Patrick Cowley

A renowned synthesizer player, record producer, and solo artist, Patrick Cowley helped transform electronic dance music from an underground phenomenon into a mainstream genre during the late 1970s and early '80s. He was born on October 19, 1950, in Buffalo, New York, and initially worked in the music industry as a drummer. After moving west to attend the City College of San Francisco, Patrick Cowley began studying synthesizers and recording his own music. His innovative approach to the synthesizer landed him a gig with the disco artist Sylvester, whose 1978 album Step II featured Cowley's performances on the chart-topping dance hits "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" and "Dance (Disco Heat)." Patrick Cowley appeared on Sylvester's follow-up record, Stars, as both an instrumentalist and songwriter, then began focusing on his own music during the early 1980s. He scored a Number 1 dance hit with his debut single, "Menergy," which appeared in 1981 and highlighted his enthusiasm for San Francisco's gay club scene. His follow-up single, "Megatron Man," was released later that year and climbed to Number 2 on the American dance charts, paving the way for Patrick Cowley's full-length album, Megatron Man. In early 1982, Cowley composed and produced Paul Parker's Number 1 dance single, "Right on Target," and collaborated with Sylvester on the Top 5 hit "Do You Wanna Funk." He also released his second solo album, Mind Warp, although complications from an undiagnosed battle with AIDS ultimately left him bedridden. He died on November 12, 1982. During the years that followed, acts like New Order and Pet Shop Boys sang his praises as a dance music pioneer.