Chaka Khan

Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan performing at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California.
Background information
Birth name	Yvette Marie Stevens
Born	March 23 1953 (1953-03-23) (age 55)
Origin	Great Lakes, Illinois, United States
Genre(s)	Pop, R&B, funk, jazz, dance, quiet Storm
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Years active	1970-1983 (with Rufus) 1978-present (solo)
Label(s)	ABC (1972-1979) MCA (1979-1980) Warner Bros. (1978-1993) Reprise (1993-1997) NPG (1998-2000) Burgundy (2005-present)
Associated acts	Rufus Indira Khan
Website	ChakaKhan.com

Chaka Khan (born March 23, 1953) is an American singer first featured as a member of the funk band Rufus, who later became a successful solo artist. In her career she has earned many accolades, including eight Grammy Awards. Though regarded as an R&B singer, she has in fact explored numerous musical genres including funk, disco, jazz, ballads, hip hop, adult contemporary, pop and blues standards.

Biography

Early life

Khan was born Yvette Marie Stevens in Great Lakes, Illinois to Charles Stevens and Sandra Coleman. Her sister is dance music artist Taka Boom. Khan was raised on Chicago's South Side, and at the age of 11 formed her first group, the Crystalettes. While still in high school, she joined the Afro-Arts Theater, a group which toured with Motown great Mary Wells. A few years later, she adopted the African name "Chaka" while working as a volunteer on the Black Panthers' Free Breakfast for Children program in Chicago. She took her name from the historical figures of either Chaka Bey or Shaka Zulu. Khan attended Lewis University in Romeoville, IL. After quitting high school in 1969, Chaka joined the group Lyfe, soon exiting that group to join another dance band, The Babysitters; neither enjoyed any success, but her fortunes changed when she teamed with ex-American Breed member Kevin Murphy and Andre Fisher to form Rufus. In the meantime she had married bass guitarist Hassan Khan, hence her name Chaka Khan.

Life with Rufus

Debuting in 1973 with a self-titled effort on the ABC label, Rufus was among the pre-eminent funk groups of the decade; distinguished by Khan's dynamic vocals. With the help of Stevie Wonder, Rufus broke into both the pop music and R&B charts in 1974 with the hit "Tell Me Something Good". Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, the band had a number of R&B hits, including "Tell Me Something Good", "Masterjam", "Sweet Thing", "Do You Love What You Feel?", and "Once You Get Started". The group earned half a dozen gold or platinum albums and two gold singles with "Tell Me Something Good" and "Sweet Thing" before she went solo in 1978.

Solo stardom

In 1978, Khan recorded her highly-orchestrated Arif Mardin-produced disco smash hit "I'm Every Woman" (#1 R&B and #21 Pop, and a bigger Pop hit over a decade later for Whitney Houston), from the album Chaka. Chaka proved to be a significant hit on the strength of the single (which was composed by Ashford & Simpson) however, Khan's success was somewhat tempered by her public rivalry with the remaining members of Rufus, to whom she was contractually bound for two more LPs. As a solo artist, Khan recorded backing vocals for Ry Cooder's 1979 effort "Bop Till You Drop," then cut her second album, 1980s Naughty, a minor hit on the R&B charts, which featured 'Clouds' (also by Ashford & Simpson), 'Move Me No Mountain', and other songs that displayed Chaka's range as a singer. The 'Naughty' album also featured Luther Vandross, Cissy Houston, and a young Whitney Houston singing background vocals. Her next album, What Cha' Gonna Do for Me ?, was a gold seller and included at least two hit singles on Billboard's R&B Singles chart, including the title song (which topped the R&B chart and made #53 Pop). Chaka's 'And The Melody Still Lingers On (Night In Tunisia)' is also a timeless classic (featuring Dizzy Gillespie & Herbie Hancock) from the album, which has Chaka hitting 'notes that aren't in the book' (according to her legendary producer Arif Mardin). In 1982, Warner Brothers released the Arif Mardin produced 'Chaka Khan' album. This album featured the single 'Tearin It Up', as well as Chaka's reading of Michael Jackson's 'Got To Be There'. 'Slow Dancin' (a duet with Rick James) was also featured, but her 'Be Bop Medley' won the Diva a Grammy Award, as well as praise from jazz legend Betty Carter, who praised Chaka for her improvisational skills. 'Chaka Khan' was critically acclaimed, but it was not the huge hit that Warner Brothers wanted. Reviewer David Bertrand Wilson (of warr.org) agreed: "This [album] didn't generate any hits, but it's a lot of fun...her singing here is phenomenal". The song "Got to be There", from the album , became an R&B top 5 hit. {6}Chaka Khan' is a rare collector's item because Warner Brothers refuses to release it in the United States. Fans can expect to pay almost $100.00 for mint CDs imported from Japan. In 1981, she appeared on two songs on Rick Wakeman's thematic album 1984. According to the 'Chaka's World' website, Chaka was originally scheduled to duet on Tom Browne's hit "Funkin' For Jamaica" and Dennis Edwards' hit "Don't Look Any Further" (which he went on to perform with Siedah Garrett). She also recorded the song "Addicted to Love" with Robert Palmer. Her vocals were later removed after her management refused to allow its release. {6} allmusic.com and warr.org/Rufus.html

