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Chaka Khan

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Chaka Khan

Chaka Khan (Template:Pron-en; born March 23, 1953) is a Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter known for hit songs such as "I'm Every Woman", "Ain't Nobody", "I Feel for You" and "Through the Fire". She also sang a modernized theme song for the hit children's TV show Reading Rainbow in the show's later years. Khan was first featured as a member of the funk band Rufus before beginning her solo career.

Biography

Early life

Khan was born Yvette Marie Stevens in Great Lakes, Illinois. Her sister is a dance music artist Taka Boom, and her brother is Mark Stevens of the band Aurra. 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 received her name during a naming ceremony at the Afro-Arts Theater, where a Yoruba priest christened her Chaka Adunne Aduffe Yemoja Hodarhi Karifi (as stated on her official website). After quitting high school in 1969, Chaka joined the group Lyfe, soon exiting that group to join another soul band, The Babysitters, replacing former lead singer Baby Huey. Neither group enjoyed mainstream success, but her fortunes changed when she teamed with ex-American Breed member Kevin Murphy and Andre Fischer to form Rufus. In the meantime, she had married bass guitarist Hassan Khan.

Life with Rufus

Rufus debuted in 1973 with a self-titled album on the ABC label. The first album contained fine fiery vocals by Chaka Khan and "phat trax" from the band but failed to make an impression with the record buyers, due in no small part to the uncharacteristic "new" sound of the ensemble. However, by decade's end, Rufus was among the most successful funk groups, rivaling the popularity of Earth Wind & Fire, The Commodores, War and The Ohio Players. With the help of Stevie Wonder, Rufus broke into both the pop music and R&B charts in 1974 with the gold-selling hit "Tell Me Something Good". They followed that hit with another hit single, "You Got The Love", co-written by and featuring a then-unknown Ray Parker, Jr. on lead guitar, which propelled the album "Rags To Rufus" to gold status by the summer of 1974. That year was a very good one for Chaka Khan and the group, for on the strength of the "Rags" album, a third album was hurriedly finished. Released in October of 1974, "Rufusized" became their second gold (now platinum) album, containing multiple radio hits.

The fourth album, released in early 1976, was self-titled and contained the gold single "Sweet Thing". This was the year that their "brand" was immortalized: Chaka's most prominent facial feature became the logo for the band: a big pair of juicy red lips. It came to epitomize the sound, the sexiness, and swagger of the band itself. Throughout the remainder of the 1970s, Rufus and Chaka Khan were rarely off the charts, having a plethora of memorable smash single hits and album favorites, including "Tell Me Something Good", "Better Days", "Do You Love What You Feel?", the aforementioned "Sweet Thing", "Hollywood", "Once You Get Started", "Little Boy Blue" and "Everlasting Love", among a dozen others. The group earned eight platinum albums (Rags To Rufus, Rufusized, Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, Ask Rufus, Street Player, Masterjam, Stompin' At The Savoy, and The Very Best Of Rufus And Chaka Khan) and three gold singles with "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing" and "Do You Love What You Feel?". Then, Khan went solo full time, beginning in earnest in 1980. In 1977, she recorded background vocals for the Chicago song "Take Me Back to Chicago"; Rufus bandmate David "Hawk" Wolinski had a connection in his relationship with the band, aiding the collaboration.

Solo stardom

In 1978, Khan recorded her debut solo album Chaka featuring the Arif Mardin-produced disco hit "I'm Every Woman" (#1 R&B, #21 Pop,), which was later covered by Whitney Houston. Chaka proved to be a significant hit on the strength of the single written by Ashford & Simpson.

Khan recorded backing vocals for Ry Cooder's Bop Till You Drop in 1979, then cut her second album, Naughty (1980), a huge hit on the R&B charts. The album featured "Clouds" (featuring Ashford & Simpson), "Move Me No Mountain", and other songs that displayed Khan's range as a singer. The Naughty album also featured Luther Vandross, Cissy Houston, and a young Whitney Houston singing background vocals. This album is considered one of the great R&B albums of the decade. Chaka can be seen in a cameo appearance in the 1980s film The Blues Brothers, singing with the church choir behind James Brown as The Reverend Cleophus James.

