Patti Layne
Encyclopedia
Patti Layne is a Canadian singer/songwriter/recording artist. Patti Layne had a recording career in France
from 1982–1991 and started recording again in 2009. Her first release in 1982, 'Une espèce de Canadienne' (Pathé
/Campagne/Pathé-Marconi) written by Didier Barbelivien
for her, was a moderate success. It was followed by an album
(with songs written by Didier Barbelivien, Claude Lemesle and Pierre Delanoë
, and others). Several singles
followed over the next few years.
In France she also presented TV programs in the end of the 1980s, then moved to England
in the beginning of the 1990s. She continued singing off and on, and continued to write songs with many different people including Carrie Lennard, Dzal Martin, Claus Regli, Ian Whitmore, Tom Hardwell, and others, but did not record again until 2009, when she made the album, 'Prairie Burn' (released in 2010).
, Saskatchewan
to Lois (née Dewar) and Abe Fedrau (died in 2004). Lois was school teacher
at the time and Abe was the co-owner of a hardware store
. She has three sisters and one brother. Music was always encouraged at home and Patti started singing and playing the clarinet
from a young age. She belonged to local choirs and the school unit band until leaving high school
. She worked at various odd jobs and moved around a lot until she was 21 when she became a disc jockey
in a restaurant in Vancouver
.
While she was there, a woman who owned a couple of fashion
outlets asked her to model
for her and she began modelling. A Parisian modelling agency (Karin Models) scout chose her to come to Paris
when she was 23. She arrived in Paris and was sent to Italy
(Model Plan) and stayed in Italy for 2 years.
She began singing at parties in Italy and someone suggested she pursue a career in singing, so she moved back to Paris and after some introductions to the right people, she was offered a record contract. Patti began working with manager/producer Bernard Ricci on her first album in 1981 and was introduced to Didier Barbelivien
who wrote 'Une espèce de Canadienne' for her. It was released in 1982. During the radio promotion for this single, she met Cécil Maury (born Thierry Giner, singer/songwriter and producer) on a radio promotion tour. They had a relationship which lasted for 6–7 years and had one child, Bogart Giner in 1986.
Patti worked with Bernard Ricci for 4–5 years, releasing four singles and one album. She went on tour as the opening act for Caroline Loeb
in 1986 and later that year gave birth to Bogart. She changed management in the beginning of 1987 and signed a 3 year renewable record contract with PolyGram
.
She then began working with Fabrice Aboulker and Marc Lavoine
as producers/writers. She released four singles with them and when her contract ended, she asked to be released from her contract. In 1988/89 she also co-presented MIDEM
(world's largest music tradefair), MIPTV
(world's largest TV and media industry gathering) and 'Oh! Les Filles' (Variety TV program).
Patti also did some acting, appearing in ‘And So Died Riabouchinska’ (Atlantis Films/Ellipse Prog./Granada TV/Wilcox Prod-Directed by Denys Granier Deferre) as Alyce Fabien opposite Alan Bates, and as Dr. McGregor in ‘Les Six Compagnons au Concours Hippique’ (Ima Productions-Directed by Laurent Levy). She also made numerous guest and cameo appearances in ‘Coco Rico Boy (TF1 France-Directed by Gérard Espinasse).
She continued touring and working in the music industry until leaving France in 1991, when she moved to England
and married British actor
Toby Rolt. They were officially divorced five years later. During the time they were married, Patti continued to write but did not perform outside of recording demo
s. When they became separated, she began doing smaller gigs in clubs and bars, doing cover song
s (jazz
, pop
, rock
and funk
), also attending singer/songwriter evenings, becoming one of the first regulars at the Kashmir Klub in London
(now The Bedford). She continued writing during this time with various people including Tom Hardwell, Dzal Martin, Claus Regli, Carrie Lennard, Ian Whitmore, Jesper Matteson and Wendon Davis.
Patti became a general practitioner counsellor and addictions therapist. She worked at Promis Treatment Centre, The Priory Hospital North London and the Capio Nightingale Hospital for the next 10 years. During the time she was working as a counsellor/therapist, her singing took a back seat and apart from an occasional private jam
, she stopped singing. She began writing with Barnaby Lee and inspired by the new material, was encouraged to make an album by Guy Anderson who provided the financing and Francis Lickerish
(from Secret Green
), who arranged and produced the album for her. The songs on this album, 'Prairie Burn' are co-written over several years with Barnaby Lee, Wendy Thomson, Bogart Giner, Dzal Martin, Carrie Lennard, Claus Regli, Iain Whitmore and Francis Lickerish
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
from 1982–1991 and started recording again in 2009. Her first release in 1982, 'Une espèce de Canadienne' (Pathé
Pathé
Pathé or Pathé Frères is the name of various French businesses founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France.-History:...
