Patrice Rushen
Rushen performing in 2010
Rushen performing in 2010
Background information
Birth namePatrice Louise Rushen
Born (1954-09-30) September 30, 1954[1]
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • composer
  • record producer
  • music director
  • educator
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • keyboards
  • flute
  • clarinet
  • percussion
Years active1973–present
Labels
Formerly of
WebsiteOfficial website

Patrice Louise Rushen (born September 30, 1954) is an American jazz pianist and R&B singer.[2] 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 album Straight from the Heart earned an additional Grammy nomination for best instrumental. Her 12th album Signature also received a Grammy nomination for best instrumental in 1998.[3]

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.[4][5]

Biography

Rushen is the elder of two daughters born to Allen and Ruth Rushen (former Director of California Department of Corrections).[1] Patrice was three years old when she began playing the piano, and by the time she was six, she was giving classical recitals.[6] In her teens, she attended Locke High School and later earned a degree in music from the University of Southern California.[7]

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 – Prelusion (1974), Before the Dawn (1975), and Shout It Out (1977).[6][8] In 1978, when she was 23, she began recording with Elektra.[6]

Rushen married Marc St. Louis, a concert tour manager and live show production specialist,[9] in 1986.[10] They have one son, Cameron and one daughter named Jadyn.[10][11] The name of her publishing company, Baby fingers Inc., is pulled from her nickname Babyfingers for her tiny 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.[12] 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 (GRP Records) with Ndugu Chancler, Alphonso Johnson and Ernie Watts.[13] Rushen is also a music director, having worked on various television events as well as Janet Jackson's world tour 'Janet'.

Her song "Hang It Up" was featured on the 2005 video game Fahrenheit.[14]

Cultural impact

Rushen's songs are sampled often in other artists' music. 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 be heard in George Michael's song "Fastlove". "Forget Me Nots" previously found its way into the trampolining scene in the film Big. Her song "Haven't You Heard" was sampled in Kirk Franklin's Looking For You from the Norbit soundtrack. In 2021 her song "Forget Me Nots" was used in a dance challenge on TikTok.[15]

Rushen was the first woman to serve as music director for the 46th, 47th, and 48th Grammy Awards. She was the only woman music director/conductor/arranger for a late-night show titled The Midnight Hour, which aired on CBS in 1990.

Awards

Grammy awards

Rushen has received three Grammy nominations.[3]

Year Category Nominated work Result
1983 Best R&B Instrumental Performance "Number One" Nominated
Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female "Forget Me Nots" Nominated
1998 Best Contemporary Jazz Performance "Signature" Nominated

Other awards

  • Number One Record "Feels So Real", Radio & Records (R&R) National Chart - Writers: Patrice Rushen & Fred Washington, 1984
  • ASCAP Songwriter's Award, 1988
  • USC Black Student Assembly, Legacy of Excellence Award, 1992
  • Crystal Award, American Women in Film, 1994
  • ASCAP Award, Most Performed Song in Motion Pictures for 1997 for "Men in Black," 1998
  • NAACP Image Award Nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Recording for “Signature”, 1998
  • Honorary Doctorate Berklee College of Music, 2005
  • The California Jazz Foundation NICA award for lifetime achievement, 2019
  • The Ramo Music Faculty Award, 2020
  • Trailblazer Award, Salute Them Awards, 2021
  • Hamilton Garrett Center for Music and Arts (Boston, MA), Make Them Hear You Award, 2023[16]

Discography

Solo albums

Year Album Chart positions
US Pop
[17]		 US R&B
[18]		 US Jazz
[19]		 US Tra. Jazz
[20]		 AUS
[21]		 UK
[22]
1974 Prelusion — — — — — —
1975 Before the Dawn — 48 14 — — —
1977 Shout It Out 164 — 16 — — —
1978 Patrice 98 27 5 — — —
1979 Pizzazz 39 11 2 — — —
1980 Posh 71 23 — — — —
1982 Straight from the Heart 14 4 — — 74 24
1984 Now 40 7 — 7 — 73
1987 Watch Out! 77 19 — — — —
1994 Anything but Ordinary — — — — — —
1997 Signature — — 11 — — —
2000 Jazz Straight Up — — — — — —
2006 Standards — — — — — —
2016 A Place In Time — — — — — —
"—" denotes the album failed to chart

Compilations and collections

Year Album Chart positions
US Pop
[17]		 US R&B
[18]		 US Jazz
[19]		 AUS
[21]		 UK
[22]
1980 Let There Be Funk: The Best of Patrice Rushen — — 42 — —
1985 Anthology of Patrice Rushen — — — — —
1996 Forget Me Nots and Remind Me (Japan) — — — — —
Haven't You Heard – The Best of Patrice Rushen — — — — —
2002 The Essentials: Patrice Rushen (US) — — — — —
2003 Forget Me Nots & Other Hits (US) — — — — —
2013 Patrice + Pizzazz + Posh (UK) — — — — —
2013 Straight from the Heart + Now (UK) — — — — —
2019 Remind Me (The Classic Elektra Recordings 1978–1984) (UK) — — — — —
2022 Feels So Real (The Complete Elektra Recordings 1978–1984) (UK) — — — — —
"—" denotes the album failed to chart

