b. Patti Austin, 10th August 1950, Harlem, New York, U.S.A.
Patti Austin was born in Harlem in 1950.
She was a child star, appearing at Harlem's Apollo Theatre at the age of four.
with dinah washington
By the time she was 5 years old, she was a protege of Dinah Washington and Sammy Davis, Jr.
Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington have declared themselves as her godparents.
By the late Sixties, Patti had become a seasoned session musician, recording advertisement jingles, as well as performing vocal sessions for various artists.
someone's gonna cry b/w you better know what you are getting - 1966 / leave a little love b/w my lovelight ain't gonna shine - 1966
Previously, during the mid sixties, Patti was signed to the Coral imprint and released several sides including 'Take Your Time' b/w 'Take Away The Pain Stain' (in 1966), 'Leave A Little Love' b/w 'My Lovelight Ain't Gonna Shine' (in 1966), 'I Wanna Be Loved' b/w 'A Most Unusual Boy' (in 1965) and 'What A Difference A Day Makes' b/w 'Got To Check You Out' (in 1967 - later made a popular hit by the late Esther Phillips).
One 1969 single (out of the three releases for United Artists), entitled 'Family Tree' b/w 'Magical Boy', reached the R & B Top 50.
end of a rainbow - 1976 / havana candy - 1977
Patti recorded her debut album, 'End of a Rainbow', for Creed Taylor's CTI label in 1976, which was followed by 'Havana Candy' in 1977 (which included the songs 'Little Baby and 'We're In Love').
body language - 1980 / every home should have one - 1981
'Body Language' was released in in 1980, and featured, the Isaac Hayes penned, title track and 'I Can't Stop'.
Patti performed lead vocals, for the Japanese musician Yutaka Yokokura, on his album 'Love Light' in 1978.
She recored several duets in her career including singing with Michael Jackson on the song 'It's the Falling in Love' for his million selling 'Off the Wall' album, and duetted with Luther Vandross on Quincy Jones' album 'Sounds and Stuff Like That', on the song 'I'm Gonna Miss You In The Morning'.
Patti duetted with George Benson on 'Moody's Mood for Love', taken from his 'Give Me The Night' album, in 1980.
She also sang background vocals for Houston Person, Noel Pointer, Ralph McDonald, Angela Bofill, and Roberta Flack on various albums.
In addition to singing background vocals for recording artists, Patti sang (at one time) on 75 commercials, on U.S. radio and television, including products for Avon, New York Tourism, Budweiser, Mazola Cooking Oil and the cat food Miaow, Miaow, Miaow!
Patti sang vocals on Quincy Jones' 'The Dude' LP in 1981, and was featured on the hit 'Razzamatazz', along with lead vocals on the song, 'Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me'.
She then signed a solo deal on Quincy's Qwest label, and her 1982 LP 'Every Home Should Have One' included the number one pop hit (number nine R & B), 'Baby, Come to Me,' which got widespread exposure via the ABC soap opera 'General Hospital.'
The single was certified Gold by the RIAA.
The follow-up single, 'How Do You Keep the Music Playing,' was the theme for the film 'Best Friends'.
On both songs Patti teamed up with with James Ingram.
In 1983, Patti's single 'It's Gonna Be Special' was featured on the soundtrack for the Olivia Newton-John / John Travolta movie vehicle 'Two of a Kind'.
in my life - 1983 / patti austin - 1984
gettin' away with murder - 1985 / the real me - 1988
She continued recording for Jones' Qwest label through the '80's, working with Jam & Lewis in 1985 on her 'Gettin' Away With Murder' album.
That set featured two more hit singles, 'Honey For The Bees' (number 24 R & B and number 6 Dance) and 'The Heat of Heat'.
In 1988, she released 'The Real Me', a collection of standards which reached the Top 10 on various Jazz Album charts.
love is gonna getcha - 1990 / carry on - 1991
Patti left Quest for GRP in 1990 and recorded 'Love Is Gonna Getcha', which featured the singles 'Through the Test of Time', 'Good in Love' and the excellent ballad, 'First Time Love'.
She subsequently recorded 'Carry On' and 'Live', with Shelton Becton in 1991 and 1992, respectively.
that secret place - 1994 / in and out of love - 1998
The Nineties saw a steady run of releases including 'That Secret Place' (in 1994, and featuring 'The Ability To Swing'), 'In and Out Of Love' (in 1997, and featuring 'Totally Unacceptable') and 'Street of Dreams' (in 1999).
street of dreams - 1999 / on the way to love - 2001
'On The Way To Love' was released in in 2001.
On September 11th 2001, Patti had a ticket booked on an internal flight in the U.S. but had to cancel her trip due to recording commitments.
The flight was subsequently hijacked by terrorists and was crashed killing all on board, whilst on route to targeting the White House.
Patti fronted a new version of the group the Raelettes for the 2006 album 'Ray Charles + Count Basie Orchestra = Genius2'.
for ella - 2002 / avant gershwin - 2007 / sound advice - 2011
In 2008, Patti Austin was awarded her first Grammy, winning Best Jazz Vocal Album for 'Avant Gershwin' at the 50th annual Grammy Awards.
Albums:
End of a Rainbow (CTI Records 1976)
Havana Candy (CTI Records 1977)
Live at the Bottom Line (Epic Records 1979)
Body Language (CTI Records 1980)
Every Home Should Have One (Qwest Records 1981)
In My Life (CTI Records 1983)
Patti Austin (Qwest Records 1984)
Gettin' Away with Murder (Qwest Records 1985)
The Real Me (Qwest Records 1988)
Love Is Gonna Getcha (GRP Records 1990)
Carry On (GRP Records 1991)
Live (GRP Records 1992)
That Secret Place (GRP Records 1994)
In & Out of Love (Concord Jazz Records 1998)
Street of Dreams (Intersound Records 1999)
On The Way To Love (Intersound Records 2001)
For Ella (Playboy Jazz Records 2002)
Avant Gershwin (Rendezvous Records 2007)
Sound Advice (Shanachie Records 2011)
For Ella 2 (One River Stream Records 2023)
