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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZAUSTIN, Patti(b 10 Aug. '50, NY) Soul/jazz singer with broad and deep experience, superb voice. Made stage debut age three singing 'Teach Me Tonight' at Apollo Theatre during Dinah Washington act, appeared on Sammy Davis Jr TV show; more TV, theatre dates; worked on stage in Lost In The Stars and Finian's Rainbow, went to Europe age nine with bandleader/arranger Quincy Jones. Toured with Harry Belafonte age 16; established as studio performer at 17, session credits with Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Frankie Valli, George Benson, Roberta Flack, etc. Returned to spotlight with jazz-infl. LPs on CTI '76--80: End Of A Rainbow, Havana Candy, Live At The Bottom Line, Body Language; incl. own songs. Sessioned with Marshall Tucker, Steely Dan, Blues Brothers (John Belushi, 1949--82; Dan Aykroyd) all '80; then linked again with Jones (who calls her 'the daughter I don't remember asking for'). Sang lead on his '81 smash 'The Dude', won Grammy '82; title track hit single from debut LP Every Home Should Have One '81 on Jones's Qwest label; LP also incl. duet with James Ingram 'Baby Come To Me', became theme on TV soap opera General Hospital, made no. 1 USA, no. 11 UK '83. Second duet 'How Do You Keep The Music Playing' from film Best Friends nominated for best song Oscar. Second solo album on Qwest called It's Gonna Be Special in USA '84, eponymous Patti Austin in UK; then Getting Away With Murder '85, The Real Me '88. Live At The Bottom Line is on Columbia; Love Is Gonna Getcha '90, That Secret Place, The Ultimate Collection (with Johnny Mathis, George Benson) are all on GRP. |