By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 07:12 am:

Yesterday, I received an e-mail from Tom Tom 84 informing me that saxophonist/arranger George Patterson, also known as Paco, passed away on Sunday. Tom didn't say how Paco died, but I will call him later today to see what can find out. Paco is probably best known for being musical director for the Isley Brothers in the late sixties and early seventies. He co-arranged their 1969 megahit, "It's Your Thing" as well as the follow-up, "I Turned You On" in which he also played the sax solo. Paco also worked with Wilson Pickett, The Shirelles as well as many other popular artists. He also played sax on Earth, Wind & Fire's "Spirit" album. More recently, he was teaching music in Chicago's Public School system as well doing live theater work at Jackie Taylor's Black Ensemble. As I get more details, I will pass them on. I really liked Paco, he was a great guy to hang with. Very knowledgeable and willing to share the knowledge. He was a friend and I will miss him.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 11:29 am:

dvdmike:
If I may share this with all regarding our friend George "Paco" Patterson.

I met "Pac'" here in NYC in 2001 when the label I consult for - Night Train International - approached him about reissuing his Midnight Movers recordings. Paco & I hit it off and became not only good friends but I count him, along with Thomas Washington (Tom-Tom), Eddie Thomas, Carl Davis & Sonny Sanders as one of my Windy City mentors. When I started traveling to Chicago on business, Paco & I were always together. When he came to NYC, he always came by my office.

George not only arranged "It's Your Thing" for the Isleys - he went on to arrange & co-produce four albums with the Brothers Isley - "It's Our Thing", "The Brothers - Isley", "Get Into Something" & "Giving It Back". George also played keyboards on the Isleys' version of "Love The One You're With." His Midnight Movers albums were funky and danceable ("Follow The Wind" was a moderate hit here in the Northeast).

When he was in NYC in March for the Black Ensemble's tour of "The Jackie Wilson Story" he came by my office. He had lost a lot of weight but was feeling ill - told us that it was a virus but my boss & I had a feeling something was wrong. Yet, he was proud of the Midnight Movers CD we put together for him & the liner notes I wrote based on my coversations with him. When I last spoke to Paco (late April) he said he was proud of his achievements & wanted to see his recordings available for younger kids to listen and learn.

I don't know what else to say here in this thread. Thanks dvdmike for the update - Paco will be sadly missed.

Regards,
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.17) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 11:35 am:

This is sad news
especially after the thread about Saxophonists.
Although his name wasnt known to me personally,
I most certainly can relate to the material and artist's he worked with mentioned above.

Mr.George P.Patterson
Rest in Peace.

mel.

By gabriel (80.182.203.146) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 02:26 pm:

Paco ,R.I.P

By Sly fan (67.115.73.2) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 05:14 pm:

I am really sad to hear of the news..

props and much love!!

RIP Mr. Patterson.

By dvdmike (12.84.41.245) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 05:34 pm:

Paco succombed to colon cancer. He didn't tell anyone how sick he was. Tom Tom didn't find out until Paco was in the hospital. KevGo saw him in New York while Paco was there to do the Jackie Wilson play and he said he looked really bad. Paco kept playing until the end. When Tom Tom informs me about the services, I will pass on the information. The arrangements have not yet been completed.

By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 07:10 am:

Paco's funeral services:

Neighborhood United Methodist Church
19th Avenue at Washington, Maywood, IL
Wednesday, May 28
Between 1 pm and 3 pm.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 10:41 am:

Thanks, Mike. Tom Washington sent me the same email.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By jtstar (64.12.97.7) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 05:34 pm:

George Paco Patterson worked for me this past 15 years as musical arranger for the Black Ensemble Theater. He was one of the most prolific and masterful musicians that I've ever worked with. He was a crazy guy, but I loved him dearly. He could write an arrangement for 30 songs faster than anyone that I know. He was a genius and a hell of a man. He will be missed by all of his theater family. He'll never be forgotten. I LOVE YOU PACO.

Jackie Taylor

By dvdmike (68.72.108.111) on Tuesday, May 27, 2003 - 06:01 pm:

I neglected to mention, Paco was 61 years old when he passed on, Sunday, May 18, 2003

By dvdmike (68.72.97.38) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 07:04 pm:

Veteran musician, saxophonist, composer, arranger, record producer, band leader and music educator George Earl "Dimp Paco" Patterson, Jr. made his final voyage home from cancer on Sunday, May 18, 2003 at 10 pm at Edwards Hospital in Naperville, IL. George was born in Chicago on February 19, 1942 to George Patterson, Sr. and his wife, Julia Williams Patterson Alexander who preceded him in death.

