Patrice Rushen

Biography

Patrice Rushen is a Los Angeles pianist, singer and composer who moved from child classical prodigy to jazz-funk solo artist and sophisticated R&B hitmaker. Her #Elektra Records# albums, above all 'Straight from the Heart' (1982) and its Grammy-nominated single 'Forget Me Nots', joined virtuoso keyboards to dancefloor songwriting. She later became the first woman to serve as musical director for major awards broadcasts, and a leading music educator, without abandoning recording or performance.