About This Item
Patti O'Brien Melita grew up in New York's Capital District in a family of church choir and barbershop harmony singers. Although she studied classical piano and voice for several years, her real love proved to be traditional jazz. After singing in jazz and dance bands for a while, Patti took a hiatus from performing. It wasn't until much later that her new found friends discovered her talent and clandestinely entered her name on the program of a major dance festival as singing with a swing band. Even after an extended lapse in performing, Patti found herself right at home at the microphone. Since, she has been heard singing at festivals and swing dances throughout upstate New York and New England, delighting audiences with her oh-so-smooth and alluring voice. She was a long-time co-director of the celebrated Dance Flurry Festival which draws 5,000+ dance enthusiasts annually to Saratoga Springs and coordinated the DanceFlurry Organization's monthly swing dance events. She is an official consultant of all that is danceable at Falcon Ridge Festival held annually in Hillsdale, N.Y. Patti plays variety parts in musicals including Patsy Cline in a Legendary Entertainers' series and stars as one of the 'Andrews Sisters' in the World War II musical 'Songs That Won The War'. She also plays one of the Cotton Club singers in the musical 'Bourbon St. To The Cotton Club' Aside from performing, Patti has supported live music in her community for many years. She was involved with the Collar City Live! Concert series in her home town, Troy, N.Y., is an officer of the Swingtime Jazz Society, Inc. in the N.Y. Capital Region, is a member of A Place For Jazz Society in Schenectady, N.Y. and is Secretary-Treasurer of the Albany Musicians' Association, Local 14 AFM. As a swing dance afficionado Patti's expertise on 'music that motivates people to dance' enabled her to assemble a variety o
