Pat Benatar

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Pat Benatar : biography

January 10, 1953 –

Between appearances at Catch a Rising Star and recording commercial jingles for Pepsi Cola and a number of regional concerns, she headlined New York City’s Tramps nightclub from March 29 – April 1, 1978, where her performance impressed representatives from several record companies. She was signed to Chrysalis Records by co-founder Terry Ellis the following week. Benatar recorded her first album, In the Heat of the Night, in June and July 1979.

She won an unprecedented four consecutive Grammy Awards for Best Female Rock Performance for Crimes of Passion (1981) and the songs "Fire and Ice" (1982), "Shadows of the Night" (1983), and "Love Is a Battlefield" (1984). Of the ten Grammy seasons of the 1980s, Benatar was nominated for Best Female Rock Performance eight times, including "Invincible" in 1986, "Sex as a Weapon" in 1987, "All Fired Up" in 1989 and "Let’s Stay Together" in 1990.

She married guitarist and producer Neil Giraldo on 20 February 1982 at Hana, Hawaii. The couple first met in 1979 when he arrived at her rehearsal building to audition, prompting Pat to think to herself Girl you have just seen the father of your children Benatar was separated from her first husband at the time, and once the divorce was finalized later in 1979 the relationship with Giraldo began in earnest. They have two daughters.

Benatar also earned Grammy Award nominations in 1984 for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female with "We Belong" and in 1986 for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Duo or Group as a member of Artists United Against Apartheid for their single, "Sun City". Benatar is also the winner of three American Music Awards: Favorite Female Pop/Rock Vocalist of 1981 and 1983, and Favorite Female Pop/Rock Video Artist of 1985.

Pat Benatar was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame at the Second Induction Award Ceremony and Fundraising Gala held October 30, 2008.

In 2010 Pat Benatar published her autobiography, Between a Heart and a Rock Place, discussing her early life and success in the music business.