Patti Austin crosses all musical genres, has made 16 solo albums, and has performed her award-nominated hit songs on the Grammy’s and the Oscars. As a performer, songwriter and vocalist she has had a star-studded career that began at the age of four, making her one of the most beloved artists literally over the world. Her extraordinary career continues to cross over boundaries and reach new heights.
Patti Austin made her debut at the Apollo Theater at age four and had a contract with RCA Records when she was only five. Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington have proclaimed themselves as her godparents. As an adolescent she appeared on "The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show" (1966) and performed in the stage versions of "Lost In The Stars" and "Finian's Rainbow". Age nine found her traveling to Europe with her Godfather Quincy Jones. With an immaculate voice and natural musicianship she toured at the age of sixteen with Harry Belafonte.
At the beginning of the 80's, Quincy Jones gave Patti exposure to a wider audience through her participation on his best-selling album Stuff Like That and the Grammy-winning classic The Dude. Her debut album for Quincy's Qwest label included the chart-topping hit "Baby Come To Me," a now classic duet with James Ingram. The pair reprised their success with the Oscar nominated "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?".
She sang the duet "It's the Falling in Love" with Michael Jackson on his album Off The Wall. 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"). She also led a new group of Raelettes for the 2006 album Ray Charles + Count Basie Orchestra = Genius?. That group also featured veteran session singer Valerie Pinkston and members of the group Perry.
Additionally she became one of the most prolific session singers of the decade; recording with Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jazz guitarist and vocalist George Benson, Joe Cocker, and Roberta Flack to name a few. In the 1980s she worked with the groups Steely Dan and the Blues Brothers. Maintaining her long association with Quincy Jones, Austin's vocals were featured on his album and title song "The Dude" which earned a 1982 Grammy Award.
During the 70s she was the undisputed "queen" of the New York jingle session scene. Her voice was heard on literally hundreds of commercials, behind everyone from Paul Simon, Cat Stevens and Joe Cocker to Bette Midler, Roberta Flack, Luther Vandross and Diana Ross.
Long since her first R & B hit "Family Tree" (1969), in the 1980s Austin had joined the ranks of a minority of women lauded for their songwriting ability and vocal expertise. She garnered another hit with "Every Home Should Have One" on Jones' Qwest Label, and scored a #11 UK hit with "Razzamatazz" in early 1981.
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 award came for her ninth nomination in that category.
These days, Patti Austin is constantly on tour performing with her band of various configurations to suit the desires of her very diverse fan base. Lately, she has become a favorite of Big Band's & Symphonies around the world. These performances usually generate several standing ovations, especially when she recreates her work with the WDR Big Band from Cologne, Germany. She recorded with the WDR Big Band "For Ella", her critically acclaimed and Grammy-nominated tribute to the legendary Ella Fitzgerald and won a Grammy for "Avant Gershwin". In 2011 her new Jazz, Pop & R & B album "Sound Advice" has been released with incredible response in the Pop & Jazz world! In 2013 another great Big Band album with the WDR Big Band will be released with the music of Duke Ellington.
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