Patrice Rushen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patrice Rushen
Rushen performing in 2010
Background information
Birth name	Patrice Louise Rushen
Born	(1954-09-30) September 30, 1954 (age 70) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Soul R&B jazz-funk post-disco urban soft rock new wave pop dance
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter pianist record producer music director educator
Instruments	Vocals piano keyboards flute clarinet percussion
Years active	1957–present
Labels	Prestige Elektra Arista GRP Aix Discovery

Patrice Louise Rushen (born September 30, 1954) is an American musician. She is a talented jazz pianist, R&B singer, and songwriter. She also produces music and directs musical events.

Patrice Rushen has been nominated for three Grammy Awards. Her 1982 song, "Forget Me Nots", was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Another song, "Number One", was nominated for Best R&B Instrumental. Both songs came from her album Straight from the Heart.

Since 2008, Rushen has been an important ambassador for arts education at the Berklee College of Music. She also leads the popular music program at the USC Thornton School of Music since 2014.

About Patrice Rushen's Life

Patrice Rushen is the older of two daughters. Her parents are Allen and Ruth Rushen. Patrice started playing the piano when she was just three years old. By age six, she was already performing classical music concerts.

As a teenager, she went to Locke High School. Later, she earned a music degree from the University of Southern California.

When she was 17, Patrice won a competition. This allowed her to perform with her band at the Monterey Jazz Festival. After this, she signed with Prestige. She released three albums with them: Prelusion (1974), Before the Dawn (1975), and Shout It Out (1977). In 1978, at 23, she started recording with Elektra.

In 1986, Rushen married Marc St. Louis. He manages concert tours and live shows. They have a son named Cameron and a daughter named Jadyn. Her publishing company, Baby fingers Inc., is named after her nickname "Babyfingers" because of her small hands.

In 2005, Berklee College of Music gave her an honorary music degree. She is a professor at USC and an ambassador at Berklee College of Music. She has also composed music for many movies, TV shows, and documentaries. She was part of the jazz fusion band CAB. She also played with The Meeting, a group with Ndugu Chancler, Alphonso Johnson, and Ernie Watts. Rushen has also been a music director for TV events and Janet Jackson's world tour.

Her song "Hang It Up" was featured in the 2005 video game Fahrenheit.

Patrice Rushen's Influence on Music

Patrice Rushen's songs are often used by other artists. This is called "sampling." For example, the main part of her song "Forget Me Nots" was used in the 1997 song "Men in Black". Will Smith and Terri McFadden were also credited as writers for that song. The same part of "Forget Me Nots" was also used in George Michael's song "Fastlove".

"Forget Me Nots" was also featured in a trampolining scene in the 1988 movie Big. Her song "Haven't You Heard" was sampled in Kirk Franklin's "Looking For You". In 2021, "Forget Me Nots" became popular again in a dance challenge on TikTok.

Patrice Rushen made history as the first woman to be the music director for the Grammy Awards. She directed the music for the 46th, 47th, and 48th Grammy Awards shows. She was also the only woman music director, conductor, and arranger for a late-night TV show called The Midnight Hour in 1990.

Awards and Recognitions

Patrice Rushen has received several important awards for her music and work.

Grammy Award Nominations

Rushen has been nominated for three Grammy Awards.

Other Awards and Honors

• Number One Record "Feels So Real", Radio & Records (R&R) National Chart - 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

Patrice Rushen's Music Albums

Here are some of the albums Patrice Rushen has released.

Solo Albums

Compilation Albums

These albums are collections of her songs, often from different periods.

Singles

These are individual songs released by Patrice Rushen.

Collaborations and Appearances

Patrice Rushen has worked with many other musicians and appeared on their albums.

• With CAB: CAB 4 (2003)
• With Carlos Santana and Wayne Shorter: Live at the 1988 Montreux Jazz Festival (2007)
• With The Meeting: The Meeting (1990), Update (1995)
• With Kenny Burrell: Heritage (1980)
• With Herbie Hancock: Lite Me Up (1982)
• With Eddie Henderson: Heritage (1976), Comin' Through (1977)
• With Sadao Watanabe: Autumn Blow (1977)
• With Jean-Luc Ponty: Upon the Wings of Music (1975), Aurora (1976)
• With Letizia Gambi: Introducing Letizia Gambi (2012)
• With Wallace Roney: A Place in Time (2016)
• With Cindy Blackman: Another Lifetime (2010)

Film and Television Work

Patrice Rushen has worked on music for many movies and TV shows. She has also appeared on TV herself.

Film and TV Composer

• American Fiction (2023)
• Agents of Change (2016)
• Burning Sands (2008)
• For One Night (2006, TV movie)
• Just a Dream (2002)
• Our America (2002, TV movie)
• Baby of the Family (2002)
• Piano, Bass and Drums (2002, DVD Audio)
• The Killing Yard (2001, TV movie)
• Fire & Ice (2001, TV movie)
• Cora Unashamed (2000, TV movie)
• Ruby Bridges (1998, TV movie)
• America's Dream (1996, TV movie)
• A. Philip Randolph: For Jobs and Freedom (1996, TV movie)
• The Steve Harvey Show (1996) TV series
• The Midnight Hour (1990) TV series
• Without You I'm Nothing (1990)
• Hollywood Shuffle (1987)

Songs in Films and TV

• George Michael: I'm Your Man – A South Bank Show Special (2006, TV, writer: "Fastlove")
• Fahrenheit (2005, performer: "Hang It Up")
• Men in Black (1997, writer: "Men In Black")
• Waiting to Exhale (1995, performer: "And I Gave My Love to You")
• Big (1988, writer/performer: "Forget Me Nots")
• Dominick and Eugene (1988, performer: "Somewhere")

TV Appearances as Herself

• TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004)
• VH-1 Where Are They Now? (One episode, 2002)
• 100 Greatest Dance Songs of Rock & Roll (2000), TV series
• Monterey Jazz Festival: 40 Legendary Years (1998)
• The Best of Robert Townsend & His Partners in Crime (1991)
• Top of the Pops (One episode, 1982)
• Soul Train (One episode, 1981)
• American Bandstand (One episode, 1980)

Musical Directing Work

Patrice Rushen has been a music director for many important events and shows. This means she is in charge of all the music.

Television Awards and Specials

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

Television Series and Miniseries

• The Midnight Hour (1990)
• The Women of Brewster Place (1989, special musical consultant)
• Partners in Crime (1988)

Albums Produced

• No Strings by Sheena Easton (1993)

See also

In Spanish: Patrice Rushen para niños