/Campagne/Pathé-Marconi) written by Didier Barbelivien
Didier Barbelivien
Didier Barbelivien is a French author, lyricist, songwriter and singer. Beginning in the 1970s, he wrote a number of successful songs for artists such as: Dalida, Johnny Hallyday, Michel Sardou, Daniel Guichard, Claude François, Gilbert Montagné, Sylvie Vartan, Patti Layne, Gilbert Bécaud, Enrico...
for her, was a moderate success. It was followed by an 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...
(with songs written by Didier Barbelivien, Claude Lemesle and Pierre Delanoë
Pierre Delanoë
Pierre Delanoë , born Pierre Leroyer, was a French songwriter/lyricist who wrote for dozens of singers such as Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Petula Clark, and Johnny Hallyday....
, and others). Several singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
followed over the next few years.
In France she also presented TV programs in the end of the 1980s, then moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the beginning of the 1990s. She continued singing off and on, and continued to write songs with many different people including Carrie Lennard, Dzal Martin, Claus Regli, Ian Whitmore, Tom Hardwell, and others, but did not record again until 2009, when she made the album, 'Prairie Burn' (released in 2010).
Biography
Patti Layne was born in SaskatoonSaskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
to Lois (née Dewar) and Abe Fedrau (died in 2004). Lois was school teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
at the time and Abe was the co-owner of a hardware store
Hardware store
Hardware stores, sometimes known as DIY stores, sell household hardware including: fasteners, hand tools, power tools, keys, locks, hinges, chains, plumbing supplies, electrical supplies, cleaning products, housewares, tools, utensils, paint, and lawn and garden products directly to consumers for...
. She has three sisters and one brother. Music was always encouraged at home and Patti started singing and playing the clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
from a young age. She belonged to local choirs and the school unit band until leaving high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. She worked at various odd jobs and moved around a lot until she was 21 when she became a disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
in a restaurant in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
.
While she was there, a woman who owned a couple of fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
outlets asked her to model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
for her and she began modelling. A Parisian modelling agency (Karin Models) scout chose her to come to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
when she was 23. She arrived in Paris and was sent to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(Model Plan) and stayed in Italy for 2 years.
She began singing at parties in Italy and someone suggested she pursue a career in singing, so she moved back to Paris and after some introductions to the right people, she was offered a record contract. Patti began working with manager/producer Bernard Ricci on her first album in 1981 and was introduced to Didier Barbelivien
Didier Barbelivien
Didier Barbelivien is a French author, lyricist, songwriter and singer. Beginning in the 1970s, he wrote a number of successful songs for artists such as: Dalida, Johnny Hallyday, Michel Sardou, Daniel Guichard, Claude François, Gilbert Montagné, Sylvie Vartan, Patti Layne, Gilbert Bécaud, Enrico...
who wrote 'Une espèce de Canadienne' for her. It was released in 1982. During the radio promotion for this single, she met Cécil Maury (born Thierry Giner, singer/songwriter and producer) on a radio promotion tour. They had a relationship which lasted for 6–7 years and had one child, Bogart Giner in 1986.
Patti worked with Bernard Ricci for 4–5 years, releasing four singles and one album. She went on tour as the opening act for Caroline Loeb
Caroline Loeb
Caroline Loeb , is an actress, radio host, singer, director and French writer. She remains particularly known for her 1980s hit "C'est la ouate".-Filmography:...
in 1986 and later that year gave birth to Bogart. She changed management in the beginning of 1987 and signed a 3 year renewable record contract with PolyGram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
.
She then began working with Fabrice Aboulker and Marc Lavoine
Marc Lavoine
Marc Lucien Lavoine is a French singer and actor. In 1985, his hit single "Elle a les yeux revolver" allowed him to reach the top of the French chart and marked the beginning of his successful singing career....
as producers/writers. She released four singles with them and when her contract ended, she asked to be released from her contract. In 1988/89 she also co-presented MIDEM
Midem
-MIDEM:Short for Marché International du Disque et de l'Edition Musicale, MIDEM is the world's largest music industry trade fair, which has been held annually at and around the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, since 1967...
