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Artist
Pat Suzuki
12+ albums
female vocalistsjazz vocaljapanese-americanjazzpop
about
Pat Suzuki was born Chiyoko Suzuki in Cressy, California (northern California) on September 22, in the early 1930s. As the youngest of four children, she was nicknamed "Chiby", which was Japanese for "squirt". She grew up on the family farm, and discovered her love for singing early on at church on Sundays and at local events. But things took a bad turn with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and Pat and her family were one of many Japanese-American families forced to enter internment camps. After release from the camp, her family returned to California. After attending college at San Jose State, she left for New York, and obtained a job as an understudy in a touring production of "Tea House of the August Moon". While in Seattle, an impromptu performance so impressed the owner of a local club, called The Colony, that she was offered a permanent job there. It was during this time when she hit her first big break. Bing Crosby happened to catch her act one summer night in 1957, and was so taken with her that he immediately referred her to RCA Records. This led to the 1958 release of her first album, titled "The Many Sides of Pat Suzuki". She was in high demand, and made appearances on such shows as "The Frank Sinatra Show", which also led to a role in Rodgers & Hammerstein's production of "Flower Drum Song". After the show's run, she met and married her husband, photographer Mark Shaw, and gave birth to a son. Throughout the 1970s, she continued to perform and record her music. She al
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▣Movies
▤Books
top songs
albums
Pat Suzuki
Pat Suzuki Sings
The Very Best of the RCA and Vik Recordings (1957-60)
Miss Pony Tail
The Song from Moluin Rouge
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Ultra-Lounge: Jet Set Swingers!
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Flower Drum Song (1959 Studio Cast Recording)
The Very Best Of
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The 100 Best Songs Vintage Vocal Jazz
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Flower Drum Song
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Ultra-Lounge: Ciao Bella!
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Ultra-Lounge: Mucho Gusto!