Italian-American singer, a member of the world-known group “Expose.” From 1985 with their first mega hit, “Point of No Return,” they worked together until 1991. Their recordings include “What You Don’t Know” and a Billboard No.1 hit single, “Seasons Change.” Their two chart-topping albums were “Exposure” and “What You Don’t Know.”
Gioia (pronounced “Joya”) was born in Italy and came to the U.S. as a baby. After a few years working in New York City, she moved to South Florida in 1985, looking for work. She was approached to join a band that was just forming; three girl singers who caught the attention of fans with their first hit. They toured the world: Asia, Guam, the UK, Europe, and the U.S. Much of it seemed surreal and was often exhausting .
“We were just so overworked and always tired, I felt I was literally dying!” Gioia said. “I ended up leaving the group because of my voice. It kind of happened overnight. At first I thought I had a little sore throat. Then soon my voice was just gone! I went to every laryngologist I could find from the ‘three corners’: here, California, and NY. They just said, ‘No way can you keep this up: you’re done.’ I would never sing again! The
diagnosis was an inoperable tumor on my vocal cords.”
Devastated at first, Gioia figured that things had to have a reason. For one thing, she now had the time to be a mom to her daughter. She started a business, a small school for the Performing Arts.
In 1995, she found for the first time that she had a talent for songwriting. She limited her talking and in a few years – the tumor dissolved! She began to sing with a band called “Wet,” only a little at first with her own music. Afraid of the competitive grind, she did a few local shows and found that her core of fans was still there. She wrote country, pop, hokie stuff, R & B to the hilt, and back to dance. Her newest dance single is “Free to Be.
In early 2001, CBS TV aired an interview with the girl who was told that she would never sing again.
Gioia currently lives in East Ft. Lauderdale with her husband and her 12-year-old daughter, Brianna. You may spot her at the beach riding her bike or jogging, as she loves outdoor sports and working out.
Link to Wikipedia biography