Patricia Barber was born in 1956 and is an American jazz singer, pianist, bandleader. Her parents, Floyd “Shim”, Barber and her mother were professional musicians. She was raised in South Sioux City and graduated from high school there. She sings in a low register, with a traditional bluesy jazz style and her piano playing which is technically excellent. She has many of her own compositions as well as a variety of classic-rock standards. Examples include “Ode to Billie Joe,” “A Taste of Honey,” or “Black Magic Woman.” Her above-average intelligence, vocabulary and ability to write complex and clever lyrics are what make her a household name. Her most recent album, Mythologies, is a collection of songs that are based on Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Patricia will release “The Cole Porter Mix” in September 2008. This collection includes Patricia’s renditions from the Porter songbook and three Barber originals that were inspired by Cole Porter. Patricia Barber is lesbian. Interviews with Barber reveal that she is not trying to conceal this fact but that she ‘tires’ of the public’s interest in her sexuality, disliking that it contributes greatly to her fame. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab reissued her albums Cafe Blue, Modern Cool and Companion on SACD. They also have a limited edition 45 rpm 1/2 speed master, 180g audiophile vinyl. You can also access user-contributed text under the Creative Commons By–SA License.
