BOBBY PATTERSON

He was born in Dallas, Texas, on March 13, 1944. Patterson became a professional entertainer at age ten, by which time he was already an accomplished guitarist and drummer. In his early teens, he formed a band called the Royal Rockers, who won quite a few local talent shows and Battles of the Bands. One such win brought the Royal Rockers to California, where they had a session with Liberty Records. However, those recordings were not released.

Patterson attended Arlington College, part of the University of Texas, but retained his interest in music. By now, he had also become proficient in both the organ and the saxophone. While keeping up with his studies, Patterson played gigs at both Rhythm & Blues and Country & Western venues.

One of his classmates was the son of John and Robin Abdnor, who owned the fledgling Abnak label in Dallas. Patterson signed with the company in 1962, which resulted in his debut single, “You Just Got to Understand.” While the record wasn’t terribly successful, it did well enough that it convinced the Adbnors to start an R&B subsidiary, Jetstar. Patterson switched to the new imprint and began to produce his own sessions.

During his six years with Abnak-Jetstar, Patterson became an all-around record man. He continued his recording career while growing into a crackerjack producer. He was behind “Do It Again a Little Bit Slower,” a 1967 top twenty hit for Jon & Robin on Abnak. (They were actually the label’s owners, John and Robin Abdnor.)

Patterson’s Jetstar catalog produced many fine recordings, but only one made the national Soul chart: 1969’s “T.C.B. Or T.Y.A.” (Take care of business or turn yourself around.) That same year, the Abdnors closed the company. Patterson then self-produced (and financed) an album, which he shopped around to labels in New York and Los Angeles. While he found a number of willing record companies, Patterson ultimately decided he would be better off with a southern-based label.

In 1971, he signed with Jewel-Paula Records of Shreveport, Louisiana. His recordings would come out on Paula, while the Soul Power imprint was created for his own productions. Patterson’s second Paula single, “How Do You Spell Love,” made some noise down south. He also enjoyed regional success on Soul Power with singer Shay Holiday and a band called the African Music Machine. Patterson’s debut album, It’s Just a Matter of Time, came out on Paula in 1972.

In his live shows, Patterson would play the guitar with his teeth—a technique he perfected long before anyone heard of Jimi Hendrix. Patterson’s playing also included discernible melodies, which Hendrix never even attempted.

In the ‘70s and ‘80s, he put out singles on labels like Proud, Granite, All Platinum, and Malaco. In 1996, the Proud label released Second Coming, Patterson’s first album in twenty-four years. He would release five additional albums (on various labels) through 2014.

Charted singles:

“T.C.B. Or T.Y.A.” (1969) R&B #36
“If He Hadn’t Slipped and Got Caught” (1976) R&B #60
“Right Place, Wrong Time” (1977) R&B #68

Other worthwhile Bobby Patterson recordings include “Till You Give In” (1965), “If I Didn’t Have You” (1967), “Soul Is Our Music” (1967), “Let Them Talk” (1967), “Sweet Taste of Love” (1968), “What a Wonderful Night for Love” (1968), “The Knockout Power of Love” (1969), and “The Trial of Mary McGuire” (1969).