Patrice Rushen: The Multifaceted Queen of R&B and Jazz

Patrice Rushen is an American singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and producer whose career spans R&B, jazz, and funk. From Los Angeles, California, she achieved mainstream success in the early 1980s with her crossover hit "Forget Me Nots," which solidified her place in music history.

Early Career

Patrice Rushen's musical journey began early, demonstrating prodigious talent on the piano. She gained initial recognition in the jazz world, releasing her debut album Prelusion on the Prestige label in 1974 while still a teenager.

This instrumental jazz-funk period established her as a formidable keyboardist and composer, leading to several more albums for Prestige and Elektra Records throughout the 1970s.

Breakthrough

Rushen's transition to a more vocal-focused R&B and pop sound culminated in her commercial breakthrough. Signing with Elektra Records, her 1982 album Straight from the Heart became her most successful release.

The album's second single, "Forget Me Nots," became a global hit, reaching the Top 10 on Billboard's R&B chart and crossing over to the pop chart. This era marked her peak as a charting solo artist.

Key Tracks

Forget Me Nots - This 1982 single is her signature song, a timeless funk-pop anthem later famously sampled for the movie "Men in Black."

Haven't You Heard - A jazz-inflected track from the Pizzazz album (1979) that became a staple on R&B and quiet storm radio formats.

Feels So Real (Won't Let Go) - A driving dance-floor hit from the Straight from the Heart album that further showcased her vocal and production skills.

Remind Me - This sophisticated 1984 single highlighted her seamless blend of jazz harmony with contemporary R&B rhythms.

Following her peak chart years, Patrice Rushen increasingly focused on session work, musical directing, and composition for television and film. Her expertise made her a highly sought-after musical director for major awards shows like the Grammys and the Emmy Awards.

Beyond performance, she has been dedicated to music education and advocacy, serving in leadership roles for organizations like the Grammy Foundation. Her influence extends through her work as a professor at the Berklee College of Music and the University of Southern California.

For fans of Patrice Rushen's blend of technical musicianship and smooth R&B, explore similar artists like Anita Baker who shares a gift for jazz-infused vocal elegance. The sophisticated funk of Chaka Khan also resonates with Rushen's style. Listeners may also appreciate the keyboard-driven soul of Rick James for its energetic flair, or the intricate compositions of George Duke in the jazz-fusion realm.

Patrice Rushen's catalog, from jazz fusion to R&B classics, remains a fixture on classic soul, quiet storm, and jazz radio stations. Her music continues to be celebrated for its musicality and enduring appeal across multiple generations of listeners.

The music of Patrice Rushen is available to hear on radio stations featured here, offering a direct connection to her influential body of work spanning decades.