Chaka Khan celebrates 72
In the early 1970s, Chaka Khan joined the funk band Rufus as their lead vocalist, delivering several successful albums and singles, including “Sweet Thing” and “Ain’t Nobody” and later launching her own successful solo career
Chaka Khan celebrates 72
Chaka Khan was born Yvette Marie Stevens on March 23, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois. Raised in the Hyde Park neighborhood, she was the eldest of five children in a family deeply immersed in the arts. Her early exposure to jazz and R&B music, influenced by artists like Billie Holiday and Gladys Knight, sparked her passion for singing. By the age of 11, she formed her first musical group, the Crystalettes, with her sister Yvonne. During her teenage years, she became active in the civil rights movement and briefly joined the Black Panther Party, adopting the name Chaka Adunne Aduffe Yemoja Hodarhi Karifi.
In the early 1970s, Chaka Khan joined the funk band Rufus as their lead vocalist. The group’s breakthrough came with the Stevie Wonder-penned hit “Tell Me Something Good” in 1974, earning them a Grammy Award and establishing Khan’s powerful, soulful voice as a defining element of their sound. With Rufus, she delivered several successful albums and singles, including “Sweet Thing” and “Ain’t Nobody,” solidifying their place in the funk and R&B scenes.
Embarking on a solo career in 1978, Khan released her debut album featuring the anthem “I’m Every Woman,” which became a chart-topping success and later a hit for Whitney Houston. Her 1984 album “I Feel for You” showcased the title track, a Prince composition that blended funk, R&B, and hip-hop elements, earning her another Grammy Award. Throughout her solo journey, Khan explored various genres, including jazz, pop, and gospel, demonstrating her versatility as an artist.
Over the decades, Chaka Khan has collaborated with numerous renowned artists, such as Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, and Ray Charles. Her contributions to music have been recognized with ten Grammy Awards and an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. Beyond her musical achievements, Khan is an author, actor, philanthropist, and activist, dedicating efforts to initiatives supporting women and children in need.
Look back at the 1984 music video for Chaka Khan’s hit “I Feel for You”
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