Patti Austin's remarkable musical journey began at the tender age of three, when she made her stage debut at the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem, accompanied by her godmother, the iconic Dinah Washington. As a young adolescent, she appeared on The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show in 1966 and performed in stage productions of "Lost In The Stars" and "Finian's Rainbow". At the age of nine, she traveled to Europe with her godfather, the renowned Quincy Jones, and by sixteen, she was touring with the esteemed Harry Belafonte.
Throughout the 1970s, Austin's impressive vocal range and natural musicianship earned her numerous opportunities to compose and sing TV commercial jingles, as well as record with some of the most notable artists of the decade, including Paul Simon, Billy Joel, George Benson, Joe Cocker, and Roberta Flack. Her association with Quincy Jones continued to flourish, and her vocals were featured on his album and title song "The Dude", which earned a Grammy Award in 1982.
Austin's songwriting skills and vocal expertise were widely recognized in the 1980s, as she joined a select group of women celebrated for their ability to craft and perform memorable hits. Her R&B hit "Family Tree" in 1969 was just the beginning, and she went on to score a #11 UK hit with "Razzamatazz" in early 1981. Two duets with James Ingram, "Baby Come To Me" and "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?", brought her even greater exposure, with the former becoming the love theme for the popular daytime drama General Hospital and the latter being nominated for an Academy Award.
Throughout her illustrious career, Austin has sung theme songs for various films and television shows, including "Two Of A Kind" in 1983 and "Shirley Valentine" in 1989. Her album "The Real Me" featured a collection of standards composed by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, and Cole Porter. With a string of successful albums, dozens of compositions recorded by various artists, and collaborations with musical masters Quincy Jones and Dave Grusin, Patti Austin remains one of the most prolific and talented musicians of our time.
