Patrick Cowley
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| Patrick Cowley | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Patrick Joseph Cowley |
| Born | 19 October 1950 |
| Origin | Buffalo, New York |
| Died | 12 November 1982 (aged 32) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Electronic, experimental music |
| Instrument(s) | Multiple instruments |
| Years active | 1976–1982 |
| Label(s) | Megatone, Fusion Records |
| Associated acts | Paul Parker, Frank Loverde, Sylvester |
Patrick Joseph Cowley (October 19, 1950 - November 12, 1982) was a Disco and Hi-NRG dance music composer and recording artist. He recorded in a similar style to Giorgio Moroder, and is often credited with pioneering electronic dance music.
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[edit] Early life
Patrick Cowley was born in Buffalo, New York on October 19, 1950 to Ellen and Kenneth Cowley. Cowley's family originated in the Horseheads and Corning areas of New York and lived in Rochester. During his teenage years, Cowley became a successful drummer with local amateur bands before enlisting at the University at Buffalo to study English. In 1971, at the age of 21, Cowley moved to San Francisco to attend the City College of San Francisco where he studied music, specifically the use of synthesizers. Cowley contracted HIV sometime in the early 1980s.
[edit] Musical career
Cowley met San Francisco based musician Sylvester James in the late 70s. Sylvester had asked Cowley to join his studio band after hearing some of his early synthesizer recordings.
Cowley's own hits included "Menergy" in 1981, a frank celebration of the gay club sex scene, and "Megatron Man". In 1982, Patrick Cowley became the DJ at the "Menergy" parties at The EndUp in San Francisco. He also wrote and produced the dance single "Right on Target" for San Francisco artist Paul Parker, which reached #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Cowley also did a 15'45" long remix of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love", which is now a collector's item. His final album, Mind Warp, was composed as he felt the increasing effects of HIV infection, and its songs reflect his increasing detachment from conventional reality as the disease progressed. Cowley only released three solo albums, but groups including the Pet Shop Boys and New Order cite Cowley's style as a major influence.
Cowley wrote and produced songs for several San Francisco musicians including friends Paul Parker and Frank Loverde. He was associated with many lesser known musicians such as Kat Mandu, Maurice Tani and Linda Imperial.
[edit] Death
During a world tour with Sylvester, Cowley complained of feeling increasingly unwell. Upon returning to the United States, he visited a doctor who diagnosed food poisoning. Weeks later, with his condition only worsening, doctors again failed to diagnose AIDS, as was common at the time. Cowley spent time in hospital before being discharged. It was after this that Cowley completed the album Mind Warp. By the time of the album's release, Cowley was largely confined to a wheelchair and was unable to attend the launch event held at the Galleria Art Center in San Francisco.
Confined to a wheelchair and hospitalized, Cowley died on November 12, 1982 at the age of 32.
[edit] Discography
Albums:
Notable Singles:
- "Right On Target" by Paul Parker (1982)
- "Die Hard Lover" by Frank Loverde (1982)
- "Do You Wanna Funk" by Sylvester (1982)
[edit] Audio sample
Sylvester With Patrick Cowley - Do You Wanna Funk excerpt
[edit] See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
[edit] References
- [1] Patrick Cowley Research Website