A jazz experiment

In 1982, Khan recorded Echoes Of An Era, a collection of jazz standards featuring performances from Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea and Lenny White. 1983 saw Khan return to Rufus to record her last contractually obligated album Stompin' At The Savoy: Live. The double album contained live versions of Rufus classics, Khan's solo hits and a handful of newly recorded tracks. One of these was the hit "Ain't Nobody," which returned Khan to the top of the urban and top 40 charts (#22 Pop). To make room for the new studio tracks, Warner Brothers omitted live versions of "Everlasting Love" (which was released on the rare 1983 soundtrack to Night Shift), "The Best Of Your Heart" and "Hollywood".

Hip hop phenomenon

Her pop career was on shaky ground when she released 1984's I Feel For You, a platinum-seller launched by its title cut, a Grammy Award-winning, hip hop-based rendition of a fairly obscure Prince album track with a cameo appearance by Stevie Wonder on harmonica and rap by Melle Mel, which launched her recording career back into full gear. Produced by David Foster, the popular ballad "Through the Fire" also reached the R&B top ten, setting a record (since broken) for spending the most consecutive weeks on the Billboard R&B chart, made #60 Pop during a 19-week run on the Hot 100, and crossed over to the adult contemporary chart. ("Through the Fire" has since been sampled by Kanye West for his hit single "Through The Wire".) Chaka also recorded "Krush Groove (Can't Stop The Street)" for the movie Krush Groove in 1985. In 1986, she would provide co-lead and background vocals for Steve Winwood's #1 hit, "Higher Love". In 1995 Chaka teamed up with rapper Guru, on his solo jazz/hip hop fusion collection Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality for the track "Watch What You Saying" which reached Billboard's chart at #13.

1990–2004

Still, while subsequent LPs like 1986's Destiny and 1988's C.K. kept Khan high on the R&B charts, her standing in pop's mainstream again began to wane, and by the end of the 1980s she had moved to Europe. Not forgotten back in America, in 1990, she won another Grammy for "I'll Be Good To You," a duet with Ray Charles and another #1 R&B and Top 20 Pop hit. In 1992, Khan released her album The Woman I Am, for which she received a Grammy Award for best Rhythm & Blues vocal performance. The album's hit single "Love You All My Lifetime" was penned by German songwriter duo Irmgard Klarmann and Felix Weber (a.k.a. Klarmann/Weber and was produced by David Gamson. According to the Chaka's World Website, Khan recorded a follow up album Dare You To Love Me which was to be released in 1995. Warner Brothers shelved the project (although several of the tracks appeared on a career retrospective titled Epiphany: The Very Best of Chaka Khan and soundtracks such as To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar and Waiting to Exhale (singing the standard "My Funny Valentine"). Khan soon left Warner Brothers for what she felt was a lack of promotion and after the label had decided to release the Epiphany compilation instead of Dare You To Love Me in its true form. Prince (who also feuded with the company) assisted Khan in leaving Warner Brothers. Khan eventually made a special agreement with "The Artist" (who was then only formerly known as Prince), and recorded her next album on his New Power Generation label. The Prince-produced Come 2 My House appeared in 1998 and went gold despite little promotion. Khan also appeared on new CDs by Prince and Larry Graham for the New Power Generation Label, and she toured in support for the projects. Although she sang at both the 2000 Democratic and Republican conventions, Khan says that she is more of a "Democratic-minded person".^[1] In 2001, Khan sang on De La Soul's hit song "All Good?". In 2002 she was an integral part of the documentary about Motown studio musicians The Funk Brothers, Standing In The Shadows Of Motown, which she performed the classic R&B songs "What's Going On?" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (a duet with Montell Jordan). She won her 8th Grammy Award for this latter performance. In October 2004, Khan released her cover album ClassiKhan by her own label Earth Song Records and Sanctuary Records. An album of standards featuring the London Symphony Orchestra and recorded primarily at Abbey Road Studios in London. The entire album was produced by Eve Nelson of Nelson-O'Reilly Productions. On December 3, 2004, she received an honorary doctorate degree from Berklee College of Music. She is also active in the autism community, as she has family members who have been diagnosed with this condition. Her EarthSong Entertainment and Chaka Khan Foundation operate from Beverly Hills, California.

