Patrice Rushen is a renowned musician and composer who has made a significant impact in the music industry. As a classically trained pianist, she initially rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s by fusing jazz, pop, and R&B to create a unique sound.
One of her most notable achievements is the hit song "Forget Me Nots," which has been widely covered and sampled by other artists. Rushen's impressive career has earned her four Grammy nominations, and she has composed scores for both films and television shows.
Rushen has also made history as the first female musical director for several prestigious award shows, including the Grammy Awards, the Emmy Awards, the People's Choice Awards, the NAACP Image Awards, and HBO's "Comic Relief V."
As one of the world's top jazz pianists, Rushen has had the privilege of performing alongside legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Prince, Nancy Wilson, Ndugu Chancler, Carlos Santana, Christian McBride, and Lee Ritenour.
In addition to her impressive music career, Rushen is also a record producer and an award-winning composer of symphonic music. Her work has been commissioned by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and she is currently the "Ambassador of Artistry In Education" at Boston's Berklee College of Music.
Rushen is also the Chair of the Popular Music Program at USC's Thornton School of Music and spends her time working with organizations dedicated to establishing music education and mentorship programs for underprivileged youth, including the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and NARAS "Grammy In The Schools" program.
