Sparks-based country musician, veteran and mother of three, Patrice Luciano is defying the odds, undergoing a double mastectomy operation yesterday to defeat breast cancer while still preparing to perform, with two upcoming concerts in our area.
Here's a press release her team sent to Our Town Reno this week:
"Popular singer-songwriter and recording artist Patrice is gearing up to open for two big-name acts in Reno-Sparks: Award-winning country duo Thompson Square on Sat., May 17, 2025 at Club Underground, 555 E. 4th St. in Reno
(doors at 7 p.m.; show 8-11:30 p.m.); and Moonshine Bandits on June 7 at Bartley Ranch Regional Park’s Hawkins Amphitheater (doors at 6 p.m.; show, 7-10 p.m.;).
“Thompson Square’s always been really near-and-dear to my heart because it was my husband and mine’s wedding song, their big hit, ‘Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not.’ It’s actually how he proposed to me,” Patrice says. “So we’re so excited about this. It’s the night before my birthday, and I have all these significant things happening, so it’s like rebirth for me.”
Pushing onto the local music scene for several years now, the raven-haired powerhouse vocalist opens up about not fitting the stereotype of inspiring singers.
“I think there’s so much controversy around needing to be young, and needing to [fit a predictable profile of a country artist] in this industry, and what I’ve done is kind of twisted that just a tiny bit. I’m a mom, and I’m in my 40s, and I think there’s a lot of common misconceptions of, when can you do these things, and when do you have to do them by? The answer is, you write music – music that’s relatable to real people – and then you put that out, and that’s exactly what I did. I’m just happy that I get to share my music with everybody.”
Singer-songwriters have been drawn to The Biggest Little City in the World for decades, and at the heart of those dreams is the tenacity it takes to be seen, heard and reckoned with – and Patrice is far from some shrinking violet.
An Air Force veteran and married mom of 3, she’s been an integral part of the indie music scene, as the proprietor and former owner of the now-shuttered Paddy & Irene’s on Victorian Square in Sparks, well-known for its popular Open Mic Night and longtime venue for local bands.
“I gave that place my whole heart,” notes Patrice, whose dedication to her peer group is notable. “There’s such a sense of support in the community, from local music. It blossomed me, as a musician.”
Immersing herself in those unfettered musical vibes inspired Patrice to launch a long-term endeavor to hone her craft, then set her sights on making an impression in the Nashville scene,
making several trips to Music City to record her songs.
And, while intention is everything when it comes to manifesting dreams, the universe had other intentions for the strikingly beautiful performer whose workhorse ethics and long hours spent doing so much for others, suddenly turned into a life-threatening health crisis, forcing Patrice to put herself first.
“I was diagnosed with triple-negative, very invasive, fast-growing breast cancer,” Patrice says.
Spurred by a frightening family history of breast cancer, and the stark reality of her own diagnosis, Patrice exhibits an instinctive warrior persona, and has gone public on social media about her struggle.
“I’m trying to stay positive. The reason I decided to start vlogging was a lot of people don’t talk about cancer, and how it affects you career and family, how it changes your complete perspective on living. Now, the things I used to worry about, stress about, I don’t have those worries anymore. Every day, I get up, go to the gym and I work out to basically live. My mom’s sister died early of this same cancer, and [doctors] basically gave me a death sentence. So, instead of sitting down and feeling sorry for myself, I decided, ‘Let’s go public with this thing, and continue to write and put music out.’”
Choosing to focus on hitting the stage and opening for both Thompson Square, and the Moonshine Bandits, Patrice is leaning into her essential self-expression as a singer and the healing power of music, followed by a two-week family vacation in Michigan. When she returns to Northern Nevada, she’ll begin intensive chemotherapy treatments.
“I’m living life right now, to engulf myself in this music, and embrace it. Music is the healing power, and I’m hoping that it’s going to heal my soul.” "