Bio
Patricia Shih wrote her first song at age 12. At 15 she signed a recording and managerial contract with Unicorn Records of Washington, DC as part of a folk duo. A 45 rpm record was released a year later, with TV, radio, concert and club performances. Included were an international radio broadcast on the Voice of America and appearances at the legendary Cellar Door, where the duo was runner-up to Emmylou Harris in the competitive “Best of the Hoots.” She began specializing in music for children and families in 1986 while continuing to perform for adult and senior audiences.
To date Ms. Shih has written over 250 songs. She performs extensively, appearing on TV and radio, in clubs, concert halls, schools, libraries, major music festivals and so on. She starred for a year as host on Cablevision’s “Tell Me A Story” seen twice daily, and also wrote and performed the show’s theme song. She has appeared in concert with such luminaries as Pete Seeger, Bonnie Raitt, Richie Havens, David Bromberg, Tom Chapin, Livingston Taylor, Odetta, Billy Bragg, Janis Ian, Michelle Shocked, Melanie and Peter Yarrow, among others. Her songs are recorded and performed by numerous other artists throughout the world, have been published internationally in magazines such as Sing Out! and Broadside and the Rise Up Singing Songbook, and have won awards and accolades in the American Songwriting Festival, the New York Songwriters Showcase, Parents Choice Awards, and the BACCA Songwriting Competition (First Place).
She has nine albums to her credit: four for adults, “Appleseeds”, “Gold Covered”, “Woman with One Closed Eye” and “Leap of Faith”; and five family/children’s albums, “Big Ideas!” (Seal of Excellence Award), “Making Fun!” (Parents’ Choice Approval Award, Preferred Choice Award), “The Power of One” (NAPPA Gold Award, Parents’ Choice Approved Award, Preferred Choice Award), "Your ImaginEngine!" (Seal of Excellence Award), and “Lovabyes” (2015 CD of the Year and Parents’ Choice Recommended Awards), all on Glass Records. Her work is also included on three anthology albums including: “Rainbow Sign” (Rounder Records), which was honored by the American Library Association Notable Children’s Recording Award, Parents’ Choice Award, Parents Prize, NAPPA Gold Medal, and the LA Times “Best of 1993” list. Also "Kidz STEM Songz" by KidzMusic and Dan Crow, and BMG's "Early Ears".
More honors: “Long Island Woman of Distinction” by Distinction Magazine, a “Fortune 52 Woman of Achievement” by the Long Island Press, and the “Social Justice Leadership Award” by the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island. She has two books, Gigging: A Practical Guide for Musicians and Gigs from Hell. She was a founding member and has served on the board of directors of the international Children’s Music Network. Ms Shih is also an award-winning painter, glass artist and filmmaker. Her first documentary “Undocumented” has won 16 awards and honors from 13 film festivals and competitions.
