Patti Austin, a show business veteran, need only look at her fans to determine where their entry point to her career might have been.

"I have the silliest audiences," she confessed in a phone interview from Studio City, Calif., where she lives. "When I look around and see a geriatric crowd, I know it's the Ella Fitzgerald following, the older generation. These are the ones that can afford the symphony season tickets — and the rhythm 'n' blues shows.

"Another crowd is what I call the 'Baby Come to Me' group, who bought my records and watched the soaps (the tune originated as a theme from 'General Hospital'). There also are those who come because of the movie themes (one of her hits was 'How Do You Keep the Music Playing' with her 'Baby Come to Me' co-singer, James Ingram, from the movie 'Best Friends'). Then you have people who follow me in live performances, who are familiar with what I do live on stage.

"But sometimes, they all show up and look at each other, wondering. My job is to make them comfortable, to focus on music we all love. It's a challenge — but one I welcome."

Austin is one of the troupers in "A Smooth Romance," a concert Sunday at the Waikiki Shell, where she will go the jazz route.

"I'm fortunate to have come up in the business at a time when you had to do everything to be proficient," she said of her adaptability. "It's all served me well; if one thing falls, another comes up. In the early days, you had to sing and dance and do comedy. As the business waned, I always found something else to do."

Now 56, Harlem-born Austin was a professional entertainer at 5. "I did not have one of those traumatized show biz careers, because my dad was a jazz musician, and we performed around the house — it was mostly fun. My parents sensed talent, but I still had a childhood, a regular life, with regular friends, so I sustained myself, both professionally and emotionally."

Quincy Jones, a driving force in music circles for decades, was her godfather, but she mostly seeks him for solace, not to steer her course. "I never used his name; he just stepped in when my dad passed away and beyond anything else, he was my emotional support," she said.

For Austin, diversity works wonders.

"In my symphony gigs, I do a tribute to Ella; now I'm in the process of developing a tribute to George Gershwin. I can do Ella with three different pianos, a quartet, or a big band, too. Then there's an (Duke) Ellington show and a (Count) Basie show, too. The mix depends on the gig. I haven't a clue what I'll do in Hawai'i, but when I get off the plane, I'll have a set list."

Austin also has shown up in unexpected places — like a duet with Michael Jackson on "You Brought Me Love," roles in such films as "Tucker: The Man and His Dream" and "Shirley Valentine" (the latter with her Oscar-nominated song "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?") and soundtracks as varied as "Six Feet Under" and "Best Friends."

Consequently, she's baffled how much of her audience knows her repertoire. "In Japan and in the Philippines, the people even know the words to my songs," she said.

She still travels often to gigs but finds the hassles of a flight bothersome since 9/11. "I'm now used to getting frisked," she said. "And I'm OK with all the drama, if you're going to Indonesia or Australia.

"But flying to Vegas, getting to the airport with the Ziploc bag? Not fun. ... I have a league of tremendously wealthy friends who whisk me on a private plane; now that's great. But flying Southwest? Keeps me humble."

RETURN TO ROMANCE FESTIVAL

MARCH 2-11

Various venues

Hot line: 545-7664

www.mattcatinguborchestra.com

TONIGHT

"Romantic Jazz," 7:30-10:30 p.m., The Kahala Hotel & Resort, with jazz trio and singer Loretta Ables Sayre (no cover); also 8:30 p.m.-midnight, at the Halekulani hotel, with jazz trio and singer Deborah Lippmann ($10 cover). Kahala: 739-8888; Halekulani: 923-2311.

SUNDAY

"A Smooth Romance," 7 p.m., Waikiki Shell. With Patti Austin, Jonathan Butler, Kirk Whalum, Peanuts Whalum and the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii. $45, $65, $75. (877) 750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com.

MONDAY

"Romantic Jazz," 7:30-10:30 p.m., The Kahala (no cover). With jazz trio and singer Deborah Lippmann. 739-8888.

TUESDAY-THURSDAY

"The Most Romantic Songs Ever Written, Part I," 7:30 p.m., Hawai'i Theatre. With Brian Stokes Mitchell, Lucie Arnaz, Rocky Brown, Robert Cazimero, Nina Keali'iwahamana, Jordan Segundo, the Diamond Head Shooting Stars, the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii; hosted by Nick and Nina Clooney. $45, $65, $75. 528-0506, www.hawaiitheatre.com.

MARCH 9

"Return to Romance — the CD," 7 p.m., Waikiki Shell. With Jimmy Borges, Cecilio & Kapono, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Raiatea Helm, Na Leo Pilimehana, Keali'i Reichel and the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii. $45, $65, $75. (877) 750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com.

MARCH 11

"The Rhythm of Romance: From Motown to Nashville to Hollywood to O'ahu," 7 p.m., Blaisdell Arena. With Natalie Cole, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Ruben Studdard and the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii. $45, $65, $75. (877) 750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.