Patrice Rushen
Patrice Rushen is a Grammy-nominated, award-winning music artist renowned for her versatility as a composer, pianist, vocalist, arranger, and producer. With a career spanning more than four decades, she has made a significant impact across the genres of jazz, R&B, funk, and classical music.
Born in Los Angeles in 1954, Rushen was a child prodigy who began playing piano at age three. She honed her classical skills at the University of Southern California and quickly rose to prominence in the jazz world after winning a competition at the Monterey Jazz Festival in her teens. In the 1970s and 1980s, she transitioned into R&B and funk, releasing a string of successful albums for Elektra Records. Her 1982 hit single “Forget Me Nots” became a timeless classic, earning her a Grammy nomination and later being sampled in iconic tracks like Will Smith’s “Men in Black.”
Beyond her solo career, Rushen has composed scores for film and television, served as musical director for the Grammy Awards, the Emmy Awards, and Janet Jackson’s World Tour, and collaborated with artists such as Prince, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, and Carlos Santana.
