“I used to be a car, Detroit factory Chevrolet, new parts and body work, made me what I am today…drive” (Zenith)

So begins “The Car Song”, JENFER CONVERTIBLE’s quintessential ode to the transexual experience. One of NYC’s few transgendered-led bands, JENFER CONVERTIBLE was formed in 1994 by Lenny Zenith (guitar, lead vocals), Jim Santo (guitar, vocals) and Jamie Pertusi (bass, vocals). Eddie Sino (drums) joined later in 1996.

The band’s first single, “Co-dependency” b/w “The Car Song” was released in the Spring of 1994 by Puddle Records. Both songs received unanimous acclaim and heavy airplay on influential New York-area radio stations such as WNYU, WFDU and WFMU. “The Car Song” was selected by the trend-setting SonicNet BBS as one of the first Action Ready Singles ever distributed online. It was engineered by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem.

A second 45, “Speed Racer” b/w “Rewind” was released by Puddle in Spring 1995 and again gained favorable reviews and substantial airplay. Smug Magazine predicted, “Jenifer Convertible…will be the next great pop band to come out of New York.” This single was engineered and produced by Ray Ketchem of Elk City.

The band earned a reputation as one of the city’s best live acts. They were best known for explosive performances throughout the downtown New York area. Jenifer Convertible played regularly at Luna Lounge, CBGB, Knitting Factory, The Cooler, Tramps and Irving Plaza. And, the band was a featured performer at every major music festival in the region, including New Music Seminar, CMJ Music Marathon, NYU independent Music Festival, Macintosh New York Music Festival, North Carolina’s WE (Wilmington Exchange) Festival, the Philadelphia Music Conference and NXNE in Toronto.

“Wanna Drag?”, Jenifer Convertible’s first CD was recorded at Fun City Studios and produced by Wharton Tiers (Helmet, Sonic Youth). “Wanna Drag?” features “My Boy Bill,” “Car Song” and “Big Wheel.” The CD was released on Yum Recordings.

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