988 "Big Big World"86 Non-album single June 2014 "Rise Up (WorldPride Remix)"—Non-album single
Albums
With Mama Quilla II
1982 – KKK//Mama Quilla/Angry Young Woman Tupperwaros; EP.
With The Parachute Club 1983 – The Parachute Club Current/RCA 1984 – At the Feet of the Moon Current/RCA 1985 – Moving Thru the Moonlight Current/RCA; remixes 1986 – Small Victories (1986) Current/RCA 1992 – Wild Zone: The Essential Parachute Club BMG; reissued 2006 by EMI InternationalParticulars via www.amazon.com; accessed 09-02-07.
Solo
1990 – Phoenix Warner Bros. Records 1998 – Luminous City True North 2015 – Invincible Decency
References
External links Lorraine Segato's Official website Lorraine Segato Website; not updated since 2004 Parachute Club Website/Blog