User:Bmolitch/sandbox

7/10, 1:41pm

Patti Sterling

Patti Sterling started singing professionally at sixteen. She studied voice and drama with Peter Lance at his studios in North Hollywood, Ca. and auditioned for Milton Anderson’s original Young Americans, winning a spot in the group after being selected from two hundred hand-picked music students in California. She performed in live shows and on records with Johnny Mathis, Julie Andrews, Andy Williams, John Davidson and Henry Mancini. Her interest in jazz led her to an audition for rock-band, Morning of the World, and was hired to replace Linda Ronstadt as a lead vocalist. The band, led by Michael Janusz, an ethnomusicologist from UCLA, was a popular act at the Ash Grove. Alex Hasseliev, of Limelighters fame connected the group with a management team who signed them to Elektra Records run by Jac Holtzman. After a dispute over producers, A&M Records picked up the band, and was supported by David Anderle and Paul Rothschild. Ultimately, this band broke-up and Sterling met Ray Ruff who signed her to Oak Records, to participate in the recording of the Rock Opera, Truth of Truths. She sang the roles of Eve and The Virgin Mary. The recording hit number 33 on the Billboard charts. When Oak dissolved, Patti auditioned for Randy Sparks, who asked her to join The Back-Porch Majority, singing on various television shows, like the Lucy Show, The Allen Ludden Show, and other Four Star Productions. Moving to Dallas, in 1975, because of family issues, Sterling continued to sing. “I have been a professional singer most of my life, hitting the road after High School, and I have carved a niche singing jingles and commercials as the voice of the BBC, Radio Jovan Pan, Sao Paulo, Brazil, WLS, Magic Radio and others. The songs I wrote in the Gospel genre earned me a voting membership in NARAS. I adapted the Grammy in the Schools Program for lower grades, and created another children’s literacy/music program called Books You Can Sing. KonKord Records owner Estus Patterson and I hope to record a Gospel/Blues CD very soon.”