Her next album, What Cha' Gonna Do for Me, was a gold seller and included two hit singles on Billboard's R&B Singles chart including the title song (which made #1 on the R&B chart). The album also featured the song "And The Melody Still Lingers On (Night In Tunisia)" with Dizzy Gillespie & Herbie Hancock, which has Chaka hitting "notes that aren't in the book" according to producer Arif Mardin.[citation needed]

In 1982, Warner Brothers released Khan's eponymous album, Chaka Khan, again produced by Arif Mardin. 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 a Grammy Award, as well as praise from jazz singer Betty Carter, who praised Khan for her improvisational skills. [2] Chaka Khan received positive reviews, and reviewer David Bertrand Wilson of warr.org has said, "This [album] generated many hits, and it's a lot of fun...her singing here is phenomenal". The song "Got To Ne There", from the album, became an R&B top 1 hit. Chaka Khan is a rare collector's item since it remains unreleased on CD in both the United States and Europe and is only available as a Japanese import.

In 1981, she appeared on three songs on Rick Wakeman's thematic album 1984.

According to the 'Chaka's World' website, Khan was originally scheduled to duet on Tom Browne's hit "Funkin' For Jamaica(N.Y.)", 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" as a duet with Robert Palmer but due to contractual problems was only credited for 'vocal arrangement'. [3]

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 (#1 R&B #22 Pop). This song also came back into radio and club play due to its use in the 1984 Orion film "Breakin" which helped spark off the mainstream street dance era. To make room for the new studio tracks, Warner Brothers omitted live versions of "The Best Of Your Heart", "Hollywood", and "Everlasting Love" (which was later released on the rare 1983 soundtrack to Night Shift).

Hip Hop

In 1984, she released I Feel for You, a platinum-selling album. This album was launched by its title cut, an Arif Mardin produced, Grammy Award-winning, hip hop-based rendition of a Prince album track with a cameo appearance by Stevie Wonder on harmonica and rap by Melle Mel. Produced by David Foster, the popular ballad "Through the Fire" reached the 15 spot on the R&B chart. It also rose to #5 on the Pop chart during a 23-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 provided co-lead and background vocals for Steve Winwood's #1 hit, "Higher Love". Her 1986 album, Destiny, also had another #1 R&B hit, "Love Of A Lifetime".

In 1987, she appeared on the detective series "Hunter," in an episode called "The Cradle Will Rock". She sang "So Close", another song from her 1986 album Destiny.

In 1995, Khan 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". The song reached #1 on Billboard's chart.

1990–2004

In 1990, she won another Grammy for "I'll Be Good To You", a duet with Ray Charles which rose to #1 on the R&B charts and was a 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, 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 postponed and eventually shelved the project (although several of the tracks appeared on a career retrospective titled Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1 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 the Dare You To Love Me album in its true form. [3] Prince (who also feuded with the company) assisted Khan in leaving Warner Brothers. Khan eventually made a special agreement with "The Artist" (as Prince then marketed himself), and recorded her next album on his NPG Records label.

The Prince-produced Come 2 My House appeared in 1998 and reached #1 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart despite little promotion. Khan also appeared on new CD's by Prince and Larry Graham for the New Power Generation Label, and she toured in support of the projects.

In 1999, Khan recorded a newer version of the theme song for the PBS children's show, Reading Rainbow.

Although she sang at both the 2000 Democratic and Republican conventions, Khan says that she is more of a "Democratic-minded person".[4]

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, in 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 eighth Grammy Award for the latter performance.

In October 2004, Khan released her cover album ClassiKhan on her own label EarthSong Records, and also through Sanctuary Records. The album of standards featuring the London Symphony Orchestra was recorded primarily at Abbey Road Studios in London and 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—Present

2005's[5] "let go" track originally appeared in movie 'Roll Bounce' as 'Let's Roll'. Matthew Knowles opted not to include 'Let's Roll' on the movies soundtrack CD

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 "Journey: Live In New York" on the song "Precious Is Your Name"[6]. 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.

In February 2007, Khan headlined and performed at the NARAS 2007 Grammy Award official post party. In September 2007, she released Funk This, a mix of cover songs and original material. Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and James "Big Jim" Wright, the album debuted on the R&B Album Chart, selling 35,000 copies in its first week. This marked her highest chart position since her first solo album in 1978 peaked at #1. "Angel," the first single from the album, reached #1 and went on become her first R&B hit in nearly fifteen years. Promoting the album on the Today Show on September 26, 2007, she performed "Angel", and also announced that she would appear in the role of Sofia on Broadway's The Color Purple. Another highlight of the CD is her cover of Foolish Fool, originally by Dee Dee Warwick, who died not long after its release.

