Patrice Rushen

Patrice Rushen
Name	Patrice Rushen
Caption	Rushen performing in 1978
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Patrice Louise Rushen
Birth date	30 September 1954
Birth place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genre	R&B, jazz, funk, disco, quiet storm
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, musician, composer, record producer
Instrument	Vocals, piano, keyboards, synthesizers
Years active	1972–present
Label	Prestige, Elektra, Arista
Associated acts	The Watts Prophets, Jean-Luc Ponty, Prince

Patrice Rushen is an American R&B and jazz singer, songwriter, pianist, composer, and record producer. A child prodigy, she rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s with a string of successful albums and hit singles that blended sophisticated jazz harmonies with accessible funk and disco rhythms. Her work as a musician, her groundbreaking role as a female producer in a male-dominated industry, and her later compositions for film and television have cemented her status as a highly influential figure in contemporary music.

Early life and education

Born in Los Angeles, she was introduced to music early, beginning formal piano lessons at age three. Demonstrating prodigious talent, she performed at the Mona Terrace and studied at the University of Southern California's Community School of Performing Arts. Her early influences included classical composers like Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, as well as jazz giants such as Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, and Oscar Peterson. Rushen later attended the University of Southern California on a scholarship, majoring in music education and piano performance, and was a member of the acclaimed Jazz ensemble under the direction of Dr. Robert "Bob" Curnow.

Music career

Rushen's professional career began in her teens when she was discovered by Reggie Andrews, leading to her first recording contract with Prestige Records. Her early albums, like *Prelusion* (1974), established her as a formidable jazz fusion instrumentalist and composer. A shift to Elektra Records and later Arista Records saw her move towards vocal-led R&B, resulting in commercial breakthrough with albums like *Pizzazz* (1979) and *Straight from the Heart* (1982). The latter spawned the international smash single "Forget Me Nots," which later gained iconic status through its sample in Will Smith's "Men in Black." Throughout the 1980s, she also became a sought-after session musician, collaborating with artists like Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, and Sheila E., and broke barriers as a woman hired to produce major label acts, including Janet Jackson's debut album.

Discography

Her discography as a bandleader includes a diverse range of albums that trace her evolution from jazz to pop. Key instrumental jazz releases include *Before the Dawn* (1975) and *Shout It Out* (1977). Her commercial peak is marked by vocal albums such as *Pizzazz* (1979), *Straight from the Heart* (1982), which went platinum, and *Now* (1984). Notable singles from this period include "Haven't You Heard," "Feels So Real (Won't Let Go)," and the Grammy-nominated "Forget Me Nots." She also composed and produced music for several films and television shows, including *The Goonies* and *Brewster's Millions*, and served as musical director for the American Music Awards and the Grammy Awards.

Awards and recognition

Rushen has received multiple Grammy Award nominations, including for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. She has been honored with the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award and the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards' Lena Horne Award for outstanding career achievement. Her pioneering work has been recognized by institutions like the Berklee College of Music, which awarded her an honorary doctorate. In 2023, she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a testament to her enduring impact as a composer.

Personal life

She has been married to cinematographer and director Marc E. Platt, with whom she has collaborated on various film and television projects. Rushen is also a dedicated educator, having served as the Artistic Director of the GRAMMY Museum's educational programs and as a professor at the Berklee College of Music and the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. She is an advocate for music education and arts advocacy, working with organizations like the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Legacy and influence

Patrice Rushen's legacy is multifaceted, encompassing her virtuosic musicianship, her success as a hit-making songwriter, and her role as a trailblazer for women in music production and musical direction. Her song "Forget Me Nots" has been extensively sampled and interpolated, influencing generations of artists in hip hop and pop music. As a composer for television and film, she helped expand the presence of Black musicians in Hollywood. Her continued work in education ensures her techniques and philosophies are passed on, solidifying her influence on the future of jazz, R&B, and popular music.

Category:American jazz pianists Category:American R&B singers Category:American songwriters Category:1954 births Category:Living people