Patrick "Paka-Pop" Fleming grew up in the Haight-Ashbury section of San Francisco as a child during the incorporable 60's and 70's.As a result, he was exposed to some of the most powerful singers, songwriters, musicians, and artists of that time, including The Grateful Dead, Merle Sanders, Bobby "Spider" Webb, Jefferson Airplane, Fillmore Slim, Janice Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Carlos Santana, WAR, Tower of Power, Grace Slick, and many more. In fact, he says some of them “hung out” on his doorstep!This coupled with an amazing family background in jazz, including his great-Uncle Lionel Hampton who would stay at their house when he was in town, and his mother, Earleta Cranshaw, a jazz singer who sang with Uncle Lionel on boat cruises up and down the Pacific Coast from Washington to Los Angeles, Patrick couldn’t help but become a musician with all of this around him. When he was young, Fleming was classically trained on the saxophone and played in various bands and orchestras, both in school and at church.But he also loved to sing, and has a gorgeous voice to prove it.In junior and senior high school, Patrick sang in several choral groups – both jazz and classical.He also learned to play the bongos and congas as a child….and admits that Uncle Lionel taught him a lot of “tricks” that he still uses today.He likens his percussive style to Eddie "Bongo" Brown, "Chippito", and Armando Perazza, calling his style "funky cool." In addition to his music, Patrick began to act in school and church plays. (He was also a star football player in High School!) In the 1980's, while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, Fleming poured his heart & soul into putting together various foreign bands and percussive groups consisting of very talented performers from all over Europe, North Africa, and Asia. He both sang and played congas for military audiences throughout the world. During this time, Patrick served as a Special Forces Ranger in such dangerous places as Lebanon and Panama (when Noriega was overthrown). We are lucky to still have him after all of that!
Over the years, Fleming has performed with and recorded for some great musicians, including Lou Rawls (Rosales's), Marvin Gaye (San Francisco night club sit-inns), The Carl Gardner Jr.'s "Coasters" (Chittlin' Circuit Live), Patti Austin (Glide Memorial Church Choir), Anna-Maria Allberghetti (Background Vocalist), Fred Murray (Runnin' Blue), Rick James (click tracks), Latoya London (American Idol), Michael Nelson (of: Ali Woodson's Emperors of Soul), and Joan Baez (Glide Memorial Church Choir), among others.
He has also continued to be involved in acting.He was one of the driving forces behind the stage play "The Chittlin' Circuit Live (San Francisco Bay Area - 2000-2002)" acting, singing, and working as artistic consultant, assistant producer and director. “Patrick was instrumental in helping me form my band, and I have been blessed to have him in my life, both professionally and as a friend.His unique, vibrant and funky sound sums up who he is…a great person with a big heart and a lot of talent.” – Monica Ashton “The world is blessed with many talented musicians and artists, Thank God I just get to be one of the many humble musical servants in God's realm.” – Patrick Fleming
