Pat Suzuki
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pat Suzuki | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Chiyoko Suzuki |
| Also known as | Pat Suzuki |
| Born | September 23, 1934 |
| Genre(s) | Broadway, crooners |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Label(s) | RCA |
| Associated acts | Broadway cast Flower Drum Song |
Pat Suzuki (born September 23, 1934) is a Japanese American female singer most famous for her role and cast recording of the Broadway hit musical Flower Drum Song, especially "I Enjoy Being a Girl".
Suzuki was born in Cressey, California on September 23, 1934.[1] She was nicknamed "Chibi", which is Japanese for "squirt", as the youngest sister.
She sang at church on Sundays. Pat and her family were forced to enter internment camps during WWII. She attended San Jose State. In New York she was in a touring production of Tea House of the August Moon. She got a permanent job in Seattle after the owner of a local club, called The Colony, was impressed by her.
Bing Crosby happened to catch her act one summer night in 1957, leading to the 1958 album titled The Many Sides of Pat Suzuki. She appeared on the "The Frank Sinatra Show", which also led to a role in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Broadway production of Flower Drum Song. The Broadway soundtrack of "I Enjoy Being A Girl" has since been used in many movies and even viral videos up to the 21st century, though few are familiar that it was performed by an Asian American. Although William Hung is the most widely recognized Asian American performer today, Suzuki's politically incorrect hit is certainly among the most widely recognizable hit recordings by any Asian American artist. The movie part was given to Nancy Kwan, a Hollywood veteran, with the singing voice played by a non-Asian backup singer.
Suzuki's version of "How High the Moon" is featured in the opening scenes of the motion picture Biloxi Blues. It is also featured in the film Eat a Bowl of Tea.
Throughout the 1970s, she continued to perform and record her music. She played Ma Eng in the off-Broadway production of Frank Chin's The Year of the Dragon. She appeared in Pat Morita's short-lived sitcom Mr. T and Tina, the first sitcom starring an Asian American family. She has supported Asian American rights, and continues to perform at forums such as Lincoln Center. In 1999 she released The Very Best of Pat Suzuki. Her records are on display at the Experience Music Project in Seattle, as the only Asian artist featured there.
Suzuki's husband was photographer Mark Shaw, and they had a son.
