Chaka Khan

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Chaka Khan
Khan in 2012
Khan in 2012
Background information
Birth nameYvette Marie Stevens
Also known asChaka Adunne Aduffe Yemoja Hodarhi Karifi Khan
Born (1953-03-23) March 23, 1953 (age 71)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
DiscographyChaka Khan discography
Years active1970–present
Labels
Websitechakakhan.com

Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her

crossover hit featuring a rapper, with her 1984 cover of Prince's "I Feel for You".[3] More of Khan's hits include "Through the Fire" and a 1986 collaboration with Steve Winwood that produced a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, "Higher Love
".

Khan has won ten

platinum album with I Feel for You. She has also worked with Ry Cooder, Robert Palmer, Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Guru, Chicago, Joni Mitchell, Gladys Knight, De La Soul, Mary J. Blige and Ariana Grande. In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked her as the 65th most successful dance club artist of all time.[5] She was ranked at No. 17 in VH1's original list of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll.[6] Khan has been nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times as a solo artist and four times as a member of Rufus featuring Chaka Khan,[7] the first time in 2012 as a member of Rufus. In 2023, Khan was picked as an inductee in the Musical Excellence category.[8]

Early life

Yvette Marie Stevens was born on March 23, 1953, into an artistic,

housing projects.[9] Her sister Yvonne later became a successful musician in her own right, under the name Taka Boom. Her only brother, Mark, who formed the funk group Jamaica Boys and was a member of Aurra, also became a successful musician. She has two other sisters, Zaheva Stevens and Tammy McCrary.[10]

Khan was raised as a

civil rights rallies with her father's second wife, Connie, a strong supporter of the movement, and joined the Black Panther Party after befriending a fellow member, activist and Chicago native Fred Hampton in 1967.[12] Though many think that she was given the name Chaka while in the Panthers, she has made it clear that her name Chaka Adunne Aduffe Hodarhi Karifi was given to her at age 13 by a Yoruba Babalawo. In 1969, she left the Panthers and dropped out of high school, having attended Calumet High School and Kenwood High School (now Kenwood Academy).[13] She began to perform in small groups around the Chicago area, first performing with Cash McCall
's group Lyfe, which included her then-boyfriend Hassan Khan. Chaka and Hassan married in 1970.

Khan was asked to replace Baby Huey of Baby Huey & the Babysitters after Huey's death in 1970. The group disbanded a year later. While performing in local bands in 1972, Khan was spotted by two members of a new group called Rufus and soon won her position in the group, replacing her good friend Paulette McWilliams, who had recently left the group. The group caught the attention of musician Ike Turner who flew them out to Los Angeles to record at his studio Bolic Sound in Inglewood, California. Turner wanted Khan to become an Ikette; she declined stating she was "really happy with Rufus. But Ike's attention was certainly a boost."[14]

Career

1973–1978: Early career with Rufus

Main article: Rufus (band)

In 1973, Rufus signed with

Sweet Thing", "Hollywood", "At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)", and "Do You Love What You Feel
".

The band gained a reputation as a live performing act, with Khan becoming the star attraction, thanks to her powerful vocals and stage

Warner Bros. Records in 1978. While Khan was busy at work on solo material, Rufus released three albums without her participation, including 1979's Numbers, 1980's Party 'Til You're Broke, and 1983's Seal in Red. Outside of her work with Rufus, Khan provided backing vocals on singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop
's first album, Careless (1976), on the tracks "Little Italy", "Save It For A Rainy Day" and "Never Letting Go". The album went gold.

1978–1983: Early solo career and final years with Rufus

In 1978,

debut album, which featured the crossover disco hit, "I'm Every Woman", written for her by singers-songwriters Ashford & Simpson. The success of the single helped the album go platinum, selling over a million copies. Khan also featured on Quincy Jones's hit "Stuff Like That
", also released in 1978, which also featured Ashford & Simpson as co-writers, along with Jones and several others. Ashford & Simpson performed with Khan on the song.