Paco started his music career playing clarinet and saxophone at Crane Technical High School. Studying with Dr. James Mack and Bunky Green, he began to develop as a composer, arranger and jazz saxophonist. Soon he was working as a sideman with local rhythm & blues and jazz bands, The Red Saunders Orchestra, Harold Burrage, McKinley Mitchell, Dee Clark, Cicero Blake, The 5 Du-Tones, Alvin Cash, Mary Wells and Betty Everett. He was hired by Billy Davis, A&R director to work as a studio musician for Chess Records. He recorded, arranged and performed with such Chess artists as Etta James, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Minnie Riperton, Chuck Berry, The Radiants, Little Milton and many blues artists. In 1965, manager Russell Meeks and disc-jockey Norm Spaulding began to represent Paco and his jazz band, The Jazz Interpreters (also featuring Tom Tom Washington on piano). After winning various music awards at the famous Notre Dame Jazz Festival, the stellar jazz group went on to perform at the World's Fair in New York City. Chess signed them to a record contract and they released their first album, "The Knack" on Cadet Records. The Jazz Interpreters performed and toured with many great artists such as Herbie Hancock, Gloria Lynne, Tony Williams, Nancy Wilson, Sonny Rollins and Lou Donaldson. Sfter joining the Gene Chandler show and becoming a bandleader, Paco then relocated and began working as the musical director for Wilson Pickett. He was with Wilson Pickett for three years on tour all over the world leading the Midnight Movers band. They won the Artista Award at the San Remo Music Festival in San Remo, Italy. After leaving Wilson Pickett, Paco brought the Midnight Movers to NYC to arrange one of classic R&B hits of all time, 1970 Grammy Award winning "It's Your Thing" by The Isley Brothers. He signed a contract with T-Neck/Buddah Records as staff arranger and musical director, giving the Isleys hit after hit ("Lay, Lady, Lady", "I Turned You On", "Love The One You're With", "Spill The Wine"). Paco led the Midnight Movers band backing the Isley Brothers in concert on tour including a documentary motion picture titled "It's Your Thing" recorded and filmed live at Yankee Stadium in New York, and a record contract with Elephant 5/Roulette Records recording an album titled, "Do It In The Road" with a single off the LP, "Follow The Wind" which became a regional hit on the East Coast. In 1977, he went to work with longtime friend, ex-bandmate and partner, Thomas "Tom Tom 84" Washington. For 20 years, these two Chicago musicians have been recording the top stars of show business: Earth, Wind & Fire, The Emotions, The Jacksons featuring Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Genesis, Ramsey Lewis, The Whispers, Millie Jackson, The Chi-Lites, Jerry Butler, Walter Jackson, The Impressions, The Dells, Cameo, The Gap Band, Herb Alpert, Gene Chandler and so many others. George returned to school in 1989 to persue his bachelors degree in Music Education at Elmhurst College, then went on to receive a masters degree in Music Education from Roosevelt University. Spending most of his time teaching and performing in local concerts, George also ran his own music company, International Music Productions, producing and developing talent and managing his son, George "Mo Leggs" Patterson III, a hoofer and a dancer who recently completed a three year run on Broadway in the Tony Award winning "Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk". Paco was currently the staff musical arranger and co-musical director for the Black Ensemble Theater in Chicago, now featuring the mega-hit production, "The Jackie Wilson Story: My Heart Is Crying" which has been on a national tour for two years. George's arrangements in which he wrote over the years currently have been used on national commercials for Budweiser, Pearl Vision, Almond Joy and Las Vegas Tourism; the film, "Out Of Sight" starring Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney, the HBO series, "Arli$$ and the theme song to the commercial for the Oprah television show. When George wasn't doing music, he donated 10 years of his time volunteering on the National Alumni Cabinet at his alma mater, Elmhurst College.

George Earl "Dimp Paco" Patterson, Jr. leaves a host of friends and family to cherish his memory. Son George III, former spouse Yvonne Maury, son Carlos Andre Hensley and Carlos' mother Sherry Hensley, granddaughters Zhania and ReShell, loving friend Cathleen Chapek, stepfather Thomas Alexander, stepsister Debra Alexander and Debra's husband, Eric, stepbrother Richard Alexander and his wife, Tancene, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, the creative forces Michele Collete and Thomas "Tom Tom 84" Washington and many other family members, musicians and friends.

A memorial service will be held 1-3 PM on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at the Neighborhood United Methodisy Church at 19th & Washington Streets in Maywood, IL.