Pat Upton (singer)

Pat Upton
Birth namePatrick Upton
Born(1940-08-05)August 5, 1940
Geraldine, Alabama, U.S.
DiedJuly 27, 2016(2016-07-27) (aged 75)
Guntersville, Alabama, U.S.
GenresPop
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instrument
  • Vocals
Years active1964-2016
LabelsColumbia

Pat Upton (August 5, 1940 – July 27, 2016) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist with the band Spiral Starecase. He was the songwriter of, and lead vocalist on, their 1969 gold-selling single "More Today Than Yesterday", which peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] The song has been covered by Sonny & Cher, Diana Ross, Andy Williams, Lena Horne, Patti Austin, and Goldfinger. Upton was noted as having an exceptionally high voice for a man.[2]

Career

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Upton formed instrumental group The Fydallions while serving in the Air force. Their name was changed to Spiral Starecase and Pat started singing lead vocals and playing rhythm guitar. Upton wrote their biggest single, "More Today Than Yesterday", in a motel in Las Vegas and originally thought it would be a good song for Bobby Goldsboro to sing.[3]

"More Today than Yesterday", on 45rpm record

After Spiral Starecase disbanded in 1971, Upton relocated to Los Angeles, where he worked as a session musician and then a band member for Ricky Nelson.[4][5] Upton played one gig with Elvis Presley in 1975.[3]

Personal life

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Patrick Upton was born in Geraldine, Alabama, the second of five to Elva and Ernest Upton.[3] The Upton children were raised by their grandparents for a few years, as Ernest Upton was based in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, fighting in the second world war.[3] He and his brother, Don, had a gospel quartet in high school and won some talent contests, including the state FFA competitions.[3][6]

On one Sunday, Upton skipped church to go to a local restaurant for breakfast. One of his friends was there playing Duane Eddy on a jukebox; he had just bought his first electric guitar.[3] Upton said the following week, he had also bought his first guitar, although he father called him crazy, as the guitar was priced at $300.[3] Upton enlisted in the air force, and was based in California. He played in a few bands in the force and started his professional career.[3]

He returned to Alabama in 1983 and opened P.J.’s Alley in Guntersville, a club that highlighted a lot of local musicians.[3] P.J.'s Alley was also where Ricky Nelson played his last ever performance.[7] On December 30, 1985, after singing at P.J.'s Alley in helps to promote the club,[7] Nelson asked Upton to accompany him on a flight to Dallas, Texas, but Upton declined due to business obligations.[8] The flight crashed, killing Nelson, Nelson's fiancée Helen, and five members of Nelson's band.

Pat was married twice.[9] Upton lived with his second wife, former model Lynn Upton, in Guntersville, and they had three daughters and a son, while he was a grandfather of six.[9] He died in his hometown of Geraldine, Alabama on July 27, 2016, at age 75.[8][10]

Discography

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See also: Spiral Starecase § Discography

Solo

Title Year
Then and Now 1995
With Ricky Nelson
Title Year
Playing to Win 1981

With Juice Newton

Title Year
Well Kept Secret 1978
Take Heart 1979

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Musician, Geraldine native Pat Upton dies at 75". The Gadsden Times. July 27, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  2. ^ My Favorite Records: A Musical Memoir, p. 61, at Google Books
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Musician, Geraldine native Pat Upton dies at 75". Gadsden Times. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  4. ^ Koda, Cub. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  5. ^ McLane, Ben (1998). "Articles: Spiral Starecase". benmcclane.com. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  6. ^ Thornton, William (2016-07-28). "Geraldine native Pat Upton of 'Spiral Starecase' dead at 75". al. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  7. ^ a b "Pat Upton – Alabama Record Collectors Association". alabamarecordcollectors.org. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  8. ^ a b Thornton, William (July 27, 2016). "Geraldine native Pat Upton of 'Spiral Starecase' dead at 75". AL.com. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Writer, Cindy West Times Staff. "Singer/songwriter Pat Upton still performing after all these years". Gadsden Times. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  10. ^ Jimenez, James H. (July 29, 2016). "Pat Upton dead at age 75 - Geraldine's native son wrote 'More Today Than Yesterday'". The Sand Mountain Reporter. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
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