Susan "Toots" DeVille was the first wife of Willy DeVille. I don't have that much info of her, but I believe she died on heroin after breaking up with Willy. She was told to be very violent and moody, almost like a combination of Hell-Cat Maggie & Nancy Spungen & beatnik latino girls. Half Frenchwoman & half Indian, with her pierced nose, she was way ahead of her time.
They remind me of one certain couple...
She did not die of heroin, she died of cancer in 2005.
ReplyDeleteShe never broke up with Willie, he left her in 84.
Toots was adopted by a Jewish Family ,and names ending -sky- are also Russian or Ukrainian
ReplyDeleteSusan [ Toots ] became a elder care provider in Up State N.Y. in the early 90's
and did Die of Cancer in her Mid 50,s .in 2005 .
A Stylist and Image Creator , She Created that Slick Style For Mink Deville
and the Swave Image that became -- Willy Deville .-- " Hey Mr Jim "
Thank you for this great site; ever since hearing "Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl" way back in the Day, I've thought of Willy DeVille as some kind of Quixotic changeling-genius - seems to me that, somewhat like the late great Freddie Neil, Willy DeVille will be re-discovered & appreciated far more by future generations, than he was in his own era. Such a tragedy that he degraded that magical voice through heavy smoking in later years.
ReplyDeleteI'm aussie and have heard that his sister lives in Oz - does anyone know if this is in fact the case & if so, which city/town she lives in; I have contacts with highly professional & respectful documentary film-makers & would love to document her reminiscences of her brother should she be so inclined.
Willy's sister is called Mary-Ellen Page.
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