Saxophonist, multi-wind player, arranger, composer, music director, theater works producer, educator, and visionary, Pat Patrick performed with Duke Ellington’s and Quincy Jones’ orchestras, Thelonious Monk, Mongo Santamaria, Nat King Cole, James Moody, Eric Dolphy, Marvin Gaye, Patti Labelle, and Billy Taylor. Most of his career, however, was spent laying down the baseline grooves on the baritone saxophone with the indefinable Sun Ra Archestra for over 35 years.

Based on research in the recently opened archive of personal papers, artifacts, scrapbooks, music, news clippings and photographs, Pat Patrick: American Musician and Cultural Visionary, explores the life and influence of this important musical man-behind-the-scenes. Musicologist Bill Banfield weaves a treasure trove of primary source material-including interviews with Patrick’s family, friends, and associates-into a tapestry of Patrick’s remarkable life as the musical right hand of some of America’s greatest Black musical artists.