Singles

Year Title Chart positions Certifications
US Hot 100
[23]		 US R&B
[23]		 US Dance
[23]		 UK
[24][22]
1975 "Kickin' Back" — — — —
1977 "Let Your Heart Be Free" — — — —
"The Hump" — — — —
1978 "Changes in Your Life" — — — —
1979 "Hang It Up" — 16 — —
"When I Found You" — 87 — —
1980 "Givin' It Up Is Givin' Up" — — — —
"Haven't You Heard" 42 7 5 62
"Let the Music Take Me" — 50 — —
"Look Up" 102 13 2 —
"Don't Blame Me" — — — —
1981 "Never Gonna Give You Up (Won't Let You Be)" — — 2 66
1982 "Forget Me Nots" 23 4 2 8
"Breakout!" — 46 — —
"I Was Tired of Being Alone" — 79 — 39
"Number One" — — — —
1984 "Get Off (You Fascinate Me)" — 26 40 —
"Feels So Real (Won't Let Go)" 78 3 10 51
1987 "Watch Out" — 9 22 78
"Anything Can Happen" — 51 — —
"Come Back to Me" — 65 37 —
1994 "I Do" — — — —
2004 "Forget Me Nots / Number One" — — — 90
"—" denotes the single failed to chart

Appearances

With CAB

  • CAB 4 (Favored Nations, 2003)

With Carlos Santana and Wayne Shorter

With The Meeting

With Kenny Burrell

With Herbie Hancock

With Eddie Henderson

With Sadao Watanabe

With Jean-Luc Ponty

With Letizia Gambi

  • Introducing Letizia Gambi (Via Veneto Jazz, 2012)[27][28][29]

With Wallace Roney

With Cindy Blackman

Filmography

Musical directing

Television awards and specials

  • The 48th Annual Grammy Awards (2006, musical director)
  • The 47th Annual Grammy Awards (2005, musical director)
  • The 46th Annual Grammy Awards (2004, musical director)
  • The 10th Annual Walk of Fame Honoring Smokey Robinson (2004, musical director)
  • The 9th Annual Walk of Fame Honoring Aretha Franklin (2003, musical director)
  • The 8th Annual Walk of Fame Honoring Stevie Wonder (2002, musical director)
  • People's Choice Awards (1993, musical director)
  • The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime (1991, musical director)

Television series and miniseries

Albums

Notes

  1. ↑ For unknown episodes.

References

  1. 1 2 "California Birth Index, 1905–1995 (database on-line)". United States: The Generations Network. 2005. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
  2. ↑ "Film Academy Invites 819 New Members, With 36 Percent People of Color". The Hollywood Reporter. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Patrice Rushen". grammy.com. The Recording Academy.
  4. ↑ "Patrice Rushen: Ambassador for Artistry in Education". berklee.edu. Berklee College of Music.
  5. ↑ "Patrice Rushen: Chair, Popular Music Program". usc.edu. University of Southern California. November 13, 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 Russonello, Giovanni (July 17, 2019). "Patrice Rushen Found Success in Jazz and Dance Music. She Hasn't Been Forgotten". The New York Times. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Patrice Rushen MM '76". University of Southern California. Archived from the original on November 28, 2008. Retrieved October 6, 2008.
  8. ↑ Kellman, Andy. "Patrice Rushen | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Celebrity Author". Toi Moore. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Rhythm & Blues Legend=Patrice Rushen". Mingle City. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Paid Notice: Deaths ST. LOUIS, MARIE". The New York Times. June 15, 1999. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Honorary Degree Recipients". Berklee.edu.
  13. ↑ ""C.A.B." with Bunny Brunel and Tony MacAlpine Live at the Baked Potato". All About Jazz. May 29, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  14. ↑ Rack, Donald (November 22, 2005). "Indigo Prophecy – Soundtrack Lyrics FAQ". IGN. Archived from the original on March 7, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  15. ↑ Vaidya, Amit (May 27, 2022). "#RSFlashback – 40 Years Ago, Patrice Rushen Gave Us the Unforgettable 'Forget Me Nots'". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Make Them Hear You".
  17. 1 2 "Patrice Rushen (Billboard 200)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  18. 1 2 "Patrice Rushen (Top R&B Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  19. 1 2 "Patrice Rushen (Top Jazz Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  20. ↑ "Patrice Rushen (Traditional Jazz Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  21. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 262. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  22. 1 2 3 "Patrice Rushen". Official Charts Company.
  23. 1 2 3 "Patrice Rushen Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  24. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 476. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  25. ↑ "Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  26. ↑ Sadao Watanabe - Autumn Blow, 1977, retrieved March 12, 2023
  27. ↑ "Introducing Letizia Gambi". Spotify. September 18, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Introducing Letizia Gambi". Miles Davis. October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Letizia Gambi - Introducing Letizia Gambi". www.letiziagambi.com. Retrieved May 11, 2022.

Sources

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