Patti Austin

Biography

Patti Austin, born August 10, 1950, in Harlem, New York, grew up immersed in music as the daughter of a trombonist and a singer, with godparents Dinah Washington and Quincy Jones. She debuted onstage at age four with Dinah Washington at Harlem's Apollo Theater, secured an RCA recording contract by age five, and appeared on television shows like Sammy Davis Jr.'s while performing in theater productions such as Lost in the Stars and Finian's Rainbow. At nine, she toured Europe with Quincy Jones, and by her teens, she recorded R&B singles for labels like Decca/Coral, RCA, and United Artists, charting with 'Family Tree' in 1969, and toured with Harry Belafonte at 16.[1][2][3][5][8]

Transitioning to session work, Austin became the 'Queen' of New York's jingle and backup scene in the 1970s, singing on hits like James Brown's 'It's a Man's Man's Man's World,' Paul Simon's '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,' and recordings by Cat Stevens, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Roberta Flack, Joe Cocker, and Luther Vandross. Signed to CTI Records, she released albums like End of a Rainbow (1976) with elite jazz musicians including Randy and Michael Brecker, Eric Gale, Chuck Rainey, and Steve Gadd. Her breakthrough came in the 1980s via Quincy Jones' projects, including the duet 'Baby, Come to Me' with James Ingram from her 1981 album Every Home Should Have One, which topped charts in 1983, alongside collaborations with Michael Jackson on 'It's the Falling in Love' and George Benson on 'Moody's Mood for Love.'[1][3][4][5]

Austin's versatile style spans R&B, pop, jazz, and yacht rock, earning Grammy wins for albums like For Ella and Avant Gershwin, plus seven nominations overall and an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music. She has released over 19 solo albums, continues touring with projects like Bebop to Hip Hop alongside Trevor Lawrence Jr., and maintains a legacy as a session legend and live performer, prioritizing artistry over stardom.[1][2][3]

Fun Facts

• Patti Austin's first session gig was backup vocals on James Brown's 'It's a Man's Man's Man's World,' sparking her lucrative jingle career.[5]
• She turned down early stardom after observing the pitfalls of fame in her musical family circle, preferring session work over spotlight risks.[1][4]
• Her 1981 duet 'Baby, Come to Me' with James Ingram initially flopped as a single but topped the US charts in 1983 after Quincy Jones pushed for re-release.[4]
• Austin received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music and appeared in films like 20 Feet from Stardom (2013) and Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988).[3]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Dinah Washington - godparent and early stage collaborator (Apollo Theater debut at age 4) [1950s]
• Quincy Jones - godparent, bandleader, and producer (Europe tour at age 9; 1980s albums including Every Home Should Have One) [1950s-1980s]

Key Collaborators

• James Ingram - duet partner ('Baby, Come to Me' on Every Home Should Have One) [1981-1983]
• George Benson - duet and frequent collaborator ('Moody's Mood for Love'; various sessions) [1970s-1980s]
• Michael Jackson - duet partner ('It's the Falling in Love' on Off the Wall) [1979]
• Paul Simon - backup vocalist ('50 Ways to Leave Your Lover') [1975]
• Trevor Lawrence Jr. - co-creator of live show (Bebop to Hip Hop) [2020s]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #2008-universal-fire-victim, #contralto, #jazz