Grammy-winning chanteuse Patti Austin was born to sing and not just sing but to connect with millions worldwide through her undeniable gift of storytelling. Throughout her illustrious career, Austin has used her voice as a beacon of light in the music industry and beyond, creating timeless anthems and lending her voice to causes like her own Blue Movement (Austin's inspiring campaign to end domestic violence), cancer awareness, children's rights, mentoring and other issues important to her. Patti Austin's uniquely identifiable, crisp honey toned alto, along with her impeccable phrasing, sultry song styling and ability to take on any musical genre, has made her a treasure in American music. Topping charts as diverse as R&B, dance and jazz, Austin has collaborated with everyone from her godfather Quincy Jones (most recently on We Are the World 25 for Haiti), Michael Jackson (Off The Wall), James Ingram (Baby Come to Me) to Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, George Benson and Bette Middler, to name a few. On August 31, 2010 the awe-inspiring vocalist will release her Shanachie Entertainment debut, Sound Advice, a collection of powerful songs with potent messages that have personal meaning to the singer. Sound Advice follows Austin's Grammy winning tribute to George Gerswhin, Avant Gershwin.
"Superlatives just don't tell the story. Sure she's an amazing singer, but it's the depth of feeling in Patti's heart and soul that she expresses through her music - that's what the whole world loves about Patti Austin," says Danny Weiss, VP Jazz A&R for Shanachie Entertainment.
With a musical pedigree anyone would be jealous of, the music Gods must have been in cahoots the day Patti Austin was born. The daughter of two musicians, Gordon and Edna Austin, Patti was also fortunate to have the musical and personal mentoring of godparents Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington. Legend has it that Patti made her stage debut at age three with Dinah at the famed Apollo Theater. As a teenager she toured with Harry Belafonte and appeared on the Sammy Davis, Jr. Show. Her long list of credits as one of New York's most in demand sessions singers includes work with everyone from Billy Joel, Paul Simon and Steely Dan to Roberta Flack and The Blues Brothers. Austin is also an accomplished jingle artist whose voice has been heard on dozens of TV commercials. In the 80s Austin's collaborations with James Ingram resulted in a number of hits including "Baby Come To Me," which became the love theme for the popular daytime drama General Hospital and "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" from the Academy Award nominated film Best. In 1986 Austin joined forces with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis scoring the hit "The Heat of Heat" and during the past two decades she recorded a number of albums paying homage to the rich American and jazz songbook including the albums Street of Dreams (1999), For Ella (2002) and 2007's Avant Gershwin, which earned her a Grammy in the Best Jazz Vocal Performance category.
See our review of Sound Advice
.