Patti Whipp: the story of a folk artist lost among a pile of boxes
Not everyone who records music wants to become a world-famous singer, performing to large audiences or churning out countless albums at the demands of record labels. For Patti Whipp, making music was a short-lived endeavour. She recorded just two songs in high school back in 1969 before moving to college and abandoning any attempts at becoming a musician.
Whipp’s two songs, ‘Walkin’’ and ‘It’s Gone’, are beautiful slices of folk which indicate real talent. If Whipp had actively sought out a music career, she would’ve almost certainly become successful. It’s a true shame that she didn’t record any more music, yet we can be relieved that we have these two pieces, at least, which were almost lost to the annals of time for good. Luckily, the songs were rediscovered in 2018 after the master tapes belonging to Cuca Records – an independent record label and pressing plant -were uncovered.
Cuca Records dissolved in the early 1970s, not long after Whipp recorded her works, and subsequently, the master tapes belonging to many artists across the United States were never returned. Instead, they remained tucked away in brown boxes, piled high among countless other tapes.
It’s a miracle, really, that Whipp’s songs were found – and thank god they were. These tracks truly are the meaning of hidden gems, possessing simple yet emotive lyricism and gorgeous guitars, which would’ve undoubtedly gained acclaim if the record had received a widespread release.
But it seemed like it was never Whipp’s plan to become a star. She was happy sharing these songs she had written to a small audience, recording them with the assistance of a local band named The Infinite Blue.
She was a student at Michigan’s Menominee High School, where she met fellow Jim Ravet, who was interested in making his own independent record label. Employing his older brother Phil (who was able to help fund the label) and flipping the letters in their last name, Tevar Records was born, and Whipp was going to be the first person to record a song for them.
Although she didn’t know Jim very well, she agreed to be their first release, and a recording session subsequently took place. Then, the recording was sent to be pressed by Cuca, and for a short period, Whipp enjoyed her minor success – even hearing herself get played on local radio stations.
Whipp had always loved music, and she soon learnt how to play guitar herself when she was 14. An old newspaper clipping providing a short article about the singer claimed that the 18-year-old Whipp was going to be the next big thing. “Soon you will recognise the name of a singer whose record is to be released shortly,” it read. The article, written by Janet Derocher, also revealed that “Just before she entered the 11th grade, Patti began writing songs. Up to this time, she has composed six songs.”
We’ll perhaps never hear these other four pieces, and it seems unlikely that they were ever recorded. At least we have ‘Walkin’’ and ‘It’s Gone’, two stunning tracks that you can stream online.
On ‘Walkin’’, gentle guitars, tinged ever-so-slightly with melancholy, welcome Whipp’s voice as she sings about going on walks to help her find “her answer in the wind”. There’s a bittersweetness here, with Whipp offering up a glimpse of hope as she seeks a sense of clarity despite walking a “lonely road” that is “so chilly and cold”. The Infinite Blue provide lovely backing in accompaniment to Whipp’s voice and her acoustic guitar, and at just two-and-a-half minutes long, you’re left begging for more.
‘It’s Gone’ is a reflection of Whipp’s misery after her boyfriend moved away to college while she still had one more year of high school left. She told the Numero Group, “I was sad and lonely after having him every day over the summer. I was emotionally trying to figure out my life. I was a senior; it was my last year with my friends, and Mark was gone.” As she plucks away at her acoustic, The Infinite Blues chime in with some bluesy guitars before she addresses her mixed feelings of both “loneliness” and “happiness”.
It appears that Tevar Records never really got off the ground either, fading into obscurity along with Whipp’s music. Her story makes you wonder how many other people have recorded incredible songs, only for them to remain undiscovered, their tapes hidden in boxes gathering dust.
