The Evolution of Patti Austin

"The most underappreciated voice in music today." - Charlie Rose

When I first became aware of Patti Austin's music, it was synonymous (to me) with the R&B sound of the 80s.  The now classic duet "Baby Come to Me" was performed by her and James Ingram.  She also did some great work with Quincy Jones on his best selling "Sounds...And Stuff Like That!!", "The Dude" and "From Q with Love".

It wasn't until I got into listening to jazz a few years ago that I realized that Patti Austin has done a whole lot more than just R&B.

Ms. Austin's career spans almost six decades. She started singing at the age of 4. Her debut? It was at Apollo Theater in Harlem.

What did she do as an encore? She signed a contract with RCA Records the following year, at the age of five.

Back in the day, Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington proclaimed themselves as her godparents.

By the late 1960s and 70s, she was a prolific session vocalist. Her voice was heard behind everyone from Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, James Brown and Joe Cocker to Bette Midler, Roberta Flack, Luther Vandross and Diana Ross.

As I mentioned earlier, the 80s was the time that I became aware of her talent. This was also the beginning of her most prolific hitmaking period.

The 90s saw the release of albums such as "Carry On" (1991), "That Secret Place" (1994) and "In & Out of Love" (1998).

Ms. Austin took off in the new millenium with "For Ella" (2002), her GRAMMY-nominated homage to Ella Fitzgerald.

 It was the release of 2007's "Avant Gershwin" that finally garnered Patti Austin a well deserved GRAMMY award. "Avant Gershwin" found her re-imagining George Gershwin's complex and fascinating body of work.

"You can judge a brilliant piece of music by how you can bend and stretch it," Austin has said. "I always believed George Gershwin to be avant-garde so I wanted to challenge myself and rework everything melodically and lyrically."

Patti Austin has a seemingly endless repertoire of singing styles. If I was in New York City this week, I would definitely check out her show this Wednesday (May 12) evening at B.B. King Blues Club and Grill at 8pm.

ANOTHER great show for you to go see live!

How cool is that? You'll thank me if you go, you'll see. (smile)

Comments

[wayne]

beautiful tribute. we may get to see her soon.

[Monet]

I LOVE Patti Austin!! Very Nice tribute!!

[Donna M]

Hi Wayne and Monet!!

Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad that you both enjoyed the tribute.

Wayne: I hope that you get to see her in June. As I mentioned to you earlier this week, that lineup scheduled for the day that she is to perform shouldn't disappoint...

DM