Edward Roy Patten was an American R&B and soul singer who achieved prominence as a member of the vocal group Gladys Knight & the Pips. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, to a musical family, Patten began his singing career in local church choirs and doo-wop groups. He joined the Pips in 1959 at the invitation of William Guest, embarking on a career that spanned three decades until the group's disbandment in 1989.\n\nThroughout his tenure with Gladys Knight & the Pips, Patten contributed to the group's transition from local success to international stardom. Following the success of their single 'Every Beat of My Heart', the group relocated to New York and later Detroit, where they signed with Motown Records. Over his career, Patten won multiple Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. He remained close to his bandmates until his death in 2005.
