Pat Suzuki
Encyclopedia
Pat Suzuki is an American
popular singer
and actress, who is best known for her role in the original Broadway
production of the musical Flower Drum Song
, and her performance of the song "I Enjoy Being a Girl
" in the show.
or second-generation Japanese American
. She was nicknamed "Chibi", which is Japanese
for 'squirt', as the youngest sister.
A few months after the United States
entered World War II
, U.S. President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
forced the Suzuki family and more than 110,000 other Japanese American residents of the U.S. Pacific coast states
, to evacuate their homes and enter American concentration or detention camps
. The Suzukis were sent to the Granada War Relocation Center
in Colorado.
During the early 1950s, she attended college at San Jose State University
. After moving to New York
, she obtained a part in a touring production of the play
, The Teahouse of the August Moon
.
She subsequently secured a singing concert
in a Seattle nightclub
named The Colony. Bing Crosby
attended one of her shows at the club in 1957. Her singing so impressed Crosby that he helped her obtain a recording contract
with RCA Victor
. She recorded
several album
s for RCA Victor, including the 1958 album titled The Many Sides of Pat Suzuki. She also appeared on several national network television program
s, including The Frank Sinatra Show
on ABC
.
Her recordings and television appearances helped her land a lead role in Rodgers and Hammerstein
's Broadway
production of the musical Flower Drum Song
in 1958. Suzuki's rendition of "I Enjoy Being a Girl" is deemed to be the definitive recording. However, Suzuki did not appear in the 1961 film
version of Flower Drum Song
. Actress Nancy Kwan
performed the role in the film
and singer B. J. Baker dubbed her singing voice.
In 1960 Suzuki was nominated for a Grammy Award
in the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
category, for her rendition of "Broadway '59". Also in that year she married photographer Mark Shaw
; they soon had a son, David, but divorced two years later.
Suzuki's studio
haunting rendition of "How High the Moon
" (music
by Morgan Lewis
and lyrics
by Nancy Hamilton) is featured in the opening scenes of the motion picture Biloxi Blues
. The recording is also featured in the film Eat a Bowl of Tea.
Throughout the 1970s, Suzuki appeared regularly on stage. She played the role of Ma Eng in the off-Broadway production of Frank Chin
's The Year of the Dragon
. She also appeared in Pat Morita
's short-lived television sitcom Mr. T and Tina
, the first sitcom starring an Asian American
family.
In 1999, Taragon Records released The Very Best of Pat Suzuki on compact disc
. The compilation album
contained some of her best recordings for RCA Victor, including a performance of "Love, Look Away" (music by Richard Rodgers
and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
) from her 1959 album, Pat Suzuki's Broadway '59.
Her original LP
s are on display at the Experience Music Project
in Seattle, Washington.
Suzuki continues to sing and act on stage in small and major venues such as Lincoln Center. She has actively supported Asian American civil rights.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
popular singer
Traditional pop music
Traditional pop or classic pop or standards music denotes, in general, Western popular music that either wholly predates the advent of rock and roll in the mid-1950s, or to any popular music which exists concurrently to rock and roll but originated in a time before the appearance of rock and roll,...
and actress, who is best known for her role in the original Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production of the musical Flower Drum Song
Flower Drum Song
Flower Drum Song was the eighth stage musical by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. It was based on the 1957 novel, The Flower Drum Song, by Chinese-American author C. Y. Lee. The piece opened in 1958 on Broadway and was afterwards presented in the West End and on tour...
, and her performance of the song "I Enjoy Being a Girl
I Enjoy Being a Girl (song)
"I Enjoy Being a Girl" is a show tune from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Flower Drum Song. It was originally performed in 1958, as the showpiece for the Linda Low showgirl character...
" in the show.
Career
Suzuki is a NiseiNisei
During the early years of World War II, Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated from their homes in the Pacific coast states because military leaders and public opinion combined to fan unproven fears of sabotage...
or second-generation Japanese American
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
. She was nicknamed "Chibi", which is Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
for 'squirt', as the youngest sister.
A few months after the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
forced the Suzuki family and more than 110,000 other Japanese American residents of the U.S. Pacific coast states
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
, to evacuate their homes and enter American concentration or detention camps
Japanese American internment
Japanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on...
. The Suzukis were sent to the Granada War Relocation Center
Granada War Relocation Center
The Granada War Relocation Center was a Japanese American internment camp located in southeast Colorado about a mile west of the small farming community of Granada, south of US 50....
in Colorado.
During the early 1950s, she attended college at San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
. After moving to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, she obtained a part in a touring production of the play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
, The Teahouse of the August Moon
The Teahouse of the August Moon (play)
The Teahouse of the August Moon is a 1953 play written by John Patrick adapted from the 1951 novel by Vern Sneider. It was later adapted for film in 1956, and the 1970 Broadway musical, Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen.-Plot summary:...
.
She subsequently secured a singing concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
in a Seattle nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
named The Colony. Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
attended one of her shows at the club in 1957. Her singing so impressed Crosby that he helped her obtain a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with RCA Victor
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
. She recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
several album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s for RCA Victor, including the 1958 album titled The Many Sides of Pat Suzuki. She also appeared on several national network television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
s, including The Frank Sinatra Show
The Frank Sinatra Show (ABC)
The Frank Sinatra Show is an ABC variety and drama series, starring Frank Sinatra, premiering on October 18, 1957, and last airing on June 27, 1958.- Summary :...
on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
.
