Patti Austin’s secret to longevity in music

patti austin photographed by susan wong 2012

Unlike Lauryn Hill, Patti Austin wowed concertgoers during her guest performance with Dave Koz, and continued to during her hour-long set on Day 2 of the 13th Cape Town Jazz Festival.

A veteran in the music industry,Austin, 61, first made her debut at the Apollo Theater at the tender age of 4.  With both musical greats like Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington proclaiming as her godparents,Austin’s talent was moulded into perfection.

By her teens, Austinhad already matured into a prolific musician, and by the late 1960s, the R&B and jazz musician started to chart hits.  Fans will remember her duet with James Ingram, “Baby, Come To Me”, which peaked at number one in 1983 and even her singles being featured on the soundtrack of Two of a Kind.  The younger generation may remember her duet “It’s the Falling in Love” with the late Michael Jackson on his album Off The Wall.

Whatever the age or generation, Austin’s music has undoubtedly touched many.

Austin credited her success and longevity to being good to herself, “We have recently lost such a great artist and friend [Whitney Houston] and we can see what forgetting about yourself can do to someone.”

Austin has not only withstood the test of time, but as a jazz and R&B musician, has passed it with flying colours.

 

PHOTOBLOG: photo credits Susan Wong

patti austin cape town jazz festival march 31 2012 photographed by susan wong patti austin cape town jazz festival march 31 2012 photographed by susan wong

patti austin cape town jazz festival march 31 2012 photographed by susan wong patti austin cape town jazz festival march 31 2012 photographed by susan wong

 

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