Patty Larkin grew up in a musical and artistic family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Descended from a long line of Irish American singers and taletellers, her mother was a painter, her sisters both musicians. She learned at a young age to appreciate the beauty and magic of the arts. She began classical piano studies at age 7, and became swept up in the sounds of pop and folk in the 60s, teaching herself the guitar and experimenting with songwriting in high school. An English major, Larkin sang throughout her high school and college career, starting out in coffeehouses in Oregon and San Francisco. Upon graduation from the University of Oregon, she moved to Boston, Massachusetts and devoted herself to music, busking on the streets of Cambridge and studying jazz guitar at Berklee College of Music and with Boston area jazz guitarists.
Her recording career began in 1985 with Philo/Rounder Records where she recorded Step Into The Light, I’m Fine, and Live In The Square. In 1990, she signed to Windham Hill’s new High Street label and delivered 4 highly praised releases: Tango, Angels Running, Strangers World and Perishable Fruit. After Windham Hill was sold to BMG, Patty moved to Vanguard Records and released Agogo Live, Regrooving The Dream, Red=Luck and Watch The Sky. The latter was a NY Times Critic Choice. In 2010, Patty celebrates her 25th year of recording with 25, a stripped down retrospective of 25 love songs with 25 featured guests (Road Narrows Records/Signature Sounds).
Patty Larkin produced La Guitara, a compilation of international women guitarists challenging the notion that there are no great women guitarists. She has also performed on numerous compilations and her songs have been featured in the following films: “Anyway The Main Thing Is” in Evolution (Dreamworks); “Good Thing” in Random Hearts (Columbia Pictures); and “Coming Up For Air” and “Tenderness on the Block” in Sliding Doors (Miramax). Cher recorded "Good Thing" on one of her albums.
Photo by Jana Leon
Patty Larkin is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Music degree from Berklee College of Music. She has also been honored by Boston’s Mayor Thomas Menino with “Patty Larkin Appreciation Day” for her career in music and philanthropic contributions.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patty_Larkin
Further Readings:
Paperback: 112 pages
Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation (April 1, 2000)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0793593441
ISBN-13: 978-0793593446
Amazon: The Patty Larkin Songbook
Vastly talented Boston-based singer/songwriter/guitarist Patty Larkin is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music and a perennial favorite on the folk circuit. This excellent collection features 20 of her best songs, such as: Banish Misfortune/Open Hand * Coming Up for Air * Don't * Open Arms * The Road * Tango * Wolf at the Door * and more. Includes photos and an insightful interview with Mark Small.
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