Chi Chi Valenti is an American journalist, nightlife producer, and performance artist.

Career

Writing for ''Details'' and '' The Village Voice'', Valenti became one of the first journalists to chronicle 1980s Ball culture in the Bronx. In 1991, Valenti and her husband

Johnny Dynell Johnny Dynell (born John Savas) is a New York City DJ, record producer, recording artist, remixer, nightclub promoter, and nightlife impresario. Club DJ Dynell started his DJ career at the Mudd Club in 1980 and has been a resident DJ at influent ...

created "Night of 1000 Stevies," an annual

Stevie Nicks Stephanie Lynn Nicks (born May 26, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter, and producer known for her work with the band Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist. After starting her career as a duo with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham, releasi ...

tribute which has continued for more than thirty years and featured performances by

Debbie Harry Deborah Ann Harry (born Angela Trimble; July 1, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter and actress, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Blondie. Four of her songs with the band reached on the US charts between 1979 and 1981. Born in ...

, Cyndi Lauper, Boy George,

Justin Bond Justin Vivian Bond (born May 9, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Described as "the best cabaret artist of heir!-- MOS:GENDERID --> generation" and a "tornado of art and activism", they first achieved prominence under the pseudon ...

, Sherry Vine,

Taylor Mac Taylor Mac Bowyer (born August 24, 1973) is an American actor, playwright, performance artist, director, producer, and singer-songwriter active mainly in New York City. In 2017, Mac was the recipient of a "Genius Grant" from the John D. and Cath ...

, and

Basil Twist Basil Twist is a New York City-based puppeteer who is known for his underwater puppet show, "''Symphonie Fantastique''". He was named a MacArthur Fellowship recipient on September 29, 2015. Life and work Originally from San Francisco, Basil Twis ...

. From 1996 to 2000, Valenti co-owned Mother, a nightclub which hosted parties such as

Jackie 60 Jackie 60 (1990–1999) was a famous weekly party held every Tuesday in New York's Meatpacking District. Founded by DJ Johnny Dynell, writer Chi Chi Valenti, fashion designer Kitty Boots and dancer/choreographer Richard Move, who were later (c. 19 ...

and Click + Drag, and would later be the subject of the 2011 Blondie song, "Mother". Since 2002, Valenti has produced the

Howl Festival The Howl Festival (sometimes styled Howl! Festival or HOWL! Festival) was an event that took place in Manhattan's Tompkins Square Park. It was founded in 2003 and held each spring through 2013 as a celebration of the arts history of the East Villa ...

, named after the Allen Ginsberg poem and performed annually in Tompkins Square Park.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Valenti, Chi Chi Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Performance art in New York City Artists from New York City 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American women American women writers The Village Voice people