Patrice Louise Rushen (born September 30, 1954) is an American musician who plays the piano, sings, produces music, plays many musical instruments, writes songs, and directs music.

At the 25th Annual Grammy Awards, her 1982 song "Forget Me Nots" was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Her instrumental song "Number One" was also nominated for Best R&B Instrumental. Both songs were from her seventh studio album, Straight from the Heart (1982).

Since 2008, Rushen has worked as an ambassador for art in education at Berklee College of Music. From 2014 to 2024, she led the popular music program at the USC Thornton School of Music.

Biography

Rushen is the older daughter of Allen and Ruth Rushen, who previously worked as the Director of the California Department of Corrections. Patrice began playing the piano when she was three years old and performed classical recitals by the time she was six. During her teenage years, she attended Locke High School and later earned a music degree from the University of Southern California.

At age 17, Rushen won a competition that allowed her to perform with her band at the Monterey Jazz Festival. This opportunity led her to sign with the Prestige record label, where she released three albums: Prelusion (1974), Before the Dawn (1975), and Shout It Out (1977). In 1978, when she was 23, she began recording music for Elektra Records.

In 1986, Rushen married Marc St. Louis, who works as a concert tour manager and live show production specialist. Together, they have one son named Cameron and one daughter named Jadyn. Her publishing company, Baby Fingers Inc., is named after her nickname, Babyfingers, which refers to her small hands. In 2005, Rushen received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music. She served as chair of the popular music department at the University of Southern California from 2013 to 2023 and as ambassador of Artistry in Education at Berklee College of Music. Rushen has composed music for many movies, television shows, and documentaries. She has also been a member of the jazz fusion band CAB and The Meeting (GRP Records), which includes musicians Ndugu Chancler, Alphonso Johnson, and Ernie Watts. Additionally, Rushen has worked as a music director for various television events and for Janet Jackson’s second concert tour, Janet World Tour.

Cultural impact

Rushen's songs are often used in other artists' music. The chorus from her song "Forget Me Nots" was used in the 1997 song "Men in Black." Rushen received credit for writing and composing the song, along with Will Smith and Terri McFadden. The same chorus appears in George Michael's song "Fastlove." The song "Forget Me Nots" was also used in a scene with trampolines in the 1988 movie Big. Her song "Haven't You Heard" was used in Kirk Franklin's "Looking For You" from the Norbit soundtrack. In 2021, "Forget Me Nots" was used in a dance challenge on TikTok.

Rushen was the first woman to be the music director for the 46th, 47th, and 48th Grammy Awards. She was the only woman to hold the roles of music director, conductor, and arranger for a late-night show called The Midnight Hour, which aired on CBS in 1990. She is a classically trained pianist and composer. Her piece called Fanfare and Fantaisie was recorded by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, with Andrew Sewell conducting.

Awards

Rushen has received three Grammy nominations.

• 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
• Black Music Honors Lifetime Achievement Awards, 2023
• Roland Lifetime Achievement Award, 2025
• LA Jazz Society Composer/Arranger Award, 2025
• NEA Jazz Master, 2026

Discography

• Mike Clark (Blueprints of Jazz Volume 1, 2008)

• CAB 4 (Favored Nations, 2003)

With Carlos Santana and Wayne Shorter

• Live at the 1988 Montreux Jazz Festival (Liberation Entertainment, 2007)

• The Meeting (GRP, 1990)
• Update (Hip-Bop, 1995)
• Heritage (AudioSource, 1980)
• Lite Me Up (Columbia, 1982)
• Heritage (Blue Note, 1976)
• Comin' Through (Capitol, 1977)

With Alphonso Johnson

• Yesterday's Dreams (Epic Records, 1976)
• Autumn Blow (Inner City Records, 1977)
• Upon the Wings of Music (Atlantic, 1975)
• Aurora (Atlantic, 1976)
• Introducing Letizia Gambi (Via Veneto Jazz, 2012)
• A Place in Time (HighNote, 2016)
• Another Lifetime (4Q, 2010)

With Masayoshi Takanaka

• An Insatiable High (Kitty, 1977)

Musical directing

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

• The Midnight Hour in 1990
• The Women of Brewster Place in 1989 as special musical consultant
• Partners in Crime in 1988 as musical director

• No Strings by Sheena Easton in 1993 as record producer