In 1979, Khan reunited with Rufus to collaborate on the Jones-produced Masterjam, which featured their hit "Do You Love What You Feel", which Khan sang with Tony Maiden. Despite her sometimes-acrimonious relationship with some of her bandmates, Khan and Maiden have maintained a friendship over the years. In 1979. she also dueted with Ry Cooder on his album Bop Till You Drop. That year, she spent time working on her producing and writing skills at Ike Turner's Bolic Sound studio. They had planned to record together.[15] In 1980, while Rufus released Party 'Til You're Broke, again without Khan, she released her second solo album, Naughty, which featured her on the cover with her six-year-old daughter Milini. The album yielded the disco hit "Clouds" and the R&B ballad "Papillon".

Also in 1980, Khan had a

scatting in the song.[16]

In 1983, following the release of Rufus's final studio album, Seal in Red, which did not feature Khan, the singer returned with Rufus on a live album,

Stompin' at the Savoy - Live, which featured the studio single "Ain't Nobody", which became the group's final charting success, reaching No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100
and number one on the Hot R&B chart, while also reaching the top ten in the United Kingdom. Following this release, Rufus separated for good.

1984–1996: Solo success

In 1984, Khan released her sixth studio album,

heavy rotation
on television and helped to solidify Khan's notoriety in popular culture.

Other singles that helped the I Feel For You album go

fan base
.

In 1990, she was a featured performer on another major hit when she collaborated with Ray Charles and Quincy Jones on a new jack swing cover of The Brothers Johnson's "I'll Be Good to You", which was featured on Jones's Back on the Block. The song reached No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the R&B chart, later winning her and Ray Charles a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance By a Duo or Group. Khan returned with her first studio album in four years in 1992 with the release of The Woman I Am, which was a success due to the R&B songs "Love You All My Lifetime" and "You Can Make the Story Right". Around this time, Khan also did a duet with Peter Cetera on the song "Feels Like Heaven", which was a minor success. .[18]

Khan also contributed to soundtracks and worked on a follow-up to The Woman I Am she titled Dare You to Love Me, which was eventually shelved. In 1995, she and rapper

greatest-hits album, Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1, Khan abruptly left Warner Bros. after stating the label had neglected her and failed to release Dare You to Love Me.[19]

Khan in 1997

1998–2016

In 1998, Khan signed a contract with Prince's

covers album in twenty-two years with 2004's ClassiKhan. She also covered "Little Wing" with Kenny Olson on the album Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
.

In 2006, Khan was a featured vocalist on

So Blue", composed by Mardin in the '60s with lyrics written for the project by Roxanne Seeman.[22]

After signing with

Fantasia Barrino's Celie.[23]

In December 2004, Khan was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music during the inauguration of its president, Roger H. Brown.[24]

Khan performing in 2006

In a 2008 interview Khan said that she, unlike other artists, felt 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 Bros.) 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 of 'Addicted to Love' – which they took my vocals off of! We are working on getting it (and other tracks) all back now."[19] In 2009, Khan hit the road with singers Anastacia and Lulu for Here Come the Girls
.

In 2009, Khan was guest singer on the song "Alive"[25] on jazz drummer Billy Cobham's album Drum ' n voice 3. In 2010, she contributed to vocals for Beverley Knight's "Soul Survivor", collaborated with Clay Aiken on a song for the kids show Phineas and Ferb, and appeared as a featured artist on "One More Try" and a cover of her song "Through the Fire" on Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai's eighth studio album, The Last Ai. Both Khan and Ai won the International Collaboration Special Award at the 2010 Billboard Japan Music Awards for the two songs.[26] Khan continues to perform to packed audiences both in her native United States and overseas.

On May 19, 2011, Khan was given the 2,440th

Eva Pigford, and reporter Kevin Frazier
.

On December 6, 2012, Khan performed at a benefit for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF originally invited Stevie Wonder; however, after a successful lobbying campaign by the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, Wonder withdrew and was replaced by Khan, who was able to raise $14 million for the IDF. This support contrasted with her earlier support for the Black Panther Party that publicly supported Palestine.[27][28][29]

On July 27, 2013, Khan was honored 40 years after signing her first recording contract with a ceremonial renaming of Blackstone Avenue between 50th and 51st street (where her former high school, Kenwood Academy, sits) as Chaka Khan Way and on July 28 the city declared the day Chaka Khan Day. She performed at

