WEMU 5:01 Jazz Series: The Detroit Office of Civil Defense

Patrick Prouty is a bassist, composer, conductor, educator and native Detroit MI. In 2024 Patrick was named Detroit’s first Composer Laureate.

As a bassist he has toured North America, Europe and Asia with Grammy nominee, Bettye Lavette and blues great, Johnnie Bassett among many other artists. Concerts have included the North Sea Jazz Festival, Bonnarro, Detroit Jazz Festival.  He maintains a very active performance schedule as a sideman and leading his own groups, The Detroit Office of Civil Defense, Orchestra Cinématique and The Patrick ProutyTrio. 

Patrick’s skills as a composer cross many genres including jazz, salsa, orchestral, and avant-garde. His music has been featured in many TV shows and feature films including Brooklyn 99, Overboard, The Good Place, Parenthood, Nurse Jackie, Masterpiece Theater and Breaking Bad, The Today Show and Suits. 

He has won multiple awards for his music including the Block M Records Award in 2006  Detroit Music Award for Best Jazz Recording in 2008 and 2012 and Best Classical Composer in 2020. Patrick received a lifetime achievement award from the Michigan Music Hall of Fame in 2023.