Patrice Pike
Introduction '''Patrice Pike''' (born August 4, 1970) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician.
Early life Pike grew up in Dallas, Texas, playing ukulele and violin. When she was 15, she began attending the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (aka the "Arts Magnet"). Former attendees of the school include Edie Brickell, Norah Jones and Zac Baird; among Pike's classmates was Roy Hargrove.After graduating from Booker T. Washington, Pike attended the University of North Texas. She founded the band Little Sister in 1991 with Wayne Sutton.
Career === Little Sister ===In 1991, Patrice Pike and Wayne Sutton co-founded the band Little Sister, which would later be renamed Sister 7.During their early years, they often performed as an opening act for Soul Hat at the Black Cat, in addition to headlining their own shows. The band's first major label record, "Free Love And Nickel Beer", was recorded with EMI/SBK Records.The band was invited to join the H.O.R.D.E. tour, which included notable bands such as the Blues Traveler, Dave Matthews Band, and Allman Brothers Band, and completed recording of their debut album just prior to beginning this tour.=== Sister 7 ===Due to naming conflicts, the band "Little Sister", which was in the process of being signed by Arista Records, changed their name to "Sister 7". Co-founded by Patrice Pike, the band became a significant presence in the Austin jam scene.Performing at a Stone Room Concert in Falls Church, Virginia, 2012The band's first release under a major label was a live album. Pike was the writer and vocalist for Sister 7's Billboard hit, "Know What You Mean". She also received the Grand Prize in the USA Songwriting Competition for the song "My Three Wishes", which was co-written with her Sister 7 bandmates. Pike garnered further acclaim in the same competition by winning the top prize in the Pop category for "Nobody Knows", a song she co-wrote with songwriter and producer John Shanks.Following the production of their album "Wrestling Over Tiny Matters", there was a significant restructuring at Arista Records that resulted in the dismissal of music industry veteran Clive Davis. Sister 7, like many other bands, lost their affiliation with the label during this highly publicized shakeup. Following their departure from Arista, they recorded "Sister 7 Live" and released a DVD, "Three Times Live", which featured performances from three venues: Antones, Steamboat, and La Zona Rosa.=== 2000–present ===From 2000 to the present, Patrice Pike has independently released several studio records, including the "Flat 13" EP, "Fencing Under Fire", and "Unraveling". She has also released two live records, "Live at the Brushwood Lounge Volume 1" with Wayne Sutton and "Live and Then Some! Brushwood Volume 2". Pike has toured both domestically and internationally as a solo artist since Sister 7 ceased touring. She has co-created numerous records and musical groups, such as her band, the Black Box Rebellion, and has toured extensively throughout the United States and Western Europe.Recently, Pike was inducted into the Austin/Texas Music Hall of Fame, an honor that coincided with her winning Musician of the Year, Best Female Vocalist, and Song of the Year in Austin for her song "Beautiful Thing". This song premiered on the CBS primetime television series ''Rock Star''. Pike has performed at various tours and festivals, including the Lilith Fair, H.O.R.D.E. tour, Austin City Limits, High Sierra, Strawberry, and Kerrville festivals. In 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013, she made guest artist appearances with the Grammy Award-nominated choral group Conspirare. Pike is also known for her active participation in social and environmental activism. She co-founded and currently serves as the executive director of the Step Onward Foundation, an organization that provides services to young adult survivors of homelessness.Her most recent album, "The Calling", was released in June 2013''.'' In 2017, Pike and her music partner Wayne Sutton co-founded a new project, Pike and Sutton. They co-wrote a new record, "Heart Is A Compass", which contains 11 songs. The record was mastered in 2019 and was scheduled for release in January 2020.This marks the first music co-written and produced by Pike and Sutton since the last Arista release, "Wrestling Over Tiny Matters".
Footnotes * ''The Calling'' review, Austin Chronicle* Pike & Sutton Look to a Better Future With ‘Together’: Premiere, ''Billboard''* How one "Grace" inspired a movement: Singer's chance encounter gets homeless teens off the streets, Culture Map Houston* Patrice Pike biography, AllMusic
References
External links *  Official website