Patti Austin

Patti Austin was born on August 10, 1950, in Harlem, New York, to jazz trombonist Gordon Austin. Her musical journey began at a young age, performing at the Apollo Theater at four. As a teenager, she established herself as a prolific session artist and commercial jingle singer, securing an R&B hit in 1969 with “Family Tree.” Her early career included backing vocals for prominent artists such as Paul Simon on his 1975 number-one hit “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” and Frankie Valli on “Swearin’ to God” and “Our Day Will Come.” Austin released her debut album, “End of a Rainbow,” in 1976 on the CTI jazz label. Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, she continued to contribute vocals to various projects, including Billy Joel’s album “The Stranger” (1977), and collaborated with Michael Jackson and George Benson.

Austin’s career gained significant momentum after working on Quincy Jones’s album “The Dude.” She subsequently signed with Jones’s Qwest label, releasing “Every Home Should Have One” in 1981, which featured the chart-topping duet “Baby, Come to Me” with James Ingram. Their second duet, “How Do You Keep the Music Playing,” was featured in the 1982 film “Best Friends.” In 1989, Austin moved to GRP Records, releasing several albums, including “Love Is Gonna Getcha,” which featured the successful singles “Good in Love” and “Through the Test of Time.” Her album “Avant Gershwin” (2007) earned her a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, one of seven Grammy nominations throughout her career. She has also received an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music.

In 2003, Austin collaborated with Frances Yip on “Papillon III” to support the Jade Ribbon Campaign, featuring duets in Mandarin. She also appeared in the critically acclaimed 2013 documentary film “20 Feet from Stardom,” which highlighted the lives of backup singers. Austin continues to record and perform, paying tribute to jazz legends. In 2015, she contributed vocals to Patrick Williams’ “Home Suite Home” album, with her participation on “52nd & Broadway” contributing to a Grammy win for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals. Her extensive work spans across R&B, pop, and jazz, demonstrating consistent artistic engagement and achievement.