Looking at sweet-faced, diminuative Pat Suzuki (September 23, 1934), 1950's audiences might be forgiven any preconceived stereotypes they may have projected upon her; once she opened up her mouth and let loose with her amazingly robust, rafter-rattling voice, we can only imagine their stunned reaction. This powerhouse performer caused a sensation when she appeared as Linda Low in the original Broadway production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song in 1958, introducing the immortal "I Enjoy Being a Girl." Riding the wave of the fad for all things Asian, Suzuki also had a successful recording career through the early 1960's. She dropped off the radar as the burgeoning conflict in Vietnam and changing social mores rendered her most famous role passe and embarassing to a younger generation; thankfully, in recent years, both she and Flower Drum Song have been re-evaluated, re-appreciated and restored to their rightful place in the pop culture pantheon. Still performing occasionally today, we pay homage to the first, and to date, only major Asian-American pop star. Happy Birthday, Pat Suzuki!
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