Kate Pierson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kate Pierson
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Pierson performing with the B-52s in 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Catherine Elizabeth Pierson |
| Born | April 27, 1948 Weehawken, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock, new wave |
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| Years active | 1976–present |
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Catherine Elizabeth Pierson (born April 27, 1948) is an American singer and songwriter. She is a founding member of the famous band the B-52s. Kate Pierson plays several instruments, including guitar, bass, and various keyboards.
In the early days of the B-52s, Kate was not only a singer but also the main keyboard player. She often played a special "keyboard bass" during live shows and on many recordings. This made the band's sound unique, as a bass guitar player usually fills this role. Her special keyboard playing and her wide-ranging singing voice are still a big part of the B-52s' sound.
Kate Pierson has also worked with many other artists. These include the Ramones, Iggy Pop, and R.E.M.. In February 2015, she released her first solo album, Guitars and Microphones. This album included songs she wrote with the artist Sia.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kate Pierson was born in Weehawken, New Jersey. She grew up in a town called Rutherford.
She went to Wheaton College for a short time. Later, she transferred to Boston University and earned a degree in journalism. In the 1970s, she traveled around Europe. She worked as a barmaid in a pub in the UK for six months. After her travels, she moved back to the U.S. and settled in Athens, Georgia. There, she lived on a farm and worked at a local newspaper.
Music Career Beginnings
Kate Pierson met the other members of what would become the B-52s while living in Athens, Georgia. The band officially formed in October 1976. They started by playing at a few parties. Soon after, they began traveling to New York to perform shows. Kate and the other band members often went back and forth between Athens and New York for their music gigs.
Personal Life and Businesses
Kate Pierson was married to Brian Cokayne, whom she met in Europe.
From 1981 to 1996, she was in a relationship with artist Tim Rollins.
In 2003, Kate started a relationship with artist and designer Monica Coleman. They got married on August 3, 2015.
Kate and Monica also created several unique vacation spots. In 2003, they opened Kate's Lazy Meadow motel complex in Mount Tremper, New York. They also owned Kate's Lazy Cabin nearby in Lake Hill, New York. Both of these are in the beautiful Catskill Mountains. They also had Kate's Lazy Desert in Landers, California, and Kate's Lazy Cape on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. They worked together to run these businesses. In 2022, Kate shared that they had sold Kate's Lazy Meadow. They then bought a vacation home on Cape Cod in Truro, Massachusetts.
Musical Collaborations
Kate Pierson has lent her voice and talents to many other artists and projects:
- She sang with the Ramones in the early 1980s on their song "Chop Suey."
- Kate, along with Cindy Wilson and Ricky Wilson, was part of a group called Melon. They recorded two songs for a Japanese TV show.
- She worked with Fred Schneider on his solo album Fred Schneider & the Shake Society in 1984.
- Kate sang with Iggy Pop on his popular 1990 song "Candy."
- She collaborated with R.E.M. on songs like "Shiny Happy People" and "Me in Honey" from their 1991 album Out of Time.
- She also sang with Matthew Sweet on his 1989 album Earth.
- Kate and Cindy Wilson covered the song "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" for a movie soundtrack in 1996.
- She contributed to the soundtrack for The Rugrats Movie in 1998.
- Kate was part of the "We Are Family" single. This song was released to help victims of the September 11 attacks.
- She sang on the song "Bad Attitude" from Jay Ungar and Molly Mason's 2003 album.
- Kate sang with Junior Senior on their 2005 album.
- She performed a duet with Peter Jöback on his 2009 album.
- Kate sang on the song "The Whole Man" from the 2010 album Here Lies Love by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim.
- She was a member of the Japanese group NiNa. They released an album and hit singles like "Happy Tomorrow."
- Kate appeared in Blondie's music video for their song "Mother."
- She sang "Let's Spend Half A Day" for the Phineas and Ferb: Rockin' and Rollin' soundtrack in 2013.
- She sang on a song from the Downes Braide Association's 2017 album.
- In 2024, she sang and appeared in a music video with Pylon Reenactment Society for their song "Fix It."
Albums
- 2015: Guitars and Microphones
- 2024: Radios & Rainbows
Film and Television Appearances
Kate Pierson has appeared in or contributed to several films and TV shows:
- The Rugrats Movie (1998, voice only)
- The Flintstones (1994, as part of "The BC-52's")
- A Matter of Degrees (1990)
- Athens, GA: Inside/Out (1987)
- One Trick Pony (1980)
- She played a club owner in an episode of Flight of the Conchords.
- The Adventures of Pete and Pete (1993, episode "What We Did on Our Summer Vacation")
- Kate is credited for singing the theme song for the Nickelodeon cartoon Rocko's Modern Life.
- The B-52's, including Kate, appeared in an episode of the soap opera Guiding Light in 1982.
- The B-52's performed a funny version of their song "Love Shack" called "Glove Slap" on The Simpsons (1999).
- Phineas and Ferb (2012): She sang "Spend Half a Day" in an episode.
- Kate Pierson appeared as herself in an episode of Difficult People.
See also
In Spanish: Kate Pierson para niños
