Bio with Bullets

●  Born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI.

●  Early influences…

       — hymns at church and home, piano lessons, clarinet, school choirs.

       — Simon & Garfunkle, The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Motown.

●  At 13, Patricia took up the guitar, inspired by a Joan Baez recording that helped her find her own voice and the key to her musical heart.

●  Her songwriting emerged as a penchant for poetry met with music.

●  Previous Professional Experience:

       — after college in Kalamazoo, MI, lead singer with McDuff, an “uptown blues” piano, bass, & guitar

       trio that performed throughout Michigan in the 1980’s.   

       — Two female 4-somes; Leopards on the Loose specialized in a cappella renditions of Motown

       tunes; The Recyclettes added accompaniment to originals, covers and parodies.

       — On her own, Patricia also performed in musical theater & mixed media cabarets.

●  In 1995, she started her solo career, focusing on her own songs and style.

●  In 1996, Bill Willging—who honed his guitar skills growing up in Colorado and strumming and jamming his way through several states and schools—joined her as occasional supporting cast for his first foray into professional music. Pettinga and Willging were married in 2001.  

●  Since then, the solo and duo acts have kept up a steady schedule of concerts, programs and workshops for general audiences, children and senior citizens in a variety of venues.

● Patricia has self-produced three recordings which feature Willging and friends on a mix of her originals and cover tunes.