Patrice Rushen to Headline Chicago House Music Conference Fireside Chat (Chicago, IL) – The Chicago House Music Conference will close its Thursday programming with a rare and intimate conversation featuring one of the most celebrated voices in modern music — Patrice Rushen.
The fireside chat, set for Thursday, Aug. 21, from 8 to 9 p.m. at Preston Bradley Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center, will give audiences a close-up look at the Grammy-nominated musician, songwriter, and producer whose influence has spanned jazz, R&B, pop, and beyond.
“House music is more than a genre — it’s a cultural heartbeat that has inspired, connected, and moved people across the globe,” Rushen said in a statement. “I’m honored to join this conversation and celebrate its Chicago roots.”
Rushen rose to fame in the late 1970s and early 1980s with hits like Forget Me Nots, a song that has been widely sampled in hip-hop, dance, and R&B. Her career has included composing for film and television, serving as musical director for the GRAMMY Awards and the Emmys, and mentoring the next generation of artists through programs such as NARAS’s “Grammy in the Schools.” She also works with the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and other initiatives to expand music education for underprivileged youth.
Guiding the conversation will be two of Chicago’s own House music heavyweights — four-time Grammy-nominated producer Steve “Silk” Hurley and producer/DJ Shannon “Skip” Syas of S&S Chicago.
“We are honored as music producers and creators to invite Ms. Rushen to our city and have a conversation about her musical journey and contributions to the culture,” Hurley and Syas said in a joint statement. “Her extraordinary career is a wonderful blueprint that many of us hope to follow, leaving a distinguished impact in the world.”
The event is part of the Chicago House Music Festival and Conference, presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). The four-day celebration, running Aug. 21–24, will feature performances, panel discussions, and community gatherings with pioneers and fans of the genre.
A full schedule of events is available at DCASE’s official website: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/house_music0.html
Patrice Rushen to Headline Chicago House Music Conference Fireside Chat
