Sandi Patty : then and now...

Sandra Faye "Sandi" Patty, born July 12, 1956, is an American Christian music singer. For many years she was known as Sandi Patti. She has been dubbed "The Voice" by critics because of her wide range and flexibility.

Patty was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, into a family of musicians; her father was a minister of music and her mother served as the church pianist. She first performed at the age of two when she sang "Jesus Loves Me" for her church, Phoenix First Church of God (Anderson, Indiana). First growing up in Phoenix, then San Diego, she and her brothers joined her parents in a performing group, known as "The Ron Patty Family," and sang at churches across the nation during summer holidays. After high school graduation from Crawford High in San Diego, CA, she attended San Diego State University and Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana, where she studied voice and conducting. While studying at Anderson University, she worked as a studio musician for area recording studios, singing background vocals and recording commercial jingles, including one for Juicy Fruit gum. Her reputation as a performer and studio singer grew during the late 1970s, and it was during this time that she initiated contact with legendary Christian musician, Bill Gaither.

“As one of the most highly acclaimed performers of our time with five Grammy® awards, four Billboard Music Awards, three platinum records, five gold records, and eleven million units sold, Sandi Patty is simply known as The Voice.

Patty recorded her first album, For My Friends, an independent effort, that landed in the hands of executives at Singspiration! records. In 1979, she was signed to Singspiration! and released her first professional record, Sandi's Song. According to the FAQ section on her website, the name on her birth certificate is Sandra Patty.[2] A printer's error on the labeling listed her name as Sandi Patti, and she used this moniker as her stage name for the next fifteen years, before correcting it to Sandi Patty.Her career expanded after she won her first two GMA Dove Awards in 1982, and began singing backup for Bill Gaither and the Bill Gaither Trio. She headlined her first national tour in 1984, and reached national acclaim after her rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was included during the ABC Statue of Liberty re-dedication broadcast on July 4, 1986. This exposure led to multiple mainstream television appearances including The Tonight Show, Christmas in Washington, and Walt Disney's Fourth of July Extravaganza. She was invited to sing the national anthem at the Indianapolis 500 from 1987–1988 and 1990–1992.At the peak of her career, her concerts were so heavily attended that she performed in often sold-out mainstream arenas and concert halls. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she averaged over 200 concerts a year, and supported a staff of over 30 that managed her career. In 1995, she was also featured in the Warren Chaney docudrama, America: A Call to Greatness.[3] During this period of time she was noted, often critically, as the highest-paid singer in the Christian music industry, largely due to massive touring and high-profile public appearances.

Patty slowly rebuilt her career by expanding her musical appeal which included pop concert performances with symphony orchestras including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Pops, and the Dallas Symphony as well as serving for many years as the master of ceremonies for the Yuletide Celebration with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.In both interviews and in her autobiography, Broken on the Back Row, Patty expressed remorse and took full responsibility for her past actions and revealed the steps she took in seeking the forgiveness from those that her actions most affected.  In 2000, she had a guest singing appearance at the end of a 7th heaven episode (season four, episode 20). She appeared in the 2006 annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. A televised performance of Sandi Patty's Yuletide Special was filmed for syndication in 2006, with other performers—including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Band.  In 2004, Patty was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and in 2007 was awarded the GMA Music in the Rockies Summit Award.In May 2008, Patty released her 30th studio recording, Songs For The Journey, in which she covers classic hymns of the church and other modern gospel classics. 2008 also saw the release of five separate compilation recordings of past songs taken from previous albums.In 2009, Patty received two GMA Dove Award nominations: Female Vocalist Of The Year, and Inspirational Album Of The Year (Songs For The Journey).Simply Sandi, an acoustic album, is the first solo project to be released on her own record label, Stylos Records (a label with three artists—Sandi, Ben Utecht, and Heather Payne).  It was released on May 5, 2009.  This album includes new renditions of some of Sandi's most beloved songs including "In Heaven's Eyes", "Via Dolorosa" and "The Stage is Bare". WEA Distribution is the distributor for Stylos Records, although this album is not being released commercially.  In Fall 2009, Sandi released her first live Christmas album entitled Christmas: LIVE.   The album includes live performances of her past Christmas favorites including "O Holy Night", "Someday", and a duet with her husband Don Peslis in "The Prayer".

In Fall 2010, The Edge of the Divine was released. The album featured a new version of her popular song "We Shall Behold Him", plus eight new songs with a fresh contemporary sound—one of which she performs with Heather Payne.  A book of the same name was also released—with the sub-title "Where Possibility Meets God's Faithfulness."  In October 2011, Patty released Broadway Stories, a secular album.  From iTunes Review: "Before Sandi Patty was a Christian music star, she developed her craft by performing stage standards and pop tunes from the Great American Songbook.  Broadway Stories reaffirms her mastery of such material against gorgeous backdrops provided by the 64-piece Prague Symphony Orchestra. From the first track to the last, Patty shows an easy command of the Broadway idiom, applying her formidable pipes to material worthy of her talents."  In January, 2012, Sandi starred as Dolly Levi in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's world premiere concert stage version of the Broadway musical, "Hello, Dolly!" to rave reviews.

