Biography Pat DiNizio

Pat DiNizio (born October 12, 1955) is the lead singer and songwriter for the band The Smithereens. DiNizio, of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, formed The Smithereens in 1980 with Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken and Mike Mesaros, from Carteret, New Jersey.

After releasing his first solo album, Sounds and Songs, he released an album called This is Pat DiNizio comprised of covers rearranged for vocal and piano. In 2007, he released his third solo album, Pat DiNizio.

In 2000, DiNizio made an unsuccessful run for the New Jersey seat of the United States Senate, running on the Reform Party ticket. The campaign was chronicled in the film "Mr. Smithereen Goes to Washington."

The same year, he launched the "Living Room Tour," a five-month jaunt where he played solo request-only acoustic shows at the homes of fans. The tour was a success, and he still allows bookings for living room shows for a nominal fee.

In 2001, he was one of the first musicians to throw his support behind XM Satellite Radio, becoming host and program director for the XM Unsigned station.

In 2006, he was the focus of a reality special on ESPN2 called "7th Inning Stretch." The special focused on DiNizio's recovery from a "life-threatening and very debilitating nervous disorder" by attempting to try out for minor-league baseball team the Somerset Patriots.

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