Singer Patti Drew had the first hit version of "Workin' on a Groovy Thing,"… Read Full Bio ↴Singer Patti Drew had the first hit version of "Workin' on a Groovy Thing," later a 1969 Top 20 R&B/pop hit for the 5th Dimension. She began her singing career as the lead singer of the Drew-vels, which included her sisters Lorraine and Erma and bass vocalist Carlton Black. Born December 29, 1944, in Charleston, SC, Drew grew up in Nashville, TN, and later moved with her family to the Chicago suburb of Evanston.
During her teens, she attended Evanston High and sang with her mother and sisters in church. Her mother was a domestic worker whose employer, Maury Lathowers, was the regional promoter for Los Angeles, CA-based Capitol Records. She invited Lathowers to come to her church to hear her daughters sing and, impressed, he invited them to his home for an audition and got the group a deal with Capitol. Their debut single, Tell Him was a huge local hit around the Chicago area and charted number 90 R&B in early 1964. The Drew-vels broke up later that year, and in 1966, Drew signed to Peter Wright's Quill label. The following year, Drew signed a solo deal with Capitol. Her first single, a re-recording of "Tell Him," hit number 22 on the R&B charts in fall 1967. A Capitol LP, Tell Him, was also issued. One year later, her recording of the Neil Sedaka/Roger Atkins song "Workin' on a Groovy Thing" made it to number 34 R&B. A Workin' on a Groovy Thing LP was issued along with two more Capitol LPs, I've Been Here All the Time (1969) and Wild Is Love (January 1970). Drew's other singles were "Hundreds of Guys," "Keep on Movin'," and "My Lover's Prayer." In 1971, she left the music business. She resurfaced with a release on Carl Davis and E. Rodney Jones' Innovation Records in 1975. During the '80s, she reunited with Carlton Black in the group Front Line and performed around the Evanston area. Most of her Capitol singles can be found on the Collectables 1994 CD Tell Him: Golden Classics Edition.
During her teens, she attended Evanston High and sang with her mother and sisters in church. Her mother was a domestic worker whose employer, Maury Lathowers, was the regional promoter for Los Angeles, CA-based Capitol Records. She invited Lathowers to come to her church to hear her daughters sing and, impressed, he invited them to his home for an audition and got the group a deal with Capitol. Their debut single, Tell Him was a huge local hit around the Chicago area and charted number 90 R&B in early 1964. The Drew-vels broke up later that year, and in 1966, Drew signed to Peter Wright's Quill label. The following year, Drew signed a solo deal with Capitol. Her first single, a re-recording of "Tell Him," hit number 22 on the R&B charts in fall 1967. A Capitol LP, Tell Him, was also issued. One year later, her recording of the Neil Sedaka/Roger Atkins song "Workin' on a Groovy Thing" made it to number 34 R&B. A Workin' on a Groovy Thing LP was issued along with two more Capitol LPs, I've Been Here All the Time (1969) and Wild Is Love (January 1970). Drew's other singles were "Hundreds of Guys," "Keep on Movin'," and "My Lover's Prayer." In 1971, she left the music business. She resurfaced with a release on Carl Davis and E. Rodney Jones' Innovation Records in 1975. During the '80s, she reunited with Carlton Black in the group Front Line and performed around the Evanston area. Most of her Capitol singles can be found on the Collectables 1994 CD Tell Him: Golden Classics Edition.
Turn Away From Me
Patti Drew Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Patti Drew:
Beggar For The Blues When you're down and out and ya feel real hurt Come…
Hard to Handle Baby Here I am I'm the man on the scene I can give…
Midnight Confessions The sound of your footsteps Telling me that you′re near Your…
Tell Him If you ever see the boy for me Tell him that…
Workin' On A Groovy Thing When I saw you, I knew That I was gonna love…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@God2glory
Great music will never die.
@roslyndrew564
I know every word, every riff, pause, phrase, and vocal rhythm of all my sister's music, with and without the Drew-vels. I have since I was about 8 or 9. I remember being just a tot when they would harmonize to gospel music while washing dishes in our house. I would think "how do they do that? i want to do that with them! And there came a time when I did. Fifty years later, I still know every sing, and no 2 songs sound alike. I think I'm most grateful for my recording three songs with Patti and Donny Hathaway on " which one, I'm callin', and if you love me" Aah! Those were the days. God gave her and all of us the gift of voice. Even the 2 that didn't really sing have unique speaking voices and the gift of gab. All our kids are musical too. what a huge blessing to be a part of all her greatness. A joyous ride indeed.
@jjs490
+Roslyn Drew HI Roslyn, yes now i know you are Patti's sister. I also read that her son is a vocalist or at least a musician. Yes , you were all blessed. Im from Phila, and '" Tell Him" was released twice here. In 1967 and again in 68 or 69. I must have sung it with her over 200 times. Gosh i hope Patti is taking care of herself as much as she can. Im sorry to hear she doesn't sing anymore. I hope to hear more comments from you Roslyn. Id love to talk to Patti some time too. But I respect your privacy, and Pattie's too. Be well and I hope she knows she is very well thought of. Look at all the fans she has here on YouTube !, and you can see she is really missed. God Bless you and Patti too. John , Phila..
@joeseibert5165
+Roslyn Drew, I love your sister's music. You have a talented family.
@juanitarenee4394
Roslyn Drew, I'm 37 yrs old and I love your sister's music. She will forever live on! God bless you all!
@JS-Jms
Wow. Thanks for sharing that with us. Sounds like a joyous experience indeed. I vaguely remember the song, but I do. I was probably about 9 then. God bless you.
@gordonmckenzie2920
Wow, you are Patti's sister!! Here is something you may not know...Jamaican record collectors LOVE Patti...to this day they play her music on their Sunday radio oldies format. Wow!! Blessings
@vinsnan6259
Lord just one request...please take me back to this time and I'll handle it from there.
@wilmss1
I just saw Patti singing live on a video after 40 years and let me say It was so exciting seeing her for my first time ever, singing on stage the songs that I have loved all these years. Her voice is still rich and sultry!! Wonderful Ms. Patti Drew! ♥
@margaretmartinez9836
This is my kind of song.