Her recordings and television appearances helped her land a lead role in Rodgers and Hammerstein
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were a well-known American songwriting duo, usually referred to as Rodgers and Hammerstein. They created a string of popular Broadway musicals in the 1940s and 1950s during what is considered the golden age of the medium...
's Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production of the musical Flower Drum Song
Flower Drum Song
Flower Drum Song was the eighth stage musical by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. It was based on the 1957 novel, The Flower Drum Song, by Chinese-American author C. Y. Lee. The piece opened in 1958 on Broadway and was afterwards presented in the West End and on tour...
in 1958. Suzuki's rendition of "I Enjoy Being a Girl" is deemed to be the definitive recording. However, Suzuki did not appear in the 1961 film
1961 in film
The year 1961 in film involved some significant events, with West Side Story winning 10 Academy Awards.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:* Atlantis, the Lost ContinentB...
version of Flower Drum Song
Flower Drum Song (film)
Flower Drum Song is a 1961 film adaptation of the 1958 Broadway musical Flower Drum Song, written by the composer Richard Rodgers and the lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The film and stage play were based on the 1957 novel of the same name by the Chinese American author C. Y...
. Actress Nancy Kwan
Nancy Kwan
Nancy "Ka Shen" Kwan is a Eurasian-American actress, who played a pivotal role in the acceptance of actors of Asian descent in major Hollywood film roles...
performed the role in the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and singer B. J. Baker dubbed her singing voice.
In 1960 Suzuki was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance is the latest in a series of awards recognizing superior vocal performance by a female in the pop category, the first of which was presented in 1959. The award goes to the artist...
category, for her rendition of "Broadway '59". Also in that year she married photographer Mark Shaw
Mark Shaw (photographer)
Mark Shaw was a noted American fashion and celebrity photographer in the 1950s and 1960s. He worked for Life magazine from 1952 to 1968; during that period, 27 issues of Life carried cover photos by Mark Shaw. He is best known for his photographs of John F. Kennedy, his wife Jacqueline Kennedy,...
; they soon had a son, David, but divorced two years later.
Suzuki's studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
haunting rendition of "How High the Moon
How High the Moon
"How High the Moon" is a jazz standard with lyrics by Nancy Hamilton and music by Morgan Lewis. It was first featured in the 1940 Broadway revue Two for the Show, where it was sung by Alfred Drake and Frances Comstock....
" (music
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
by Morgan Lewis
Morgan Lewis (songwriter)
Morgan 'Buddy' Lewis was a writer of jazz songs, some of which were also recorded in the pop music genre.-External links:...
and lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
by Nancy Hamilton) is featured in the opening scenes of the motion picture Biloxi Blues
Biloxi Blues
Biloxi Blues is a semi-autobiographical play by Neil Simon. The second chapter in what is known as his Eugene trilogy, it follows Brighton Beach Memoirs and precedes Broadway Bound....
. The recording is also featured in the film Eat a Bowl of Tea.
Throughout the 1970s, Suzuki appeared regularly on stage. She played the role of Ma Eng in the off-Broadway production of Frank Chin
Frank Chin
Frank Chin is an American author and playwright.- Life and career :Frank Chin was born in Berkeley, California, but was raised to the age of six by a retired Vaudeville couple in Placerville, California. At six his mother brought him back to the San Francisco Bay Area to live in Oakland Chinatown...
's The Year of the Dragon
The Year of the Dragon (play)
The Year of the Dragon is the best-known play by Frank Chin, the first Asian American playwright to be produced on a mainstream New York stage...
. She also appeared in Pat Morita
Pat Morita
Noriyuki "Pat" Morita was an American actor of Japanese descent who was well-known for playing the roles of Matsuo "Arnold" Takahashi on Happy Days and Mr. Miyagi in the The Karate Kid movie series, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1984.-Early life:Pat...
's short-lived television sitcom Mr. T and Tina
Mr. T and Tina
Mr. T and Tina is an American sitcom that aired for five episodes on ABC in the fall of 1976. Starring Pat Morita, the series was a spin-off of the then-hit series Welcome Back, Kotter...
, the first sitcom starring an Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
family.
In 1999, Taragon Records released The Very Best of Pat Suzuki on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
. The compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
contained some of her best recordings for RCA Victor, including a performance of "Love, Look Away" (music by Richard Rodgers
Richard Rodgers
Richard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and was twice awarded an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". Many of his songs are standard repertoire for...
) from her 1959 album, Pat Suzuki's Broadway '59.
Her original LP
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s are on display at the Experience Music Project
Experience Music Project
The EMP Museum is a museum dedicated to the history and exploration of both popular music and science fiction located in Seattle, Washington...
in Seattle, Washington.
Suzuki continues to sing and act on stage in small and major venues such as Lincoln Center. She has actively supported Asian American civil rights.
See also
- List of Japanese Americans
- List of jazz vocalists
- Timeline of music in the United States (1950 - 1969)Timeline of music in the United States (1950 - 1969)This is a timeline of music in the United States from 1950 to 1969.-1950:*The Fender Esquire guitar is released; it is the first "mass-produced, solid body electric guitar"....