(world's largest music tradefair), MIPTV
MIPTV Media Market
-MIPTV:MIPTV is an event which takes place annually in Cannes, using the facilities and infrastructure which the town has developed over the years to host other important events such as the Cannes Film Festival amongst other events....
(world's largest TV and media industry gathering) and 'Oh! Les Filles' (Variety TV program).
Patti also did some acting, appearing in ‘And So Died Riabouchinska’ (Atlantis Films/Ellipse Prog./Granada TV/Wilcox Prod-Directed by Denys Granier Deferre) as Alyce Fabien opposite Alan Bates, and as Dr. McGregor in ‘Les Six Compagnons au Concours Hippique’ (Ima Productions-Directed by Laurent Levy). She also made numerous guest and cameo appearances in ‘Coco Rico Boy (TF1 France-Directed by Gérard Espinasse).
She continued touring and working in the music industry until leaving France in 1991, when she moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and married British actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
Toby Rolt. They were officially divorced five years later. During the time they were married, Patti continued to write but did not perform outside of recording demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
s. When they became separated, she began doing smaller gigs in clubs and bars, doing cover song
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s (jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
), also attending singer/songwriter evenings, becoming one of the first regulars at the Kashmir Klub in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(now The Bedford). She continued writing during this time with various people including Tom Hardwell, Dzal Martin, Claus Regli, Carrie Lennard, Ian Whitmore, Jesper Matteson and Wendon Davis.
Patti became a general practitioner counsellor and addictions therapist. She worked at Promis Treatment Centre, The Priory Hospital North London and the Capio Nightingale Hospital for the next 10 years. During the time she was working as a counsellor/therapist, her singing took a back seat and apart from an occasional private jam
Jam session
Jam sessions are often used by musicians to develop new material, find suitable arrangements, or simply as a social gathering and communal practice session. Jam sessions may be based upon existing songs or forms, may be loosely based on an agreed chord progression or chart suggested by one...
, she stopped singing. She began writing with Barnaby Lee and inspired by the new material, was encouraged to make an album by Guy Anderson who provided the financing and Francis Lickerish
Francis Lickerish
John Francis Lickerish, known professionally as Francis Lickerish , is a British composer, guitarist and lutenist, and founder member of British art-rock band The Enid....
(from Secret Green
Secret Green
Secret Green is a British rock band, founded in 2007, by Francis Lickerish, Hilary Palmer and Jon Beedle. Recent additions to the band William Gilmour and Matt Hodge complete the line-up...
), who arranged and produced the album for her. The songs on this album, 'Prairie Burn' are co-written over several years with Barnaby Lee, Wendy Thomson, Bogart Giner, Dzal Martin, Carrie Lennard, Claus Regli, Iain Whitmore and Francis Lickerish
Francis Lickerish
John Francis Lickerish, known professionally as Francis Lickerish , is a British composer, guitarist and lutenist, and founder member of British art-rock band The Enid....
.
Discography
- 1982: single 'Une espèce de Canadienne' (Pathé/Campagne/Pathé Marconi) written by Didier Barbelivien
- 1983: album and single 'Je veux l'aimer'(Pathé)
- 1984: 'Je cherche un partenaire' (Campagne/Carrere), written by Romain Didier
- 1985: 'Darling' (Carrere), written by Cécil Maury, Christian Eclement and Patti Layne
- 1987: 'Extrême je t'aime'(Phonogram) and later 'Déshabillez-moiDéshabillez-moi"Déshabillez-moi" is a 1967 song first recorded by French singer Juliette Gréco, by Patti Layne in 1987, then by Mylène Farmer in a studio version in 1988 and in a live version during her 2006 concerts at Bercy . This live version was the second single from Farmer's fourth live album, Avant que...
' (Bandit/Phonogram), co-writing the B side, 'Evadez-moi' with Fabrice Aboulker, Pascal Stive and Mark Lavoine. - 1988: 'Fille de l'hiver' (Phillips/Phonogram) written by Marc Lavoine and Fabrice Aboulker and wrote the English lyrics for 'Northern Girl' which was on the B side
- 1988: participated in 'Liban' (75 artists for Liban), a humanitarian project
- 1989: co-wrote Camelot (Philips/Phonogram) with Fabrice Aboulker
- 2010: album, 'Prairie Burn', co-written with Barnaby Lee, Dzal Martin, Carrie Lennard, Claus Regli, Iain Whitmore, Francis Lickerish, Bogart Giner and Wendy Thomson
External links
- Official website
- Artist page at CD Baby
- Discography at Discogs
- Discography at Encyclopédisque
- Patti Layne on MySpace