"Happy Anniversary" - A Tribute To Ms. Pat Powdrill

Excerpt from "Spectropop Presents Looking for Pat Powdrill by Brian Nevill"

"In September 1991 I had an article published in Goldmine magazine.It was about a small independent record label called Downey, which operated from the late 1950s through the late 1960s and produced one huge hit, "Pipeline" by the Chantays. The label was run by Bill Wenzel and his son, Jack, whose younger brother, Tom, later ran a collector's record store called Wenzel's from the site of the old Downey studio, with his wife, Maxine, in Downey, Southern
California."
"My next project presented itself during my research for the Downey article. The label had produced and released a motley mixture of different artistes, from SoCal surf/guitar bands to cabaret acts to black vocal groups and R&B singers. One of the obscure artistes tucked away on two Downey releases was a female singer named Pat Powdrill. She started as a name in a discography as far as I was concerned, and then I got more interested when I discovered that one of the records she made for Downey was written by a yet-to-make-it-big Barry White. I then discovered that Pat Powdrill had been a member of the Ikettes, Ike Turner's girl group, and that there were pictures of her in Tina Turner's autobiography, 'I, Tina'. At this point I was getting more intrigued by Pat Powdrill than most of the other artistes on the Downey label, and my first move toward finding out more was to buy a copy of Tina's book. I decided to do an article on the Ikettes and their convoluted history as soon as I had finished the Downey piece."

To read the entire, excellent, in-depth article / interview with the late Pat Powdrill, go to:

http://spectropop.com/PatPowdrill/index.htm

http://www.sacredcowmusic.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• PatPowdrill
• Pop
• girlgroups
• Ikettes
• Ike&TinaTurner
• R&B
• '60's
• PhilSpector
• 1964
• NorthernSoul
• WABC
• oldies
• sacredcowmusic
• JoeMeek
• Mod

[shoppingmall4life]

You are one of the first people who I have seen doing anything about Pat Powdrill's music I notice you have "Breaking Point". Might I suggest you do an encore vid with a similar treatment for that song or the equally amazing flip side "Luckiest Girl in Town"!! You are doing something that should have been done a long long time ago! Recognizing a truly amazing and not forgotten talent! Great Work!!

[sacredcowmusic]

Thanks ! I'll see what I can do

[ramardo1994]

Is she living?

[sacredcowmusic]

She died in 1995. She was a great lady.

[drbencasey]

Can you post the b-side, I Love You More Than I'll Ever Know?

[MsPagan411]

I am SO glad to find this tribute to Pat Powdrill. I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Pat back in 1992(in Oceanside, CA), and she was a BEAUTIFUL and amazing woman! Always willing to sing, dance, share stories of her time as an Ikette and do ANYTHING it took...this woman is Dearly Missed by her Oceanside Family!

Thank you for posting such a lovely tribute to Ms. Pat Powdrill!

[jpd464]

I was informed by her boyfriend Cleo's family that Pat died from a heart attack brought on by an asthma episode on her front lawn.They said she had a "weak heart" which is ironic since Pat had the heart of an angel. Cleo died of pancreatic cancer later. Pat told us of some of her experiences with Ike & Tina and that she once had a date with David Bowie and that she met Diana Ross. She never spoke about her records or about how she herself was a talent in her own right.

[jpd464]

I'm so happy to find this site. I knew Pat when she spent time in Oceanside in the early 90s across the street from me. We had many talks. I loved this woman who became my friend. I even gave her a massage once. I moved away and was crushed to hear she passed. She was a regal lady and, obviously, I still think of her now and then.

[JimmyBoi2]

I also love "The Luckiest Girl In Town." She is fabulous !!!!!

[rmk1960]

This is amazing music that should have charted. Can anyone tell me if the album on Rare Rockin Records by Pat Powdill is by the same artist with name miss-spelled or is that someone different? This is awesome music. I want to buy all her albums!!

[chuckdee121]

I found out about her while collecting David Gates arrangements! She did some great stuff, but it must never have charted, because her records are very scarce. You'd like Dorothy Berry too!