Patti Austin
Singer Patti Austin on the evening of her appearance at the Ram's Head in Annapolis, Maryland where she sang an "all Gershwin" show on October 29, 2007.
Background information
Born	August 10, 1950(1950-08-10)
Origin	Harlem, New York
Genre(s)	R&B, Pop, Jazz
Occupation(s)	Singer, Songwriter
Years active	1953-Present
Label(s)	RCA (1953) CTI (1976-1980) Qwest / Warner Bros. (1981-1989) GRP (1990-1995) Concord Vista (1997-1998) Intersound / Compendia (1998-1999) Warner Bros. (2000-2001) Playboy Jazz / Concord (2002) Rendezvous (2007-Present)

Patti Austin (born August 10, 1950^[1], in Harlem, New York), to Edna and Gordon Austin, is a Grammy-winning R&B and jazz music singer. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, long known as a major African American cultural and business center New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music RCA Records (originally The Victor Talking Machine Company, then RCA Victor is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. CTI Records ( Creed Taylor International or Creed Taylor Incorporated) was a Jazz Record label founded in 1967 by Creed Taylor Qwest Records is the Record label started by Quincy Jones in 1980 as a joint venture with Warner Bros Warner Bros Records Inc is an American Record label that operates as a wholly owned Subsidiary of Warner Music Group. History Previously the duo had formed Grusin/Rosen Productions as a freelance production team in 1976 making records for labels such as RCA Blue Note and CTI with artists like Concord Records is a US Record label now based in Beverly Hills California. Warner Bros Records Inc is an American Record label that operates as a wholly owned Subsidiary of Warner Music Group. Concord Records is a US Record label now based in Beverly Hills California. Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, long known as a major African American cultural and business center New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States

Career

She made her debut at the Apollo Theater at age four and had a contract with RCA Records when she was only five. RCA Records (originally The Victor Talking Machine Company, then RCA Victor is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington have proclaimed themselves as her godparents. Quincy Delight Jones Jr (born March 14, 1933) also known as Q, is an American Music Impresario, conductor Dinah Washington ( August 29, 1924 &ndash December 14, 1963) was a Blues, R&B and Jazz singer A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's Baptism.

By the late 1960s Austin was a prolific session musician and commercial jingle singer. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Session musicians are musicians available for hire as opposed to musicians who are either permanent members of a musical outfit or who have acquired fame in their own right A jingle is a memorable Slogan, set to an engaging Melody, mainly broadcast on Radio and sometimes on Television commercials. During the 1980s, signed to Jones's Qwest Records, she began her most prolific hitmaking period. Qwest Records is the Record label started by Quincy Jones in 1980 as a joint venture with Warner Bros She charted twenty R&B songs between 1969 and 1991 and had success on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, where she hit number one in 1981 with "Do You Love Me?" / "The Genie". Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. Billboard 's Hot Dance Club Play chart (also known as Club Play Singles, and formerly known as Hot Dance Music/Club Play and Hot Dance/Disco In Popular music, a chart-topper is an extremely popular recording, identified by its inclusion in a ranked list&mdasha Chart &mdashof top Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981

The album containing that hit, Every Home Should Have One, also produced her biggest mainstream hit. "Baby, Come To Me," a duet with James Ingram, initially peaked at number 73 on the Hot 100 in early 1982. James Ingram (born February 16, 1956) is an American soul musician Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) After being featured as the love theme in a prominent storyline on the soap opera General Hospital, the song re-entered the pop chart in October and went to number one in February 1983. A soap opera is an ongoing episodic work of Fiction, usually broadcast on Television or Radio. General Hospital (commonly abbreviated GH) is an American Soap opera broadcast on the ABC television network during the Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) The single was certified Gold by the RIAA. She would later team up again with Ingram for "How Do You Keep The Music Playing".

That year, Austin's single "It's Gonna Be Special" was featured on the soundtrack for the Olivia Newton-John/John Travolta film Two of a Kind. Olivia Newton-John, AO, OBE (born September 26 1948) is a Grammy Award -winning and Golden Globe -nominated English-born Two of a Kind is a 1983 Romantic comedy film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Though the film was not the major success envisioned for the re-teaming of the Grease stars, the soundtrack went Platinum and Austin's single, produced by Quincy Jones, became one of her highest-profile hits. Grease is a film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Jim Jacobs ' and Warren Casey 's musical, Grease "It's Gonna Be Special" peaked at #5 on the Dance charts, #15 on the R&B charts, and charted on the Hot 100 in 1984. Dance (from French danser, perhaps from Frankish) is an Art form that generally refers to movement of the body usually rhythmic The song also appeared on her self-titled album of that year, and its follow-up, "Rhythm of the Streets", remixed by John "Jellybean" Benitez, narrowly missed Billboard's Dance Top Ten, though it peaked higher on Hi-NRG charts. John Benitez better known as "Jellybean Benitez" (born November 7, 1957) is a Drummer, Guitarist, Songwriter, See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry Hi-NRG (High Energy is a type of high-speed Electronic dance music which was popular in Nightclubs in the late 1970s and 1980s The two songs were featured on a double-A-side 12" single. For "Rhythm of the Streets" Austin shot her first music video. A music video is a Short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music most commonly a Song with lyrics

Striking while the iron was hot, Austin released her third album in three years, Gettin' Away With Murder. In addition to the title track, she had two more hit singles, "Honey For The Bees" (#24 R&B and #6 Dance) and "The Heat of Heat". Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, noted for their later work with Janet Jackson, the latter track returned Austin to the top 15 of the R&B charts for what would be the last time to date. James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born on June 6, 1959, in Minneapolis Minnesota) and Terry Steven Lewis (born Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16 1966 is an American recording artist and entertainer It would also be her last Hot 100 charting to date, and scored on the Dance charts.

