Patrice Louise Rushen (born September 30, 1954) is an American jazz pianist and R&B singer. She is also a composer, record producer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and music director. Her 1982 single, “Forget Me Nots”, received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Rushen had great success on the R&B and dance charts. “Haven’t You Heard” went number 7 on the R&B charts, with “Forget Me Nots” as her only top 40 pop hit.
Rushen is the elder of two daughters born to Allen and Ruth Rushen. In her teens, she attended south LA’s Locke High School and went on to earn a degree in music from the University of Southern California. Rushen married Marc St. Louis, a concert tour manager and live show production specialist, in 1986. They have one son Cameron. Her nickname is “Babyfingers,” a reference to her small hands. In 2005, Rushen received an Honorary Doctorate of Music degree from Berklee College of Music. She has been a member of jazz fusion band CAB.
Her song “Hang it Up” was featured on the 2005 video game Fahrenheit.
The chorus from “Forget Me Nots” was used as the music for the 1997 song “Men in Black”. The song was a number one hit in ten countries, and was the top most played song on American radio. Rushen was credited as writer and composer, along with Will Smith and Terri McFadden.
The same chorus can also be heard in George Michael’s song “Fastlove”