Patti Drew obit

R&B Singer Patti Drew Dies at 80 (1944–2025): 'Tell Him' Star and Soul Pioneer

 She was not on the list.

Legendary R&B vocalist and 'Tell Him' hitmaker Patti Drew passed away on June 16, 2025, but her music and spirit will never fade.

Hey Soul family—today we lost one of the voices that carved out R&B history. Patti Drew, best known for her silky take on the 60s classic “Tell Him,” died on June 16, 2025, at the age of 80. I did not see a lot of information about this legend online so I looked through the SOUL Newspaper files to pull some information to celebrate her legacy.

Born December 29, 1944, in Charleston, South Carolina, Patti Drew moved north with her family in 1956 to Chicago—landing smack in the middle of a vibrant Black music scene (SOUL Newspaper, Oct. 21, 1968). As one of six Drew sisters, she cut her teeth singing in church choirs and neighborhood get-togethers, always standing out as the girl who traded two-stepping for soaring soul riffs.

The Original ‘Tell Him’ Crew

In the early 60s, Patti and sisters Lorraine and Erma formed The Drew-Vels. Their claim to fame? The first-ever charting R&B version of “Tell Him.” Patti later told SOUL that after their Capitol Records deal expired, they decided to re-record it—nobody expected it to hit again, but hit it did (SOUL Newspaper, Oct. 21, 1968). “I didn’t think it would make it,” Patti laughed, “but it came roaring back.”

By 1967 the group had gone their separate ways—some sisters off to new adventures, one even joining the Playboy crew—leaving Patti as the torchbearer. Her solo ‘Tell Him’ climbed to #13 on Billboard’s R&B chart, proving that Patti Drew was more than a family act; she was a star in her own right (SOUL Newspaper, Oct. 21, 1968).

Finding Her Groove

At just 22, Patti was honest about her quest for the perfect sound: “We haven’t really found a direction… We’re kind of fumbling around…trying a little bit of everything,” she admitted in June ’68 (SOUL Newspaper, June 3, 1968). R&B? Jazz? A little of both? Patti wasn’t sure—but she always knew she’d keep singing.

Patti was unapologetically a “night person.” Club life? Sure. But come noon, she was hittin’ the pillow. “When I’m not working I spend my time sleeping…noon, one, two o’clock is not late at all to me,” she quipped (SOUL Newspaper, June 3, 1968). And don’t we all understand that? Her downtime was sacred: classic horror flicks, cartoon marathons, and the occasional quiet moment.

Inspirations That Shaped Her

After catching Nancy Wilson live, Patti’s mission got real: “She told me, ‘Don’t get into it—it’s a frustrating business.’ But I looked at her and said, ‘That’s exactly where I want to be,’” she reminisced (SOUL Newspaper, Oct. 21, 1968). She also dug Lou Rawls, Bill Cosby’s comedy turns, and Joe Tex’s fire—yet always kept her eyes on her own prize: authentic, heart-led singing.

Before the decade turned, Patti was eyeing songwriting for Motown, writing artist bios for SOUL, and dropping more singles into the late 60s (SOUL Newspaper, Oct. 21, 1968; Wikipedia). But her real goal? “To be the biggest singer I can be. I don’t really have any interest in acting…I just want to be a singer—a good singer.”

Her music taught us love and struggle, confidence and compassion. So, today—spin “Tell Him,” cue up Dream of a Lifetime, and let Patti Drew’s voice remind you why soul matters. Her sound may have been born decades ago, but her message is timeless.

Rest in harmony, Patti. You gave us your heart—and it’s still singing.