K-Bee
10-27-2003, 03:18 AM
This is the 4th part of a regular series of artist profiles from the world of 80s black music that i'll put up in these boards from now on.
Patrice is responsible for making one of the most sampled albums of the 80s with her 1982 "Straight From The Heart". Countless artists such as will smith abd R. Kelly have shown interest in her ever so groovy music - that's why i wanted to feature here here.
Bio from www.vh1.com:
"b. 30 September 1954, Los Angeles, California, USA. Rushen grew up in Los Angeles and attended the University of Southern California. She started learning classical piano when she was three, and turned to jazz in her teens. A group with which she was
playing won an award for young musicians at Monterey in 1972. She played with a host of artists, including Abbey Lincoln, Donald Byrd and Sonny Rollins, before joining Lee Ritenour's group in 1977. Her career as a solo singing artist, which commenced in the late 70s as a pop/soul artist, bore fruit on Elektra Records. The US R&B Top 20 hit "Hang It Up" (1978) was followed by "Haven't You Heard" (US R&B number 7/US pop Top 30, 1979).
The latter, plus "Never Gonna Give You Up (Won't Let You Be)", were minor UK hits in the early 80s, but were eclipsed by the Top 10 "Forget Me Nots". Despite a tailing-off in UK/US pop chart action from that point, Rushen continued to appear regularly on the US R&B/soul charts. She gained notable chart success with "Feels So Real (Won't Let Go)" (number 3, 1984) and "Watch Out (number 9, 1987). After a period of label change, to Arista Records, she has focused increased attention on her singing, and her predominantly bop-based playing has given way to fusion and urban R&B styles. In 1988 she played with the Wayne Shorter/Carlos Santana group."
This bio is not very extensive so I really should add that Patrice Rushen is till aound today, mostly recording smooth jazz music.
She is currently signed to the Discovery labe, her latest cd being "Signature"
official site at: www.patricerushen.com
Patrice is responsible for making one of the most sampled albums of the 80s with her 1982 "Straight From The Heart". Countless artists such as will smith abd R. Kelly have shown interest in her ever so groovy music - that's why i wanted to feature here here.
Bio from www.vh1.com:
"b. 30 September 1954, Los Angeles, California, USA. Rushen grew up in Los Angeles and attended the University of Southern California. She started learning classical piano when she was three, and turned to jazz in her teens. A group with which she was
playing won an award for young musicians at Monterey in 1972. She played with a host of artists, including Abbey Lincoln, Donald Byrd and Sonny Rollins, before joining Lee Ritenour's group in 1977. Her career as a solo singing artist, which commenced in the late 70s as a pop/soul artist, bore fruit on Elektra Records. The US R&B Top 20 hit "Hang It Up" (1978) was followed by "Haven't You Heard" (US R&B number 7/US pop Top 30, 1979).
The latter, plus "Never Gonna Give You Up (Won't Let You Be)", were minor UK hits in the early 80s, but were eclipsed by the Top 10 "Forget Me Nots". Despite a tailing-off in UK/US pop chart action from that point, Rushen continued to appear regularly on the US R&B/soul charts. She gained notable chart success with "Feels So Real (Won't Let Go)" (number 3, 1984) and "Watch Out (number 9, 1987). After a period of label change, to Arista Records, she has focused increased attention on her singing, and her predominantly bop-based playing has given way to fusion and urban R&B styles. In 1988 she played with the Wayne Shorter/Carlos Santana group."
This bio is not very extensive so I really should add that Patrice Rushen is till aound today, mostly recording smooth jazz music.
She is currently signed to the Discovery labe, her latest cd being "Signature"
official site at: www.patricerushen.com