Patrice Rushen

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About

Patrice Louise Rushen (born 30 September 1954) is an American jazz pianist, R&B singer, record producer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and music director. At the 25th Annual Grammy Awards, her 1982 single "Forget Me Nots" received a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, while the instrumental track "Number One" was nominated for Best R&B Instrumental Performance. Both songs appear on her seventh studio album "Straight from the Heart" (1982). Since 2008, Rushen has served as an ambassador for artistry in education at Berklee College of Music. She was chair of the Popular Music Program at the USC Thornton School of Music from 2014 to 2024. Rushen was born in Los Angeles, California, the elder of two daughters of Allen and Ruth Rushen. She began playing the piano at the age of three and was giving classical recitals by the age of six. During her teenage years, she attended Locke High School and later graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in music. At the age of 17, she won a competition that led to a performance with her band at the Monterey Jazz Festival. She subsequently signed with Prestige Records, releasing the albums "Prelusion" (1974), "Before the Dawn" (1975) and "Shout It Out" (1977). In 1978, she began recording for Elektra Records. Rushen married Marc St. Louis, a concert tour manager and live show production specialist, in 1986. They have two children. The name of her publishing company, Baby Fingers Inc., derives from her nickname "Babyfingers", referring to her small hands. In 2005, she received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music. In addition to her recording career, Rushen has worked as a composer for film, television and documentaries.

Source: Last.fm