Pritzker Pavilion on the 28th.[30] In August 2014, Khan served as grand marshal at the 85th annual Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic in her hometown of Chicago.[31]

On August 27, 2015, Khan was announced as one of the celebrities who would compete on

Dancing with the Stars.[32] She was paired with professional dancer Keo Motsepe.[33] Khan and Motsepe were the first couple eliminated from the competition on September 21, 2015.[34] In July 2016, she canceled her upcoming concert performances and entered rehab.[35]

2017–present: Hello Happiness and beyond

In June 2018, she released a new single called "Like Sugar", a collaboration with

Ellen show.[36] "Like Sugar" is included on her 2019 album Hello Happiness
. The album was released on February 15, 2019, and is her first album in twelve years.

Khan served as

Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 2019, in Pasadena, California.[37]

In October 2019, Khan was an honoree at Variety's "Power of Women" luncheon for supporting Little Kids Rock.[38] Other honorees were Mariah Carey, Jennifer Aniston, Brie Larson, Awkwafina, and Dana Walden. In November 2019, Khan collaborated with Ariana Grande on the song "Nobody" from the soundtrack Charlie's Angels.[39]

In 2020, Khan competed in season three of The Masked Singer as "Miss Monster". She was eliminated and unmasked in the third episode.

Khan was invited to sing the National Anthem at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. Her rendition was heavily criticized on Twitter, drawing comparisons to Fergie's rendition in 2018.[40]

In May 2021, Khan appeared at the season 19 American Idol finale, where she performed a medley of her hits alongside the contestants.[41] In June 2021, Khan joined YouTuber and performer Todrick Hall on his album Femuline for the song "Fabulosity". In November 2021, Khan participated in a Verzuz battle with singer Stephanie Mills, at which both singers performed hits from their discography.[42]

In July 2022, Khan announced her new single "Woman Like Me", which was released on July 29.[43]

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Khan at No. 29 on their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[44]

Personal life

Khan has been married twice and has two children, daughter Indira Milini and son Damien Holland. Her first marriage was to Hassan Khan, in 1970, when she was 17, and ended in divorce a short time later. Milini's birth was the result of a relationship between Chaka Khan and Rahsaan Morris.

schoolteacher. Following their separation, Khan moved to Europe, first settling in London, and later buying a residence in Germany. She lived in Germany for a while "in a little village in the Rhine Valley" and also in Mannheim.[48]

Khan is

drug abuse and alcoholism. Her drug use, which at times included cocaine and heroin, ended in the early 1990s. Khan also had an on-and-off struggle with alcoholism until 2005, declaring herself sober
.

In 2006, her son Damien Holland was accused of murder after 17-year-old Christopher Bailey was shot dead. Khan testified on her son's behalf. Holland claimed the shooting was an accident. He was acquitted in the criminal trial and found liable in the civil suit.[50]

Though she sang at both the 2000 Democratic and Republican conventions, Khan says that she is more of a "Democratic-minded person".[51]

Khan was featured in a 2013 episode of Celebrity Ghost Stories where she told the story of a shadow man who followed her on tour for years, until she met a guardian angel who admonished her to change her life or die.[52]

Khan was inducted as an honorary member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority in November 2020.[53]

Khan is a cousin of singer Lou Rawls.

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

To date, Khan has won ten Grammy Awards, including two as a member of Rufus. She has received 22 Grammy Award nominations, including three as a member of Rufus.[54]

