Penelope "Penny" Valentine, known as the first Brit femme journo to write seriously about pop music, died Thursday Jan. 9 in London after a long struggle with cancer. She was 59.
In the early 1970s, she reigned as one of Britain's most influential reviewers of pop singles and the first woman to do so in a male-dominated field. She also championed soul music's Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye as well as David Bowie long before "Space Oddity" became a hit.
Known for her glamour, miniskirts and long blonde hair, she also gained popularity on Brit TV's "Juke Box Jury" and the party scene and was friends with numerous stars and pop acts, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Steve McQueen.
London native became a trainee reporter in her teens, got a job at Boyfriend weekly magazine for teen girls, then Disc and Music Echo publication, and in 1970 joined Sounds, a rival to the Melody Maker. Three years later she was hired by Elton John to be press officer for his Rocket record label. After that she worked at Anchor Records, spent a year in New York, then helped launch Street Life in London, followed by work at popular publication Time Out, contributing to the television section.
She was one of 34 staff members who left the mag in 1980 over a labor dispute and co-founded City Limits, where she was an assistant editor.
She became active in Women in Media, Sheba feminist publishing collective, Music for Socialism and the National Union of Journalists, of which she was a life member.
Later she taught at Goldsmiths College and North London U. and worked at the Guardian newspaper.
She also co-wrote a biography of Dusty Springfield, "Dancing With Demons" (2000).
Survivors include her longtime partner, journo-producer Mike Flood Page, and their son.
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