Rush was born on January 26, and grew up in the north end of Seattle, Washington. As a child, she studied classical piano for 10 years.
In 1960, she auditioned for a band (directed by her first husband) that played sock hops. Next, she was part of Merrilee and Her Men, doing covers of male pop hits. Then she joined a Seattle rhythm and blues group called Tiny Tony and the Statics.
Merrilee and the Turnabouts was formed in 1965. One of the group's roadies worked for Paul Revere and the Raiders, who were doing a tour in the South in 1967 and invited Rush to be their opening act.

Mehr Informationen...