bio

Patrick Griffin grew up in Kenosha Wisconsin as the youngest in a large musical family. Patrick recalls, “There were guitars, violins, string basses, accordions, pianos, and drums always laying around the house!” Pitch and rhythm came naturally to Patrick as a youngster and he started composing short piano pieces at age five. His mother was a tap dancer who enjoyed jazz, waltzes and polkas while his father constantly listened to classical radio and opera. His brothers and sister played in orchestra, marching band, jazz ensemble, and even top forty cover bands. Griffin started formal piano training at this time and added French Horn lessons by age ten. At age fourteen, Griffin took first place in the Margaret Schmitt Memorial Chopin Competition, being younger than any previous winner. Also, being self-taught in jazz until his training at Berklee, he excelled in piano improvisation in various styles. Patrick’s most influential teachers were Margerie M. Morrow, who refused to accept any payment for eight years of classical lessons and Augy Wegner, a UW-Parkside counterpoint and composition teacher. Griffin credits much of his keen musical sense to Mrs. Morrow, who also volunteered him to accompany the Snap-On Male Chorus. Having been offered the prestigious Chick Corea Scholarship from Berklee College, Griffin relocated to Boston in 1985 to pursue the study of jazz harmony, arranging, electronic synthesizers and film music.

Griffin received a bachelor's degree in Film Music Composition from Berklee College of Music in 1988. He has since composed and orchestrated music on such movies as “Are We Done Yet?”, “Herbie Fully Loaded”, “Like Mike”, “101 Dalmations 2”, “Tarzan & Jane”, “Jungle Book 2”, “Beethoven’s 3rd”, and HBO premiere “Renegade Force.” His music can also be heard on TV's “Miser Brother’s Christmas”, “Cranberry Christmas”, The Save-ums” and Warner Brother’s “Krypto the Superdog.” Griffin has won numerous awards in the composition of original music for short films. Griffin’s songs and arrangements have been featured in “An American Tale 3” and “King Kong: Savior of Atlantis” and also on the album release of “School’s Out Christmas” and Yasmeen’s “When Will It Be Me.” He released his first solo recording “Voices From Beyond” sometime in March 2008 as a tribute to his recently passed sister.

Patrick and his wife Ileane currently live in Southern California with their two children. He remains open minded to pursuing bountiful limitless musical opportunities.

photo by

Rachel Rausch