Sandi Patty is known for her wide vocal range, flexibility, and emotional expression.  In her early recordings, she created a trademark for herself by exploiting her range to its fullest advantage, through the "power ballad" vehicle, sweeping orchestral gestures, and a series of key modulations building to a crescendo and signature high vocal ending.  This style, often defined as being in the "inspirational" genre of Christian music, flourished throughout the 1980s.  In later years, Patty's versatility has allowed her to expand into other styles, such as black gospel, southern gospel, classic and modern pop, and American musical theater.  On her official website, she discusses her range saying "To be honest, my range has changed a bit over the years, but my mom says it’s about four octaves (F below middle C to high F above double high C).  Really singing high is just like screaming on pitch."

In 2009, she and her family relocated from Anderson, IN, to Oklahoma City, OK.  She and her husband, Don Peslis, have a blended family consisting of eight children.

Grammys Include 1984: Best Gospel Performance By A Duo Or Group for “More Than Wonderful” with Larnelle Harris 1986: Best Gospel Performance By A Duo Or Group, Choir Or Chorus for “I've Just Seen Jesus” with Larnelle Harris 1987: Best Gospel Performance By A Duo Or Group, Choir Or Chorus for “They Say” with Deniece Williams 1987: Best Gospel Performance, Female for “Morning Like This” 1991: Best Pop Gospel Album for Another Time... Another Place

GMA Dove Awards Include: 1982–1992: Female Vocalist of the Year 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988: Artist of the Year 1983: Inspirational Album of the Year for Lift Up the Lord 1984: Inspirational Album of the Year for More Than Wonderful 1985: Inspirational Album of the Year for Songs from the Heart 1987: Inspirational Album of the Year for Morning Like This 1988: Song of the Year for “In the Name of the Lord” 1989: Inspirational Album of the Year for Make His Praise Glorious 1989: Inspirational Song of the Year for “In Heaven’s Eyes” 1990: Children’s Album of the Year for The Friendship Company 1991: Inspirational Album of the Year for Another Time, Another Place 1992: Inspirational Song of the Year for “For All the World” 1992: Children’s Album of the Year for Open for Business; the Friendship Company 1992: Short Form Music Video of the Year for “Another Time, Another Place” 1994: Short Form Music Video of the Year for “Hand on My Shoulder” 1995: Inspirational Album of the Year for Find It on the Wings 1996: Special Event Album of the Year for My Utmost for His Highest (various artists) 1998: Inspirational Album of the Year for Artist of My Soul 1998: Special Event Album of the Year for God with Us - A Celebration of Christmas Carols & Classics (various artists) 1999: Long Form Music Video of the Year for My Utmost for His Highest (various artists) 1999: Spanish Language Album of the Year for Libertad de Mas 2011: Inspirational Album of the Year for The Edge of the DivineInducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2004

Albums Include: 1978: Sandi Patty – For My Friends – Burlap Sound Inc 1979: Sandi's Song 1981: Love Overflowing 1982: Lift Up the Lord 1983: Live: More Than Wonderful 1983: Christmas: The Gift Goes On 1984: Songs from the Heart 1985: Hymns Just for You 1986: Morning Like This 1988: Make His Praise Glorious 1989: Sandi Patti and The Friendship Company 1990: Another Time...Another Place 1991: The Friendship Company: Open for Business 1992: Hallmark Christmas: Celebrate Christmas! 1993: Le Voyage 1994: Find It On the Wings 1996: O Holy Night! (Christmas) 1996: An American Songbook 1997: Artist of My Soul 1998: Libertad Me Das (Spanish album) 1999: Together: Sandi Patty & Kathy Troccoli 2000: These Days 2001: All the Best...Live! 2003: Take Hold of Christ 2004: Hymns of Faith...Songs of Inspiration 2005: Yuletide Joy (Christmas) 2007: Falling Forward 2008: Songs for The Journey 2009: Simply Sandi 2009: Christmas Live (Christmas) 2010: The Edge of the Divine 2011: Broadway Stories

Compilations Include: 1985: Inspirational Favorites 1989: The Finest Moments 1992: Hallmark Christmas: Celebrate Christmas 1994: Quiet Reflections 1996: Hallmark Christmas: It's Christmas Sandi Patty & Peabo Bryson 2005: Duets 2006: The Voice of Christmas 2007: The Definitive Collection 2008: Gospel Greats 2008: Via Dolorosa: Songs of Redemption 2008: A Mother's Prayer: Songs that Inspire a Mother's Heart 2008: Quiet Hearts: Songs of Restful Peace for Women 2008: Let There Be Praise 2009: Duets 2 2011: The Best of Sandi Patty from the Gaither Homecoming Series 2012: The Voice of Christmas