Edward Roy "Eddie" Patten (August 27, 1939 – February 25, 2005) was an Atlanta, Georgia-born R&B/soul singer, best known as a member of Gladys Knight & the Pips.
He was a cousin of Gladys Knight.
Along with the group, he was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.Edward was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Thomas S.
He had two children from this marriage Stephanie A.
and Steven A.
Patten.
It was in Atlanta that he was invited by William Guest to join the Pips after two members left the group to get married.
Edward later traveled first to New York after the success of the single "Every Beat of My Heart" and later he and the group now Gladys Knight and the Pips, moved to Detroit, Michigan to join Motown Records.
He and Renee had three children - Edward II, Elliott and Renee Patten.
Even though Gladys Knight & the Pips officially disbanded in 1989, Patten remained very close to his bandmates and his lifelong friends throughout the rest of his life.
Patten had diabetes, hypertension, and was later incapacitated by a stroke.
He died of a stroke at St.
Mary's Mercy Hospital in Livonia, Michigan, where he resided.
He was 65 years old.
He is interred at Detroit's historic Woodlawn Cemetery at Eight Mile Road and Woodward Avenue.
He is survived by his wife Renee, six children - Stephanie, Steven, Sonya, Edward II, Elliott and Renee Patten and nine grandchildren.