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Pat Lewis Biography

Patsy Lewis was born on October 23, 1947 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Her family moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1951. She attended Central High School where her dream for singing career began. She performed in Glee clubs, talent shows and band throughout her school years. Pat, like most singers, sang in church choirs.

In the early sixties, Pat along with her sister Diane Lewis, formed a group called “The Adorables” along with two other sisters Betty and Jackie Winston. They signed with Golden World Records, owned by Ed Wingate, who along with Joanne Bratton managed the group. Their recordings were, “Deep Freeze,” “Daddy Please,” “Ooh Boy,” “Be” and “Schools All Over.” “The Adorables” also recorded “Romeo and Juliet” with the “Reflections”.

Patsy went on to fulfill her dream and ventured out on her own as a single artist. Dropping the “sy” in her name and becoming Pat Lewis, she recorded her first single at Golden World Records, “Can’t Shake It Loose.” She also began singing background vocals for various artists. “The Andantes”, the background group for Motown Records, was frequently hired at the Golden World. One day a member of “The Andantes” could not make the session so they tried Pat. They liked her and she began singing background at Motown and numerous other recording studios. She also recorded at Brunswick in Chicago on Jackie Wilson’s album, “Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher.”

In 1966, Golden World Records was sold to Motown. Pat then signed with Solid Hit Bound Records, owned by Don Davis and LaBaron Taylor, where she recorded several singles, “Look At What I Almost Missed,” “Warning,” “No One To Love,” “No Baby No,” “The Looser.” During this period in the mid-sixties she was making personal appearances, doing background arrangements for various artist and vocals along with her sister Diane and Rose Williams.

In 1967, Aretha Franklin asked her to become one of her background singers on the road. She remained with Aretha off and on for a few years traveling and recording in the studio. During this time she continued to arrange and sing background along with Diane and Rose for many writers, producers and recording companies. They were simply known as “The Group.” Pat also did local and national commercials.

In 1969, Don Davis owner of United Sound Recording Studio (writer/producer for Stax Records) called “The Group” for yet another session which was for Isaac Hayes’ album “Hot Buttered Soul.” Pat was hired to arrange and record background vocals. When the album was released it was a hit. Isaac called “The Group” and asked if they wanted to travel with him. Pat gave Aretha Franklin her notice and “The Group” became “Hot Buttered Soul.” While working with Don Davis and Isaac Hayes, “Hot Buttered Soul” recorded background vocals for many of Stax artists. “Hot Buttered Soul” remained with Isaac Hayes from 1969 to 1982 as his opening act and his studio group. They went on world tours and appeared on TV shows nationally and abroad. Pat continued to arrange all background vocals but was not given credit until a later date. During Isaac’s off time, “Hot Buttered Soul” traveled with Aretha Franklin and Rick Dees “Disco Duck.”

In 1972, “Hot Buttered Soul” moved to Memphis. In 1974 they added a fourth group member, Barbara McCoy, a former member of the “Chantels.” They then became “Hot Buttered Soul Unlimited.” Pat also worked for Shoe Productions where she did commercials for several products. Singing became scarce due to Isaac’s career difficulties, so Pat and Diane moved back to Detroit, but still worked with Isaac off and on.

After returning to Detroit, Pat formed a band “Thrust” and began making personal appearances in clubs in Detroit and Canada. There was not much work during this time. In 1984, Pat began performing in musicals at dinner theaters, “In The Lawyers Club,” and “The English Room” at the Book Cadillac Hotel.

In 1985, she reunited with her long time friend and producer, George Clinton, arranging and singing for such artist as “The Funckadelics,” “Prince,” “Red Hot Chili Peppers,” “Bootsy Collins,” “Tracy Ullman,” “Paul Simon,” and the theme song for “The Junkyard Dog.” Pat continued to work with George Clinton through the years, even now.

In 1986, Pat was contacted by the late Edwin Starr, who resided in England to perform her hit singles from the sixties for the Ric Tic Review. The performers included Al Kent, J.J. Barnes, Lou Ragland and Edwin Starr. This opened up a whole new world, the world of Northern Soul.

Northern Soul consists of recording artists of the sixties from the United States. Pat toured the U.K. over the next few years. During that time she met Ian Levine, a friend of Kim Weston, who came to Detroit and wanted to record many of the Motown Artist and their old hits, plus some original songs that he and some of the artist had participated in writing.

Ian hired Pat as the coordinator, background vocal arranger, lead and background singer for the Detroit and Los Angeles family. During this time Pat was also Marilyn McCoo’s vocal coach (one year).

