b. Bobby Patterson, 13th March 1944, Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.
Bobby Patterson is similar to many other Dallas-based blues musicians, he is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who continued the soul-blues tradition of people like Bobby 'Blue' Bland, Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett.
However, unlike some of these other singers, Patterson has worked in all aspects of the blues record business.
Patterson is a songwriter, a producer, a promotion man, and a label owner.
Bobby Patterson began performing when he was 10, playing guitar and drums.
While still in his early teens, he formed a band called the Royal Rockers, who won talent contests in and around Dallas.In 1957, one of the talent contests led to a trip to California to track a single for Liberty Records, which was never released.
Patterson then went on to nearby Arlington College, where one of his classmates was the son of a local record company owner.
In 1962, Patterson recorded 'You Just Got To Understand' for Abnak Records. The single wasn't terribly successful, but it convinced the label's owner, John Abnak, to start a soul division, called Jetstar Records.
Patterson recorded for Jetstar for the next six years, becoming a songwriter, producer and promotion man in the process.
Bobby's regional hits, all self-penned, on the Jetstar label included 'Let Them Talk' (also popularized by Little Willie John) and, with his Mustangs, 'I'm Leroy, I'll Take Her,' 'Broadway Ain't Funky No More,' 'T.C.B. Or T.Y.A.,' 'My Thing Is Your Thing,' 'The Good Old Days' and 'I'm In Love With You.'
In 1969, after a string of regional hits, Abnak Records folded and Patterson recorded his own self-produced album.
Shortly after that, he quit recording under his own name to produce and promote records made by other artists.
As a producer, Patterson has worked with Fontella Bass, Chuck Jackson, Ted Taylor, Shay Holiday, Roscoe Robinson, The Montclairs, Tommie Young and Little Johnny Taylor.
Patterson's songs have been recorded by Albert King ('That's What The Blues Is All About') and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, who recorded and had success with his 'How Do You Spell Love?'.
More recently, Patterson has been back on the comeback trail, recording and releasing an album, 'Second Coming', in 1996 on his own Dallas-based Proud Records.
'Second Coming' is a good introduction to Patterson's music,however, for a greater portfolio overview of Pattersons recorded output, you'll have to search out his 45 rpm singles.
image courtesy of leo hallin
Albums:
It's Just a Matter of Time (Paula 1972)
She Don't Have to See You (Charly 1980)
Taking Care of Business (Kent 1995)
Second Coming (Proud 1996)
I'd Rather Eat Soup (Big Bidness 1998)
Got My Groove from You (Charly 1999)
