Album Notes

"I know I'm no glamour girl, and it's not easy for me to get up in front of a crowd of people. It used to bother me a lot, but now I've got it figured out that God gave me this talent to use, so I just stand there and sing".
Ella Fitzgerald
Pat is one of those rare artists that can take a song and mesmerize you. Her interpretations of songs show her versatility that has mastered jazz, r&b, gospel, classical, and other musical venues. You truly feel what she sings about.

When Pat was born her doctor told her Mom, "Heah, this child sure got some lungs". Music always came so easy for her growing up in a musical home where singing was a form of communication. The sounds of Ella, Sarah, Nat, Mahalia, and Leontyne always filled the air. Pat's singing ability was noticed at the age of two, when she sang and danced before she could talk good. As a child she auditioned and was choosen to be one of the first African American children to sing with the presitigous Cleveland Orchestra Children Choir. She studied music at The Cleveland Music Settlement and The Cleveland Institute of Music with voice and clarinet lessons.
She attended The American College of Lucerne, Switzerland with a major in marketing and a music minor. During her college years she continued singing as the lead vocalist for the recording group named "Superlove". Superlove acquired multiple european hits and she traveled and performed in over 18 different countries of the world. Her musical tutelage was under the direction of Chester Simon and Kurt Weil as a recording artist with RCA and Phonogram. She returned to the states in 1982 with aspirations of a solo career but priorities made her set dreams aside and raise her children as a single mom after her divorce. Engagements and concerts were still evident with her gospel music growth.

Pat was given the honor to sing at The White House for President Bill Clinton and she has not looked back. She has sang for many dignitaries and special events. She has been a featured soloist with world renowned The Cleveland Orchestra and The Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, The Cleveland Cavaliers, The Cleveland Indians, The Cleveland Browns, Back up performance for Barry Manilow, featured artist for The UNCF Telethon, featured jazz artist with The Cleveland State Jazz Sundown Series, featured jazz vocalist for the Tri-C Jazz Guitar Ensemble, featured jazz vocalist for "The Women In Jazz Series 05" for the Cleveland Tri-C Jazz festival. Recently Pat was selected to perform "Oprah Winfrey's" favorite song for her visit to Cleveland. These are just a few accomplishments in her singing career with too many weddings and funerals to number.

Pat's love for jazz blossomed with a challenge given to her by Dr. David Thomas to perform and master improvisation and scat techniques. Now her interpretation of songs would make Ella proud. She has become a true JazzKeeper representing Cleveland, Ohio well with a large group of loving and supportive fans. Her new release "Passport 2 Jazz" is long overdue. Currently, she performs at various jazz festivals throughout the states, jazz clubs like Fat Fish Blue and Club Isabella (Cleveland)and has worked with some of the best musicians around. Pat Harris-Thomas can be onstage with the best and hold her own.

This new cd shows the versatility of her range and her precise musical vocal talent. This cd was a labor of love and long, really long overdue! You will enjoy the smooth listening of this CD.