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Rufus (band)

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Rufus should not be confused with the band Ruffus, who represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 with the song "Eighties Coming Back".

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Rufus was a 1970s American funk band, from Chicago, Illinois; best known for launching the career of their lead singer Chaka Khan. They had several hits throughout their career, including "Tell Me Something Good" (penned by Stevie Wonder), "Sweet Thing", and "Ain't Nobody".

Career

One of the most commercially successful funk groups of the '70s, the multi-racial Rufus are today best remembered for launching the careers of Tony Maiden, Bobby Watson, Andre Fischer, Dennis Belfield and soul diva Chaka Khan, whose lead vocals were easily the band's fiery focal point. Powered by Khan — who was eventually billed in addition to the group — and an unerring sense of groove, Rufus scored an impressive string of hit singles on both the pop and R&B charts, which lasted through the '70s and up to Khan's official departure in 1983.

Rufus grew out of the Chicago bands The Circus (James Stella- vocals, Kevin Murphy- keyboards, Rick Panzer- piano, Larry McCabe- trombone/trumpet, Vern Pilder- guitar, Phil Michilson- guitar, and Ross Salamone- drums) and The American Breed, which had a hit in 1968 with the oldies-radio staple "Bend Me, Shape Me." Guitarist Vern Pilder, bassist Chuck Colbert, drummer Lee Graziano, and keyboardist Kevin Murphy, vocalists James Stella and Paulette McWilliams formed a new group, originally called Smoke, then changed their name to Ask Rufus when management switched to Bob Monaco and Bill Trout. Pilder was quickly replaced by Al Ciner and then added Willie Weeks (bass). It was at this time that the band's name was shortened to Rufus. After the completion of recording their first full length LP for Epic Records in 1970 (which was never released), this lineup was together until early-1971, which was when Willie Weeks was replaced by Dennis Belfield. James Stella was replaced by lead vocalist/songwriter/keyboardist Ron Stockert in late 1971, drummer Andre Fischer replaced Graziano, and a young female vocalist named Chaka Khan (born Yvette Marie Stevens) replaced McWilliams. Although Khan's dynamic stage presence helped this version of the band take off, Stockert was still the guiding force when they signed with ABC in 1973, and he lent a more pop/rock flavor to the group's self-titled debut, released later that year.

Although the debut album Rufus sold poorly, Rufus gained a fan in Stevie Wonder thanks to their cover of his "Maybe Your Baby." Wonder gave them a new composition, the slowly grinding "Tell Me Something Good," that he'd written specifically with Khan's vocal style in mind. Pulled as a single from their second album, 1974's Rags to Rufus, "Tell Me Something Good" was a Top Five smash that turned Rufus and Khan into stars; Chaka co-wrote with Ray Parker Jr. the R&B chart-topping follow-up, "You Got the Love". Clearly, the band had found its niche, and a number of personnel shifts ensued: Stockert, Belfield and Ciner left the band and were replaced by Bobby Watson on bass, Tony Maiden on guitar and Nate Morgan on keyboards. Their funk sensibility thus bolstered, Rufus returned with a strong new album before year's end, Rufusized, which spawned two more hits in "Once You Get Started" and "Please Pardon Me (You Remind Me of a Friend)." The billing on 1975's Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan made the singer's star power official, and produced one of the group's biggest self produced hits in the R&B number one "Sweet Thing". Dave "Hawk" Wolinski joined as keyboardist from the group Madura for 1977's mellower Ask Rufus album (which included the hits "At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)", which reached number one on R&B charts, "Hollywood" and Dennis Belfield's "Everlasting Love"), and William "Moon" Calhoun formerly of the Gap Band and writer of "Stay," replaced drummer Fischer on 1978's Street Player. Fischer pursued and attained success as a grammy Award winning Producer and stints as Sr. Vice president A&R MCA Records Urban Music Department, Vice President Jazz A&R for Quincy Jones' Qwest Records and Vice President Writer Development for 20th Century Fox Records.

