Patterson is an original member of the 1970s R&B group, Black Ivory[1] who recorded a number of R&B hits including, "Don't Turn Around", "You and I", "I'll Find A Way (The Loneliest Man In Town)", "Time Is Love", and "Mainline".

Along with prolific songwriter and disco producer, Leroy Burgess[3] and Stuart Bascombe they released their first single "Don't Turn Around" in the spring of 1971, while still in high school.

[5] Black Ivory had a few other charting singles in the 1970s, including "Time Is Love" #37, "Spinning Around" #45, "What Goes Around (Comes Around)" #44, "Will We Ever Come Together" #40, and later with the dance hit "Mainline" #57[6] with Russell Patterson as lead singer (written by Burgess, but recorded after he left the group in 1977).

Patterson is credited as co-writer on three songs from Black Ivory's debut album, Don't Turn Around: "Surrender", "I Keep Asking You Questions", and "I'll Find a Way".

Patterson co-produced their third album, Feel It, along with Robert John, Michael Gately, Leroy Burgess and Stuart Bascombe, and was co-writer on the songs "Daily News", "Warm Inside", and "Your Eyes Say Goodbye".

In 1988, Patterson signed a solo deal with Culture Shock Records and released the single, "I Surrender".

They returned to the stage on the Classic Soul circuit, featuring all three original members, with Stuart Bascombe doing most of the leads.

Since 2015, Patterson has been working as an actor on various television shows, most notably as an FBI agent on the last season of The Following starring Kevin Bacon.

In 2018 Patterson was featured vocalist on DJ Franke Estevez' house music release, "Celebrate".

[18][19] In October 2019, Patterson along with Black Ivory's band-mate, Stuart Bascombe traveled to the UK and joined Leroy Burgess on stage at London's Jazz Cafe.