These projects lasted four to five years. Ian also employed Pat, in England, to do other projects for him, where she sang all the background vocals and some leads.

In 1999, Pat was employed through Ian by K-Tel (Time Music) records, to do a Gospel Album. Pat had three weeks to complete the project. She recorded seventy-six songs. This included sixty gospels and sixteen Christian songs. She sang as a quartet (fifteen tracks), as choir (forty tracks), and as a duet. She made the deadline.

Later that year “Hot Buttered Soul Unlimited” reunited in Memphis, Tennessee, and performed at the New Daisy Theater, along with the “Masqueraders.”

In 2002, Pat’s health began to fail. She acquired a rare blood disorder which resulted in both knees being replaced (2003) and the removal of her spleen (2004), which seemed to take care of the problem.

In 2005, Pat received a call from T.J. Lubinski to sing backup for the “Four Tops” Brenda Hollaway, Kim Weston and Francis Nero for the PBS Special (Motown- The Old Days).

The industry learned that Pat was back and calls began to come in. In December 2005 the world of Northern Soul called for the sixties group, “The Adorables,” Pat Lewis, Diane Lewis Davis, Betty Winston, and Jackie Winston (deceased), to perform what they called a weekender in North Hampton, England. Pat returned to the U.K. in 2006 and performed her sixties hits.

In 2006, Hitsville Legends was founded, an organization involving legendary artists from the Motor City. Pat became a member. She co-produced and arranged the voices on an album called “Motown Smooth Jazz” for artist Duane Parham, saxophone extraordinaire….. a collaboration of artists such as: “The Four Tops,” “The Miracles,” “The Contours,” Carolyn Crawford, Diane Lewis Davis (Hot Buttered Soul) and “The Original Vandellas.” This album features Pat singing “Baby I’m For Real” (recorded by “The Originals).

There is also a compulation album coming soon featuring the legendary artists. One of the legendary Motown groups, featured is “The Original Vandellas” (Annette Helton and Rosalind Holmes), long time friends of Pat’s. Annette and Rosalind asked Pat if she would be their lead singer and become “The Original Vandellas” featuring Pat Lewis. It was a YES!!!!

For all of these accomplishments Pat would like to thank God for he is the head of her life!!!

Now I welcome you to follow Pat Lewis from here.

Pat’s Accomplishments

TV Appearances

Swing Time (The Adorables), The Della Reese Show (Aretha Franklin and Isaac Hayes), Soul Train (Isaac Hayes), Midnight Special (Isaac Hayes), The Tom Jones Show (Aretha Franklin), The Diana Shore Show (Isaac Hayes), The Merv Griffin Show (Isaac Hayes), The People’s Choice Award Show (Rick Dees “Disco Duck”), The PBS Special (Motown-The Old Days), The BBC Special (Burt Bacharach and Stevie Wonder), The Man and Woman Show (Dionne Warwick and Isaac Hayes)

National Commercials

Stroh’s Beer (with Brook Benton), Ford Motor Company (Omega Corn Meal and Flour), Queen Bergamont

Countries Performed In

Italy, Australia, Africa, Spain, England, Holland, Germany, Philippines, France, British Columbia, Ontario, Bahamas, Jamaica, Virgin Islands

Artists Pat Recorded With

Isaac Hayes, Johnny Taylor, Albert King, The Supremes, Dionne Warrick, Mavis Staples, Tracy Ullman, Ladies of the Supremes, Aretha Franklin, Soul Children, Prince, Kim Weston, Jackie Wilson, David Porter, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Wonder, Sammy Davis Jr., Rick Dees, Paul Simon, The Four Tops, Billy Eckstein, Frederick Knight, The Reflections, The Marvelettes, Barbara McNair, Ruby Andrews, The Holidays, Lamont Dozier, Burt Bacharach, The Parliments, J.J. Barnes, The Miracles, 5th Dimensions, The Funkadelics, Theresa Lindsey, The Contours, Marilyn McCoo, Edwin Starr, Vickie Winan, Johnny Bristol, Billy Davis, Darrell Banks, Freda Payne, Ivy Joe Hunter, Vanessa Williams, Johnnie Mae Matthews, Bobby Taylor, The Vandellas, Billy Preston, Mable John, John Edwards, Mary Wells, Brook Benton, Emmanuel Lasky, Jimmy Ruffin, Betty Lavette, Tony Orlando, Louis Curry, David Ruffin, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Stanky Wilson

And countless others: