Born September 30,1954, in Los Angeles, CA, Rushen's parents enrolled her in music classes at U.S.C. when she was three. In her teens, she won a solo competition at the 1972 Monterey Jazz Festival. The attention garnered from this earned her a contract with Prestige Records. After recording three albums and becoming an in-demand session player, Rushen signed with Elektra Records in 1978. Forging an engaging jazz/R&B/funk fusion, she regularly hit the R&B charts. Her five albums for the label were Patrice, Pizzazz, Posh, Straight From the Heart, and Now. Some of these sides can be found on Haven't You Heard:The Best of Patrice Rushen.
In 1993, Rushen signed with Disney's Hollywood Records. Her first and only release was the excellent Anything but Ordinary, which yielded the inspiring single "My Heart, Your Heart." Hollywood wasn't satisfied with the album and shelved it. Sindrome Records bought the rights to the album and reissued it with the single, and some LP tracks received airplay on R&B and smooth jazz radio stations. Rushen became a member of the jazz collective the Meeting, appearing on several releases. Her busy schedule includes session dates and being the musical director for several different tours and TV specials. 1997's Signature found Rushen returning to her jazz roots for this solid album of instrumentals.
In fall 2000, Patrice Rushen appeared as a part of Sisters Being Positively Real, an act on Brown Baby Entertainment Group.
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 in the United States.
Rushen is the elder of two daughters born to Allen and Ruth Rushen.[1] 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.[2] Rushen married Marc St. Louis, a concert tour manager and live show production specialist,[3] in 1986.[4] They have one son Cameron.[4][5] 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.[6] She has been a member of jazz fusion band CAB.[7]
Her song "Hang it Up" was featured on the 2005 video game Fahrenheit.[8]
Take You Down to Love
Patrice Rushen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting on the backstreet called control
If you listen she will show you the answer
Hidden in the longing of your soul
Can you find her?
She can steal your heart
And take you down to love
She will steal your heart
And take you down to love
Just beneath the surface of your passion
You will find her whispering your name
She will tell love secrets for the askin'
And your life will never be the same
Do you feel her?
She will steal your heart
And take you down to love
Do you feel her?
She will steal your heart
And take you down to love
See the concrete melting at her power
She is sometimes naughty but so nice
She will show you pleasures every hour
She won't deny desire has its price
Do you want her?
She can steal your heart
And take you down to love
Do you want her?
She will steal your heart
And take you down to love
Do you feel her?
Let her steal your heart
And take you down to love
Just reveal her
And she'll steal your heart
And take you down to love.
The lyrics of Patrice Rushen's "Take You Down to Love" explore the theme of self-discovery and finding love. The song talks about a mysterious woman waiting to guide you to love in the corner of your mind on the backstreets called control. The woman is personified as a guide that can help you unlock the hidden secrets of longing in your soul. If you are patient and listen closely, she will lead you to love.
The lyrics also suggest that love is not just a passing emotion but an underlying passion buried deep beneath the surface of your being. The woman whispers your name, telling you secrets about love and passion that you can only hear if you ask. The song alludes to the idea that finding true love is not easy, but if you are brave enough to seek it out, it can change your life forever.
The final verse of the song suggests that desire and passion have a cost but that the woman can show you pleasures every hour. The lyrics imply that finding love is worth the risk and that, by letting go and allowing yourself to be vulnerable, you can experience the greatest pleasures of all.
Overall, "Take You Down to Love" is a song that encourages listeners to explore their innermost feelings and desires and to be open to the possibility of finding love.
Line by Line Meaning
At the corner of your mind you'll find her
She exists in your subconscious, waiting to be discovered
Waiting on the backstreet called control
You may need to relinquish control to surrender to love
If you listen she will show you the answer
By being present and attentive, she will reveal all you need to know
Hidden in the longing of your soul
Love is a part of us that we yearn for but may not be aware of
Can you find her?
Are you willing to seek and accept her presence?
She can steal your heart
Love can be powerful and transformative
And take you down to love
Love can be a journey or a destination
Just beneath the surface of your passion
Love may be closer and more accessible than you think
You will find her whispering your name
Love can be deeply personal and intimate
She will tell love secrets for the askin'
Love is full of wisdom and answers if we are open to hearing them
And your life will never be the same
Love can transform and change us in profound ways
Do you feel her?
Are you aware of her presence and influence?
See the concrete melting at her power
Love can overcome even the most stubborn and solid obstacles
She is sometimes naughty but so nice
Love can be playful and fun as well as sweet and kind
She will show you pleasures every hour
Love can offer consistent and abundant joy and fulfillment
She won't deny desire has its price
Love may involve sacrifice or require us to pay a cost
Do you want her?
Are you willing to pursue and embrace love?
Let her steal your heart
Be open to surrendering to love's power
Just reveal her
Be honest and vulnerable enough to acknowledge her presence
And she'll steal your heart
When you do, love will be irresistible and transformative
And take you down to love.
Bringing you into a new and amazing chapter of your life.
Writer(s): Patrice L. Rushen
Contributed by Josiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
suedehead 23
Out of interest, I'm wondering how many people know that she not only wrote this guitar line but performed it herself? I find her fascinating because I feel like she's the female Stevie Wonder (writes the music herself, plays all the instruments, is an incredible jazz musician but writes amazing hits and has a great voice) but where Stevie Wonder has so much recognition for what he does, Patrice is criminally underrated and just remembered as a soul singer. I can't help but think it's to do with the sexist views in the music industry at the time - and it's such a shame because she is so talented, in every way :/
Curtis Lockridge
Stevie wonder gets so much recognition because he is literally blind
suedehead 23
@LivingRoomJazz_with_William yeah I think you're right with the recognition she has now, and I really am glad about that!
LivingRoomJazz_with_William
Even as well versed as I am in R&B and jazz much of what you revealed in this paragraph I didn't know. And yes no doubt, It could be attributed to rampant sexism in the music industry. It takes much for men to move beyond our prejudices against women and recognize their giftings. And with Patrice Rushen, I've always recognized that it's there. I just didn't know how deep those giftings were. Yet it's only been in the last thirty years or less that she has received the acclaim that her talent rates. She commercialized her talent early on while at the same time not sacrificing her (artistic) integrity. To the many jazz purists who would try to shame her for not doing more cerebral, post_bop 'mainstream' jazz, they need to walk a mile in her shoes. And then there's the legacy she builds via the many hip_hop artists who have sampled her music. I think that it is fair to say that in the final analysis she ultimately receives the 'dues' that she has paid.
мцяsas
I'm a music enthusiast with very broad taste and quite a lot of knowledge, which is why I feel like I've been seriously wronged by medias for not bringing Patrice to my attention. I had to find her for myself. Same goes for many other superb artists. Fools are clearly calling the shots. But now I am going to to spread the word about Patrice aswell.
I'm deeply impressed.
Bo
Backing Vocals – Roy Galloway
Backing Vocals, Guitar, Lead Vocals – Patrice Rushen
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Written-By – Fay Hauser
MrWillyCC
Always one of my favorite songs of hers...it’s too bad she didn’t have the marketing and business avenues artists do today. She’s Alicia Keys, minus the opportunity.
Corey Sheppard
She's so underrated. This composition was ahead of this time in 1982
ShowKase
My favorite song by Patrice. Something so haunting about this song ...
RIP Mac Miller, you helped me with a lot
This has to be my favorite, the groove on this one is so chilling.