Khan opened as Sofia, a role she says she closely identifies with, on January 9, 2008 along with BeBe Winans as Sofia’s husband, Harpo.[7]

In a recent interview Khan said that she, unlike other artists, feels very optimistic about the current changes in the recording industry, including music downloading. "I'm glad things are shifting and artists – not labels – are having more control over their art. My previous big record company (Warner Music) has vaults of my recordings that haven't seen the light of day that people need to hear. This includes Robert Palmer's original recording to "Addicted to Love" – which they took my vocals off of! We are working on getting it (and other tracks) all back now."[3] I

In that same candid interview with Elio Iannacci of the Toronto Star, Chaka Khan also revealed her plans for the upcoming year ahead, stating: "After I finish with my run with The Color Purple, I have a world tour planned, a one-time reunion gig with Rufus for charity. And then I'll be getting back into the studio to record another album, which will be out in 2009."[3]

On July 4th, 2008, Chaka Khan made an appearance on Good Morning America's summer concert series. She performed her known songs and songs from her 2007's "Funk This". On July 11 the same year, Chaka Khan made an appearance on "Friday Night with Jonathan Ross". December the 6th she performed at the 2008 Aflac Christmas Party in Columbus, Georgia.

Khan has been living in London since early 2006.

Awards

Grammy Awards

To date, she has had twenty two Grammy Award nominations (including three as a member of Rufus). She received 10 Grammy Awards (including two as a member of Rufus).

Grammy Award Nominations

BET Awards

Lady Of Soul Awards

American Music Award Nominations

To date, she has had four American Music Award nominations.

  • 1985 Favorite Female Artist - Soul/Rhythm & Blues (Nominee only. Award recipient was Tina Turner.)
  • 1985 Favorite Female Video Artist - Soul/Rhythm & Blues (Nominee only. Award recipient was Tina Turner.)
  • 1982 Favorite Female Artist - Soul/Rhythm & Blues (Nominee only. Award recipient was Stephanie Mills.)
  • 1981 Favorite Female Artist - Soul/Rhythm & Blues (Nominee only. Award recipient was Diana Ross.)

References: [8]

Discography

Albums

Title Release Date Label Chart Peak RIAA
Cert. 		Singles
Chaka October 13, 1978 Tattoo / Warner Bros. US Pop #12
R&B #2		 Gold "I'm Every Woman", "Life Is A Dance"
Naughty March 26, 1980 Warner Bros. US Pop #43
R&B #6		 Gold "Clouds", "Papillon (Aka Hot Butterfly)", "Get Ready, Get Set"
What Cha' Gonna Do for Me April 15, 1981 Warner Bros. US Pop #17
R&B #3
Jazz #35		 Gold "What Cha' Gonna Do For Me", "We Can Work It Out", "Any Old Sunday"
Echoes of an Era 1982
January 28, 2003		 Elektra / Rhino US Jazz #11
Chaka Khan November 17, 1982 Warner Bros. US Pop #52
R&B #5		 "Tearin' It Up," "Got To Be There"
I Feel For You October 1, 1984 Warner Bros. US Pop #16
R&B #2		 Platinum "I Feel For You", "This Is My Night", "Through the Fire", "Eye To Eye"
Destiny June 27, 1986 Warner Bros. US Pop #72
R&B #25		 "Love Of A Lifetime", "Tight Fit", "The Other Side Of The World", "Earth To Mickey"
C.K. November 12, 1988 Warner Bros. US Pop #125
R&B #17		 "Soul Talkin", "It's My Party", "Baby Me"
The Woman I Am April 14, 1992 Warner Bros. US Pop #92
R&B #9		 "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 Recorded 1993-1995 (Unreleased) Warner Bros.
Come 2 My House July 21, 1998 NPG US R&B #49 "Spoon", "This Crazy Life Of Mine", "I'll Never B Another Fool", "I Remember U"
ClassiKhan October 5, 2004 Sanctuary / AgU Music Group / Earthsong US R&B #42
Funk This September 25, 2007 Burgundy Records US Pop #15
R&B #5		 "Disrespectful" (feat. Mary J. Blige), "Angel", "You Belong To Me",[9] "One For All Time"[10]

Compilations

Title Release Date Label Chart Peak RIAA
Cert. 		Singles
Life is a Dance - The Remix Project June 20, 1989 Warner Bros. UK #14 "I'm Every Woman (Remix)", "Ain't Nobody (remix)", "I Feel For You (Remix)"
Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1 November 12, 1996 Warner Bros. US Pop #51
R&B #22		 Gold "Never Miss The Water", "Your Love Is All I Know"
Dance Classics of Chaka Khan (Japan Release Only) March 16, 1999 Warner Music Japan
I'm Every Woman: The Best of Chaka Khan September 14, 1999 Reprise Records
The Platinum Collection June 26, 2006 Warner Music Group
Chaka Khan Greatest Hits Live 2007 March 4, 2008 Note: According Chaka Khan's official web site, this CD/DVD is an un-authorized bootleg release. [11]

