b. Patrice Louise Rushen, 30th September 1954, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Patrice Rushen is a talented multi-instrumentalist mastering the flute, piano, percussion, and clarinet, as well as being a highly proficient songwriter and composer.
Patrice was born on the 30th of September 1954, in Los Angeles, California.
She began learning classical piano when she was three years of age, and turned to jazz soon afterwards, playing piano recitals at the age of six.
In her teenage years Patrice performed at the 1972 Monterey Jazz Festival and won an award given to young musicians at the event.
prelusion - 1974 / before the dawn - 1975
Signing to the Prestige imprint, Patrice released her debut album 'Prelusion' in 1974.
The following year she followed up her debut with 'Before The Dawn' for the same imprint.
Patrice attended the University of Southern California, and earned a bachelor's degree in music education and piano performance in 1976.
shout it out - 1976 / patrice - 1978
The same year she released 'Shout It Out' (containing 'Roll With The Punches', 'Let Your Heart Be Free' and 'The Hump'), which was followed by 'Patrice' (containing the songs 'Hang It Up', a US R & B Top 20 hit, and 'Music Of The Earth') in 1978, a release which saw her leave Prestige and sign for the Elektra imprint.
She collaborated with a host of artists, including Abbey Lincoln, Donald Byrd and Sonny Rollins, before joining Lee Ritenour's group in 1977.
pizazz - 1979 / let there be funk - 1980
The release of 'Pizazz' in 1979 saw a change in musical direction, repositioning Patrice away from Jazz and more to a Soulful sound, 'Haven't You Heard' (U.S. R & B number 7 / US pop Top 30, 1979) being a fine example of the change in style.
posh - 1980 / straight from the heart - 1982
1980 saw 'Posh' hit the streets, featuring 'Never Gonna Give You Up (Won't Let You Be)', 'Look Up' and 'Don't Blame Me'.
Patrice's biggest chart success arrived with the release of her 1982 album 'Straight From The Heart', which scored instantly with her infectious dancefloor hit 'Forget Me Nots'.
Overshadowed somewhat by the single, the track 'You Remind Me' has since become somewhat of a Soul classic, being heavily sampled by many Soul singers and Rap artists.
The instrumental 'Number One' was equally well received on the more discerning dancefloors.
Patrice continued to appear regularly on the U.S. R & B / soul charts, following the 1982 set, achieving chart success with 'Feel So Real (Won't Let Go)' (number 3, 1984), taken from her 1983 album 'Now'.
now - 1984 / watch out! - 1987
Following a label move from Elektra to Arista Records, Patrice released 'Watch Out' in 1987 (featuring 'All My Love' and 'Come Back To Me').
Patrice then moved from the more commercial Soul sound, towards a more Jazz based style within her musical repertoire.
In 1988, she performed with the Wayne Shorter / Carlos Santana group.
Patrice sang the lead vocals on 'Heaven Is Waiting' for pianist Tom Grant on his set 'You Hardly Know Me'.
anything but ordinary - 1994 / signature - 1997
In 1994, Patrice released a jazz set entitled 'Anything But Ordinary', which was followed in 1997 by a further album release entitled 'Signature'.
Patrice, along with her recording accomplishments, has also toured with U.K. soul outfit Soul II Soul as their Musical Director.
In 2001, she returned to recording on a project collaboration with her long time friend, Sheree Brown.
beautiful, woman - the album
The band were called Sisters Being Positively Real, accompanied with an album, entitled 'Beautiful Woman - The Album'.
Her mentor and friend is Quincy Jones.
Patrice was named musical director/composer for Newsweek's first American Achievement Awards, and was the musical director for Janet Jackson's World Tour, 'Janet'.
A new album is due during 2009.
for further biographical information, check out patrice's website here:
Albums:
solo:
Prelusion (Prestige Records 1974)
Before The Dawn (Prestige Records 1975)
with Sonny Rollins:
The Way I Feel (Original Jazz Classics 1976)
solo:
Shout It Out (Prestige Records 1976)
with Lee Ritenour:
Sugarloaf Express (Elite 1978)
with John McLaughlin:
Johnny McLaughlin, Electric Guitarist (Columbia 1978)
solo:
Patrice (Elektra Records 1978)
Pizzazz (Elektra Records 1979)
Let There Be Funk (Elektra Records 1980)
Posh (Elektra Records 1980)
Straight From The Heart (Elektra Records 1982)
Now (Elektra Records 1984)
Watch Out! (Arista Records 1987)
with Ndugu Chancler, Alphonso Johnson and Ernie Watts:
The Meeting (GRP Records 1990)
solo:
Anything But Ordinary (Discovery Records 1994)
Haven't You Heard - The Best of Patrice Rushen (Discovery Records 1994)
with Ndugu Chancler, Alphonso Johnson and Ernie Watts:
Update (Hip Bop Essence Records 1995)
solo:
Signature (Discovery Records 1997)
The Essentials: Patrice Rushen (Discovery Records 1997)
with Sheree Brown (Sister Being Positively Real):
Beautiful Woman - The Album (SBPR Records 2001)