Austin took a step back in time from the cutting edge of music for her first featured acting role, appearing with Jeff Bridges and Joan Allen in Francis Ford Coppola's critically acclaimed period piece Tucker: The Man and his Dream (1988). Jeffrey Leon Bridges (born December 4, 1949) is a four-time Academy Award -nominated American Actor and Musician. Joan Allen (born August 20, 1956) is an American multiple Academy Award -nominated and Tony Award -winning Actress, perhaps Francis Ford "Frank" Coppola (born April 7, 1939) is a five-time Academy Award -winning American Film director, Tucker The Man and His Dream is a 1988 film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Jeff Bridges which tells the story of Preston That year, Austin released The Real Me, a collection of standards which garnered her the first of several Top 10 showings on the Jazz Albums chart.

She sang the duet "It's the Falling in Love" with Michael Jackson on his album Off The Wall. Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29 1958 is an American musician entertainer and businessman Other duet partners include George Benson ("Moody's Mood for Love" and "Keep Your Dreams Alive"), and Luther Vandross ("I'm Gonna Miss You In The Morning"). George Benson (b March 22 1943, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) is an American musician whose recording career began at the age of twenty-one Luther Ronzoni Vandross ( April 20 1951 – July 1 2005) was an American R&B and soul Singer-songwriter In 1985 she sang lead vocals on a collaboration with her producer, Narada Michael Walden, and the single, "Gimme Gimme Gimme", went top 40 on the R&B charts. Michael Walden (born April 23, 1952, in Kalamazoo, Michigan U

In 1991, she recorded the duet "You Who Brought Me Love" with music legend Johnny Mathis, which was received with critical acclaim. John Royce "Johnny" Mathis (born September 30, 1935) is an American Singer of Popular music. That same year she was invited to be a guest on a Johnny Mathis television special that was broadcast across North America.

Austin led a new group of Raelettes for the 2006 album Ray Charles + Count Basie Orchestra = Genius². Ray Charles Robinson ( September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) known by his Stage name Ray Charles, was an American The Count Basie Orchestra is a 16 to 18 piece Big band, one of the most prominent jazz performing groups of the Swing era, founded by Count Basie. That group also featured veteran session singer Valerie Pinkston and members of the group Perry.

During a 2007 interview promoting her latest recording, Austin reflected how as a teenager she reluctantly attended one of Judy Garland's last concerts and the experience helped focus her career, stating "She (Judy Garland) ripped my heart out. Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10 1922 – June 22 1969 was an American actress and singer I wanted to interpret a lyric like that, to present who I was at the moment through the lyric. "[1]

In 2008, fifty-three years after getting her first record contract, Patti Austin was awarded her first Grammy, winning Best Jazz Vocal Album for Avant Gershwin at the 50th annual Grammy Awards. The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences [2] The award came for her ninth nomination in that category.

Austin continues to tour year round and release new music.

Discography

Albums

• 1976: End Of A Rainbow US #- (Jazz albums #31)
• 1977: Havana Candy US #116
• 1979: Live At The Bottom Line (re-released in 1991 with the original live vocals instead of studio overdubs) US #- (Jazz albums #33)
• 1980: Body Language US #- (Jazz albums #28, Black albums #62)
• 1981: Every Home Should Have One US #36 (Jazz albums #9, Black albums #16), UK #99
• 1983: In My Life US #- (Black albums #65)
• 1984: Patti Austin US #87
• 1985: Gettin' Away With Murder US #182 (R&B #25)
• 1988: The Real Me US #- (Jazz albums #7, R&B #56)
• 1990: Love Is Gonna Getcha US #93 (Jazz albums #4, R&B #45)
• 1991: Carry On US #- (Jazz albums #13, R&B #75)
• 1992: Live US #- (Jazz albums #20)
• 1994: That Secret Place US #- (Jazz albums #12)
• 1996: Jukebox Dreams (Japan only, tracks mostly identical with In & Out Of Love)
• 1998: In & Out Of Love US #-
• 1998: Street Of Dreams (South Korea and Japan, released in the US in 1999)
• 2001: On The Way To Love US #- (Jazz albums #21)
• 2002: For Ella (also Japanese issue with bonus track) US #- (Jazz albums #7)
• 2007: Avant Gershwin US #- (Jazz albums #5)

Compilations

• 1994: The Best Of Patti Austin (compilation of tracks for the CTI label 1977-79)
• 1995: The Ultimate Collection
• 1999: The Best of Patti Austin (Japan only compilation of tracks for Warner Music)
• 1999: Take Away The Pain Stain (French collection of tracks for Coral, 1965-67)
• 2000: The CTI Collection
• 2001: The Very Best Of Patti Austin (collection of singles, mostly Qwest/Warner)
• 2002: Collection
• 2003: Baby Come To Me And Other Hits
• 2007: Intimate Patti Austin

Singles

Notes

1. ^ Some sources still list Ms. James Ingram (born February 16, 1956) is an American soul musician Austin's birth year as 1948. She gave this date in the early years of her career, in order to avoid child work regulations. "I lied about my age and I kicked it up two years because in those days it was a problem to work at that age. [. . . ] I think women are very foolish when they say they're younger than they are anyway. " Quoted in: Roberts, Michael (2007), “Bless The Godchild”, Jazziz Magazine (Boca Raton, FL) (no. 4): 32–37 

External links

• Patti Austin Official Website
• Patti Austin Interview Jazz Monthly
• Patti Austin AllAboutJazz.com Interview
• Patti Austin Examiner.com Interview
• Patti Austin Power To End Stroke Campaign Interview

See also

• List of number-one hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
• List of Number 1 Dance Hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart