She Made Cartoon TV History: Patrice Holloway

She was of African American and Hispanic heritage. Born in Los Angeles, California the younger sister of Motown recording artist Brenda Holloway, who also got her start in the Detroit recording factory. She recorded several singles with Motown, none of which were ever released. She eventually found her place as a songwriter, co-writing "You've Made Me So Very Happy" which became a major hit for both Brenda Holloway and Blood, Sweat and Tears. She also contributed backing vocals (along with Brenda) to Joe Cocker's 1968 cover of The Beatles' "With a Little Help From My Friends." She also recorded several singles for Capitol, which did well on the Northern soul circuit.

In 1970, she auditioned for producer Danny Janssen, winning the part of Valerie Brown in Josie and the Pussycats, alongside Cathy Daugher (Josie) and Cheryl Ladd as ditzy drummer Melody. However, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera balked at Patrice's involvement, demanding she be recast and that Valerie become Caucasian. It's worth noting that, in the original comic, Valerie was always intended to be African-American.

Janssen refused to back down, resulting in a 3-week standoff between the producer and Hanna-Barbera. H-B finally relented, allowing Janssen to keep Patrice in the show, and keeping her character African-American. The producer's stance also won him the respect of L.A.'s session musician community, who offered their services to him at a fraction of their usual rates.

Although Daugher's Josie was supposed to be the Pussycats' lead vocalist, Patrice ended up singing lead on the majority of the songs (including the show's theme). Unfortunately, the Josie and the Pussycats LP received almost no publicity on its December 5, 1970 release, and quickly sank out of sight.

The character of Valerie Brown was voiced by African American voice actress, Barbara Pariot.

After the demise of Josie and the Pussycats, Patrice returned to songwriting and background vocals, working with and writing songs for Neil Young, Diana Ross, Bobby Womack, Ray Conniff and Brenda Holloway.

Patrice Holloway passed away at the age of 55, in the city of her birth following a heart attack on October 1, 2006 and is survived by one son, and her sister Brenda.

Source: Spectropop Remembering Patrice Holloway