Patti Austin with the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra

A professional since the age of five, Patti Austin was a protégé of Dinah Washington and Sammy Davis, Jr. A 1969 single for United Artists titled “Family Tree” cracked the R&B Top 50. Austin cut her debut LP, End of a Rainbow, for Creed Taylor’s CTI label in 1976, followed by Havana Candy in 1977 and Body Language in 1980. She sang lead vocals for Japanese koto player Yutaka Yokokura on “Love Light” in 1978, did a duet with Michael Jackson on “It’s the Falling in Love” for Off the Wall, and sang “The Closer I Get to You” on Tom Browne’s album in 1979. Austin dueted with George Benson on “Moody’s Mood for Love” in 1980. She sang backgrounds for sessions by Houston Person, Noel Pointer, Ralph McDonald, Angela Bofill, and Roberta Flack.