2005—

In early 2006, she signed with Sony BMG's new label Burgundy Records. Embracing Christianity, Khan participated in a live all-star gospel concert recording for artist Richard Smallwood's new album Journey: Live In New York. Khan is featured on the song "Oh, How Precious." ^[2] On her official website, Khan credits singer Karen Clark Sheard with being "the voice that helped me find the Holy Ghost". Khan performed a cover version of Sheard's "A Secret Place" along with Richard Smallwood on TBN's show Praise The Lord in October 2006. In December 2006, Chaka recorded "Do You Hear What I Hear" on the Christmas compilation Breaking For the Holidays produced by Eve Nelson (who also produced Classikhan). The album also featured Vonzell Solomon, Sandra Bernhard, Ben Jelen and many more. On February 11 2007, Khan headlined and performed at the NARAS 2007 Grammy Award official post party held immediately after the event. Her new album, Funk This, is a mix of cover songs and original material. Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and James "Big Jim" Wright, the album was released on September 25, 2007, debuting at #15 on the Top 200 Album Chart and at #5 on the R&B Album Chart, selling 39,000 copies in its first week. This is also her highest chart position since her first solo album in 1978 peaked at #12. "Angel," the first single off the album, reached #29 and went on become her first R&B hit in nearly fifteen years. On the Today Show on September 26, 2007, it was announced that she would play Sofia on Broadway's The Color Purple. She will take over the role on January 9, 2008. She also performed "Angel".

Awards

Wins

• 2006 BET Lifetime Achievement Award
• To date, she has won eight Grammy Awards:
  • 2002 Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance - "What's Going On" by Chaka Khan & The Funk Brothers
  • 1992 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female - "The Woman I Am"
  • 1990 Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal - "I'll Be Good To You" (with Ray Charles)
  • 1984 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female - "I Feel For You"
  • 1983 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female - Chaka Khan
  • 1983 Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal "Ain't Nobody"
  • 1983 Best Vocal Arrangement For Two Or More Voices - "Be Bop Medley"
  • 1974 Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus - "Tell Me Something Good"
• She has won four American Music Awards.

Nominations

• She has had 20 Grammy nominations including a recent nomination for "Everyday (Family Reunion)", her collaboration with Yolanda Adams, Gerald Levert, and Carl Thomas from the Madea's Family Reunion movie.^[3]

Discography

Solo albums

Chaka

• Released: October 13, 1978
• Label: Tattoo / Warner Bros.
• Chart Peak: US Pop #12, R&B #2
• RIAA Certification: Gold
• Singles: "I'm Every Woman," "Life Is A Dance"

Naughty

• Released: March 26, 1980
• Label: Warner Bros.
• Chart Peak: US Pop #43, R&B #6
• RIAA Certification: Gold
• Singles: "Clouds," "Papillon (Aka Hot Butterfly)," "Get Ready, Get Set"

What Cha' Gonna Do For Me

• Released: April 15, 1981
• Label: Warner Bros.
• Chart Peak: US Pop #17, R&B #3, Jazz #35
• RIAA Certification: Gold
• Singles: "What Cha' Gonna Do For Me," "We Can Work It Out," "Any Old Sunday"

Echoes Of An Era

• Released: 1982 / January 28, 2003
• Label: Elektra / Rhino
• Chart Peak: US Pop #105, R&B #38
• RIAA Certification: None
• Singles: None

Chaka Khan

• Released: November 17, 1982
• Label: Warner Bros.
• Chart Peak: US Pop #52, R&B #5
• RIAA Certification: None
• Singles: "Tearin' It Up," "Got To Be There"

I Feel For You

• Released: October 1, 1984
• Label: Warner Bros.
• Chart Peak: US Pop #16, R&B #4, UK #15
• RIAA Certification: Platinum
• Singles: "I Feel For You," "This Is My Night," "Through the Fire," "Eye To Eye"

Destiny

• Released: June 27, 1986
• Label: Warner Bros.
• Chart Peak: US Pop #72, R&B #25, UK #77
• RIAA Certification: None
• Singles: "Love Of A Lifetime," "Tight Fit," "The Other Side Of The World," "Earth To Mickey"

C.K.

• Released: November 12, 1988
• Label: Warner Bros.
• Chart Peak: US Pop #125, R&B #17
• RIAA Certification: None
• Singles: "It's My Party," "Baby Me"

• Released: June 20, 1989
• Label: Warner Bros.
• Chart Peak: UK #14
• RIAA Certification: None
• Singles: "I'm Every Woman (Remix)", "Ain't Nobody (remix)", "I Feel For You (Remix)"

The Woman I Am

• Released: April 14, 1992
• Label: Warner Bros.
• Chart Peak: US Pop #92, R&B #9
• RIAA Certification: None
• Singles: "Love You All My Lifetime," "You Can Make The Story Right," "I Want," "Give Me All," "Don't Look At Me That Way," "Facts Of Love"

Dare You To Love Me

• Completed: 1995 (Unreleased)
• Label: Warner Bros.

