Patrice Rushen


Patrice Louise Rushen is an American jazz pianist and R&B singer. She is also a composer, record producer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and music director. Her 1982 single, "Forget Me Nots", received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. The instrumental "Number One" from her Straight From the Heart album earned an additional Grammy nomination for best instrumental. Her 12th album, Signature, also received a Grammy nomination for best instrumental in 1998. Rushen also serves as an ambassador for artistry in education at the Berklee College of Music and the chair of the popular music program at the USC Thornton School of Music.

Biography

Rushen is the elder of two daughters born to Allen and Ruth Rushen. Patrice was three years old when she began playing the piano, and by the time she was six she was giving classical recitals. In her teens, she attended south LA's Locke High School and went on to earn a degree in music from the University of Southern California.
After winning a competition at the age of 17 that enabled her to perform with her band at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Rushen signed with the Prestige label, releasing three albums with them between 1974 and 1976. In 1978, when she was 23, she began recording with Elektra.
Rushen married Marc St. Louis, a concert tour manager and live show production specialist, in 1986. They have one son, Cameron and one daughter named Jadyn. Her nickname is "Babyfingers," a reference to her small hands.
In 2005, Rushen received an Honorary Doctorate of Music degree from Berklee College of Music. She is the Chair of popular music at USC, and the Ambassador of artistry in Education at the Berklee College of Music. She has served as the film composer for numerous movies television shows and documentaries. She has been a member of jazz fusion band CAB, The Meeting with a Ndugu Chancelor, Alfonso Johnson and Ernie Watts
Her song "Hang it Up" was featured on the 2005 video game Fahrenheit.

Cultural impact

The chorus from "Forget Me Nots" was used as the music for the 1997 song "Men in Black". Rushen was credited as writer and composer, along with Will Smith and Terri McFadden. The same chorus can also be heard in George Michael's song "Fastlove".

Awards

Grammy awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Rushen has received three Grammy nominations.
YearCategoryNominated workResult
1982Best R&B Instrumental Performance"Number One "
1982Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female"Forget Me Nots "
1997"Best Contemporary Jazz Performance""Signature"

Other awards

Solo albums

Singles

Appearances

With The Meeting
With Kenny Burrell
With Eddie Henderson
With Jean-Luc Ponty
With Wallace Roney