Following the release of Street Player, Khan made what was perhaps an inevitable move into great solo recording with the release of her debut, Chaka; despite scoring a significant hit with "I'm Every Woman," she remained an official member of Rufus. The band's next album, Numbers, was recorded without Chaka, and upon its release in 1979, it saw limited success. Khan was back on board later that year for Masterjam, produced by Quincy Jones, and the band (featuring new drummer John "J.R." Robinson) was back on top of the R&B charts with "Do You Love What You Feel". However, Khan was absent for 1980's Party 'Til You're Broke, and although she returned for 1981's Camouflage, Rufus' chart fortunes were lessening. The George Duke-produced, Khan-less Seal in Red was not successful, but Khan returned for 1983's Stompin' at the Savoy - Live, a double-record set featuring three sides of live material and one side of new studio recordings. One of those new songs, Hawk Wolinski's "Ain't Nobody" became Rufus' final number one R&B hit, and also won a Grammy, allowing the group to end its career on a high note. Her contract up, Khan finally left and became a superstar thanks to a cover of Prince's "I Feel for You,"and David Foster's "Through the Fire".

In the summer of 2001 Rufus reunited briefly for a tour with a lineup of Khan, Murphy, Maiden, Watson, Wolinski and Robinson(Chaka talked about the reunion and her life & times in her 2003 autobiography Chaka! Through the Fire , that she composed with the help of writer Tonya Bolden)

Tony Maiden and Chaka reunited on the medley "Pack'd My Bags/You Got The Love" on Chaka's 2007 album, Funk This. The album subsequently garnered two Grammy awards for Khan.

Rufus reformed for a live tour in 2008 with classic members John "JR" Robinson on drums & Bobby Watson on bass guitar.

Personnel

Formed in 1969 in Chicago, Illinois, Rufus included:

Discography

Albums

Note: Albums recorded without Khan are listed with (+).

Compilation albums

Singles

  • 1971: "Brand New Day" 1
  • 1973: "Whoever's Thrilling You (Is Killing Me)" - US R&B #40
  • 1973: "Feel Good" - US R&B #45
  • 1974: "Tell Me Something Good" - US Pop #3, US R&B #3
  • 1974: "You Got the Love" - US Pop #11, US R&B #1
  • 1975: "Once You Get Started" - US Pop #10, US R&B #4,
  • 1975: "Please Pardon Me (You Remind Me of a Friend)" - US Pop #48, US R&B #6
  • 1976: "Sweet Thing" - US Pop #5, US R&B #1
  • 1976: "Dance Wit Me" - US Pop #39, US R&B #5
  • 1976: "Jive Talkin'" - US R&B #35
  • 1977: "At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)" - US Pop #30, US R&B #1, US Dance #37
  • 1977: "Hollywood" - US Pop #32, US R&B #3
  • 1977: "Everlasting Love" - US R&B #17
  • 1978: "Stay" - US Pop #38, US R&B #3
  • 1978: "Blue Love" - US R&B #34
  • 1979: "Keep It Together (Declaration of Love)" 1 - US R&B #16
  • 1979: "Do You Love What You Feel" - US Pop #30, US R&B #1
  • 1980: "Any Love" - US R&B #24
  • 1980: "I'm Dancing for Your Love" - US R&B #43
  • 1981: "Tonight We Love" 1 - US R&B #18, US Dance #64
  • 1981: "Hold on to a Friend" 1 - US R&B #56
  • 1981: "Sharing the Love" - US Pop #91, US R&B #8
  • 1982: "Better Together" - US R&B #66, US Dance #56
  • 1983: "Take It to the Top" 1 - US R&B #47
  • 1983: "Ain't Nobody" - US Pop #22, US R&B #1, US Dance #6, UK #8
  • 1984: "One Million Kisses" - US R&B #37, UK #86
  • 1 Singles recorded without Chaka Khan as a vocalist.

Grammy Awards

Covers

Rufus covered songs, including Quincy Jones' "Body Heat", and has been covered : "You're Really Out Of Line" (from their 1983 album Seal In Red) by Belgian-Asian band Awaken on their 2001 album Party In Lyceum's Toilets. "Ain't Nobody" would be covered by many artists, including Kelly Price, Faith Evans, and George Michael, who offered his rendition on the Cover to Cover tour.

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