Joan Jett, born Joan Marie Larkin on September 22, 1958, is a renowned American rock singer, guitarist, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her notable career includes being the frontwoman of the iconic band Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, as well as her early involvement with the Runaways, which produced the hit track “Cherry Bomb.”
One of her career highlights with the Blackhearts is her rendition of “I Love Rock ‘n Roll,” a chart-topper on the Billboard Hot 100 for an impressive seven weeks in 1982. Her repertoire also boasts other memorable songs such as “Bad Reputation,” “Light of Day,” “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” and her covers of classics like “Crimson and Clover,” “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah),” and “Dirty Deeds.”
Notably, Jett possesses a mezzo-soprano vocal range, and her musical prowess is underscored by three albums that have earned platinum or gold certifications. Often referred to as “the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Joan Jett & the Blackhearts received a prestigious induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.
Joan Jett currently resides in Long Beach, New York, and has been a proud New York resident since the late 1970s.
Early Life:
Born as Joan Marie Larkin on September 22, 1958, Joan Jett is the eldest of three children to parents James and Dorothy Larkin. Her birthplace was Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. (It’s important to note that some sources incorrectly list her birth date as September 22, 1960). Her father worked as an insurance salesman, while her mother held the role of a secretary. The Larkin family identified as Protestant, attending church and Sunday school, although they were not particularly strict in their religious beliefs.
In 1967, the Larkin family relocated to Rockville, Maryland, where Joan attended Randolph Junior High and Wheaton High School. Joan’s journey with music began when she received her first guitar at the age of 13. Initially, she took some guitar lessons, but she discontinued them as her instructor focused on teaching folk songs. Subsequently, her family made another move, this time to West Covina, California, located in Los Angeles County.
This transition provided Joan Jett with the perfect environment to further explore and pursue her musical interests. Shortly after this move, her parents divorced, prompting her to adopt the name Joan Jett, a name she believed had a more rock-star appeal than her birth name. (In recent years, she has openly acknowledged that “Jett” was not her mother’s actual maiden name, despite her previous claims to the contrary.)