• Released: November 12, 1996
• Label: Reprise
• Chart Peak: US Pop #51, R&B #22
• RIAA Certification: Gold
• Singles: "Never Miss The Water", "Your Love Is All I Know"

Come 2 My House

• Released: July 21, 1998
• Label: NPG
• Chart Peak: US R&B #49
• RIAA Certification: None
• Singles: "Spoon", "This Crazy Life Of Mine," "I'll Never B Another Fool," "I Remember U"

Dance Classics (Japan Release Only)

• Released: March 16, 1999
• Label: Warner Music Japan
• Chart Peak: None
• RIAA Certification: None
• Singles: None

ClassiKhan

• Released: October 5, 2004
• Label: Earth Song / Sanctuary
• Chart Peak: US R&B #42
• RIAA Certification: None
• Singles: None

The Platinum Collection

• Released: June 26, 2006
• Label: Warner Music Group
• Chart Peak: None
• RIAA Certification: None

Funk This

• Release date: September 25 2007
• Label: Burgundy Records
• Chart Peak: US Pop #15, R&B #5
• RIAA Certification: None
• Singles: "Disrespectful" (feat. Mary J. Blige), "Angel"

Compilations

Breaking For the Holidays

• released: November 2006
• Label: Breaking Records
• single: "Do You Hear What I Hear"

Solo singles

• 1978: "I'm Every Woman" - US #21, R&B #1, UK #11
• 1979: "Life Is A Dance" - US R&B #40
• 1980: "Clouds" - US R&B #10
• 1980: "Papillon (a.k.a. Hot Butterfly)" - US R&B #22
• 1980: "Get Ready, Get Set" - R&B #48
• 1981: "What Cha' Gonna Do For Me" - US #53, R&B #1
• 1981: "We Can Work It Out" - US R&B #34
• 1981: "Any Old Sunday" - US R&B #68
• 1982: "Got To Be There" - US R&B #5
• 1983: "Tearin' It Up" - R&B #48
• 1984: "I Feel For You" - US #3, R&B #1, Dance #1, UK #1
• 1985: "This Is My Night" - US #60, R&B #11, Dance #1, UK #14
• 1985: "Eye To Eye" - UK #16
• 1985: "Through the Fire" - US Pop #60, US AC #16, R&B #15, UK #77
• 1985: "(Krush Groove) Can't Stop The Street" - US R&B #18, UK #80
• 1985: "Own The Night" - US #57, R&B #66
• 1986: "The Other Side Of The World" - US R&B #81
• 1986: "Love of a Lifetime" - US #53, R&B #21, UK #52
• 1986: "Tight Fit" - US R&B #28
• 1987: "Earth To Mickey" - US R&B #93
• 1988: "It's My Party" - R&B #5, UK #71
• 1988: "Soul Talkin'"
• 1989: "I'm Every Woman (remix)" - UK #8
• 1989: "I Feel For You" (remix) - UK #45
• 1989: "Baby Me" - US R&B #8
• 1990: "I'll Be Good to You" (with Quincy Jones and Ray Charles) - US #18, R&B #1, Dance #1, UK #21
• 1992: "Love You All My Lifetime" - US #68, R&B #2, Dance #1, UK #49
• 1992: "You Can Make The Story Right" - US R&B #8
• 1992: "I Want" - US R&B #62
• 1993: "Feels Like Heaven" (with Peter Cetera) - US Pop #71, US AC #5
• 1993: "Don't Look At Me That Way" - UK #73
• 1995: "Watch What You Say" (with Guru) - UK #28
• 1996: "Missing You" (with Brandy, Gladys Knight and Tamia) - US #25, R&B #10
• 1996: "Never Miss The Water" (with Me'Shell Ndegeocello) - US R&B #36, Dance #1, UK #59
• 1998: "Spoon"
• 1998: "This Crazy Life Of Mine"
• 1998: "I'll Never B Another Fool"
• 1999: "I Remember U"
• 2000: "All Good" (with De La Soul) - UK #33
• 2007: "Disrespectful (with Mary J. Blige) - US Dance #1 (2 weeks)
• 2007: "Angel - US #121, US R&B #28

Albums with Rufus

See Rufus discography

References

External links

• Chaka Khan official website
• Chaka Khan Myspace Page
• Chaka Khan at All Music Guide