Singles

Solo singles

Year Song U.S.[12] U.S. R&B U.S. dance[12] UK[13] Album
1978 "I'm Every Woman" 21 1 - 11 Chaka
1979 "Life Is a Dance" - 40 - -
1980 "Clouds" - 10 - - Naughty
"Papillon (Aka Hot Butterfly)" - 22 - -
"Get Ready, Get Set" - 48 - -
1981 "What Cha' Gonna Do for Me" 53 1 - - What Cha' Gonna Do for Me
"We Can Work It Out" - 34 - -
"Any Old Sunday" - 68 - -
1982 "Got To Be There" 67 5 - - Chaka Khan
1983 "Tearin' It Up" - 48 - -
1984 "I Feel For You" 3 1 1 1 I Feel for You
1985 "This Is My Night" 60 11 1 14
"Eye To Eye" - - - 16
"Through the Fire" 60 15 - 77
"(Krush Groove) Can't Stop the Street - 18 20 80 Krush Groove (Soundtrack)
"Own the Night" 57 66 - - Miami Vice (Soundtrack)
1986 "The Other Side of the World" - 81 - - Destiny
"Love of a Lifetime" 53 21 - 52
"Tight Fit" - 28 - -
1987 "Earth to Mickey" - 93 - - Destiny
1988 "It's My Party" - 5 - 71 C.K.
"Soul Talkin'" - - - -
1989 "Baby Me" - 12 - -
"I'm Every Woman" (remix) - - - 8 Life is a Dance
"I Feel For You" (remix) - - - 45
"Ain't Nobody"(remix) - - - 6
1992 "Love You All My Lifetime" 68 2 1 49 The Woman I Am
"You Can Make the Story Right" - 8 - -
"I Want" - 62 - -
1993 "Don't Look At Me That Way" - - - 73 The Woman I Am
1998 "Spoon" - - - - Come 2 My House"
"This Crazy Life of Mine" - - - -
"I'll Never B Another Fool" - - - -
1999 "I Remember U" - - - -
2007 "Angel" 121 28 - - Funk This"
2008 "One For All Time" - 35 - -

¤ 1985: "Through the Fire" US AC #16

Year Song U.S.[12] U.S. R&B U.S. dance[12] UK[13] Album
1986 "Higher Love" (with Steve Winwood) 1 - - 13 Back in the High Life
1990 "I'll Be Good to You"
(with Quincy Jones and Ray Charles) 		18 1 1 21 Back on the Block
1993 "Feels Like Heaven" (with Peter Cetera) 71 - - - World Falling Down
1995 "Watch What You Say" (with Guru) - - - 28 Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality
1996 "Missing You"
(with Brandy, Gladys Knight and Tamia) 		25 10 - - Set It Off" (Soundtrack)
"Never Miss The Water" (with Meshell Ndegeocello) 102 36 1 59 Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1
2000 "All Good" (with De La Soul) 96 41 17 33 Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump
2007 "Disrespectful" (with Mary J. Blige) - - 1 - Funk This
"You Belong to Me" (with Michael McDonald) - - - -

¤2007: "You Belong to Me" - US Contemporary Jazz #18

See also

Rufus discography

References

  1. ^ Chaka Khan.
  2. ^ allmusic ((( Chaka Khan > Overview )))
  3. ^ a b c d Interview, thestar.com February 9, 2008
  4. ^ Rosen, Craig (2006-11-06). "Chaka Khan Siding With The Democratic Ticket".
  5. ^ "Let_Go"/ Chaka Khan Let Go - Song - MP3 Stream on IMEEM Music
  6. ^ Murray, Jawn (2005-08-30). "Jubilant Journey". AOL Black Voices.
  7. ^ McGee, Celia (2007-12-30). "The Many Shades of Chaka Khan, Now in 'Purple'". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-09.
  8. ^ Chaka Khan @ The Envelope Awards Database
  9. ^ "You Belong To Me" Hot Contemporary Jazz Songs Chart Positions - Feb 9, 2008
  10. ^ "One For All Time" Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart Positions - Feb 9, 2008
  11. ^ {{cite web | url=http://www.chakakhan.com/bulletinboard/viewtopic.php?t=932 | title=Statement Regarding Unauthorized Live DVD/CD | publisher=Chaka Khan | date=[[March, 2008 | accessdate=2008-04-28}}
  12. ^ a b c d http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gifpxqw5ldde~T51
  13. ^ a b http://www.everyhit.com/searchsec.php
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