Patti Birthday

Patricia Daneille Birthkowski, aka Patti Birthday, was born on June 26th, 1963 in Beverschidt Falls, Oregon.  Her father, Jonathan Birthkowski, was a music minister at Friendly Valley Baptist Church and her mother, Angelica Dayshino Birthkowski, was a music teacher at Beverschidt Falls High School.  She was a spoiled only child and given everything she ever asked for.  She graduated Valedictorian and had a full ride scholarship to Julliard but decided not to go to college.

At the age of 18, Patti left Beverschidt Falls and headed to LA.  She wanted to make it big in the music business.  Having sung in the church choir since the age of five, she definitely had the voice for it.  When she arrived in LA she very quickly got a gig singing in Club Whisper two nights a week.  She did have to work as a waitress to be able to pay her bills since she wasn't getting paid for performing.  One fateful night in in 1982 a record label exec stopped in for a drink while waiting on AAA to come fix a flat and heard Patti sing.  She was signed that night.  She was told to come up with a stage name and that's when Patti Birthday was born.

She recorded her first single, It's Your Birthday, just after her 20th birthday.  The song hit number one after two weeks.  Patti opened for bands such as Oingo Boingo and Depeche Mode but her opening act days didn't last long.  After just three months, she was headlining and selling out stadiums across the country.

With songs such as Am I Real?, Blow Out Your Candles, and Sprinkles, it was no wonder that she skyrocketed to fame quickly.  Along with that fame came drugs and alcohol.  She managed to get to the top in just 4 short years, but she was very quickly headed to the bottom.  After her third DUI, she was sent to rehab.  During her time there, she dedicated her life to sobriety and to helping others get clean as well, starting the Birthday Rehabilitation Center in Tranquility, Arizona.

Patti then announced her Beautiful Mistakes Tour.  It was a reclaim of her life and a chance to let the fans know she really had changed.  What no one knew, was this would be her last tour.

Two months after the last tour date in LA, Patti was scene boarding a yacht in Marina Del Ray.  There was a strange man, later identified as Ray Cation lead singer for Party Time Boys, on video scene boarding the yacht about an hour before Patti.  The yacht set sail and Patti would never be seen again.  Three days later, the yacht was found abandoned and drifting.  Though no body was found, there was enough evidence for the DA to rule it a homicide and charges were filed.  A thorough investigation was conducted and Ray Cation was arrested on suspicion of murder.  Due to the lack of evidence, he was acquitted after a very lengthy trial.

Speculation remains that Patti is still alive and in hiding.  Others believe that she committed suicide.  No one really knows for sure.  And until she comes forward or a body is found, it will remain a mystery.