Year Nominated work Award category Result
1975 "Tell Me Something Good" (as Rufus) Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group Or Chorus Won
1978 Ask Rufus (as Rufus) Nominated
1979 "I'm Every Woman" Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female Nominated
1982 What Cha' Gonna Do for Me Nominated
1983 Echoes of an Era Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female Nominated
1984
Chaka Khan
 		Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female Won
"Ain't Nobody" (as Rufus) Best R&B Performance by a Duo Or Group With Vocal Won
"Be Bop Medley" (with Arif Mardin) Best Vocal Arrangement For Two Or More Voices Won
1985 "I Feel for You" Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female Won
1986 I Feel For You Nominated
1987 Destiny Nominated
1991 "I'll Be Good to You" (with Ray Charles) Best R&B Performance by a Duo Or Group With Vocal Won
1993 The Woman I Am Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female Won
1996 "Love Me Still" (with Bruce Hornsby)
Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture Or Television
 Nominated
1997 "Missing You" (with Brandy, Tamia & Gladys Knight) Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals Nominated
"Never Miss The Water" (with Meshell Ndegeocello) Best R&B Performance by a Duo Or Group With Vocal Nominated
"Stomp" (with Luke Cresswell, Fiona Wilkes, Carl Smith, Fraser Morrison, Everett Bradley, Mr. X, Melle Mel, Coolio, Yo-Yo, Charlie Wilson, Shaquille O'Neal & Luniz) Nominated
1998 "Summertime" Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Nominated
2003 "What's Going On" (with The Funk Brothers)
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
 Won
2007 "Everyday (Family Reunion)" (with Gerald Levert, Yolanda Adams & Carl Thomas) Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals Nominated
2008 "Disrespectful" (with Mary J. Blige) Won
Funk This Best R&B Album Won

Soul Train Awards

United Negro College Fund Award

  • 2011: Recipient of the UNCF Award of Excellence

American Music Award nominations

To date, she has had four

American Music Award
nominations.

  • 1985: Favorite Female Artist – Soul/Rhythm & Blues
  • 1982: Favorite Female Artist – Soul/Rhythm & Blues
  • 1981: Favorite Female Artist – Soul/Rhythm & Blues[55][56]

SoulMusic Hall of Fame at SoulMusic.com

  • 2012: Inducted as Female Artist

UK Music Video Awards

  • 2018: "Like Sugar" won Best Color Grading in a Video[57]
  • 2018: "Like Sugar" won Best Editing[57]

Billboard Japan Music Awards

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

  • 2023: Inducted for Musical Excellence Award[58]

Discography

Main article: Chaka Khan discography
Studio albums

Filmography

See also

References

  1. ^ djvlad (October 8, 2020). "Chaka Khan Hated Kanye Sampling 'Through The Fire': He F***ed Up My Song! (Part 12)". YouTube. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ISBN 9781598843606
  3. ^ "Chaka Khan First R&B Artist To Feature Rapper, a trend that would go on to dominate contemporary music". 2Paragraphs. September 15, 2015.
  4. ^ "Chaka Khan". Grammy Awards. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  5. ^ Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists (December 2016). "Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists: Page 1". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  6. ^ "Rock on the Net: VH1: 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll". rockonthenet.com.
  7. ^ "Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Dionne Warwick and Tina Turner Among 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominees". Rated R&B. February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  8. ^ "Chaka Khan, queen of funk & R&B, to be inducted into Rock Hall". Cleveland.com. May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  9. ^ Peterson, Gilles (September 27, 2014). "Words and Music with Chaka Khan". BBC 6 Music (Interview). Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  10. ^ a b "Chaka Khan (I)". IMDb.com. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  11. ^ "St. Thomas the Apostle Church". stapostleparish.org/. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  12. ^ "Chaka Khan – Biography on Bio". Thebiographychannel.co.uk. Archived from the original on March 3, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  13. ^ "Kenwood Academy High School". CPSalumni.org. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  14. ^
    OCLC 52412052
    .
  15. ^ a b "Chaka, Hubby Split; Not Talking Divorce". Jet: 53. August 30, 1979.
  16. ^ allmusic ((( Chaka Khan : Overview )))
  17. ^ Wolf, Buck. "Robert Palmer Never Meant to Turn Us On – ABC News". ABC News. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  18. Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  19. ^ a b "Interview, thestar.com February 9, 2008". thestar.com. February 9, 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  20. ^ Lewis, Randy (June 29, 2010). "Producer Arif Mardin celebrated in documentary 'The Greatest Ears in Town'". LA Times Blogs - Pop & Hiss. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  21. ^ Dawes, Amy (June 30, 2010). "The Greatest Ears In Town: The Arif Mardin Story Premieres". IndieWire. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  22. ^ Nagy, Eve (May 22, 2010). "Fond Farewell To A Friend". Billboard. p. 26.
  23. ^ McGee, Celia (December 30, 2007). "The Many Shades of Chaka Khan, Now in 'Purple'". The New York Times. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
  24. ^ Mintel, Eric (December 6, 2004). "Jazz news: Berklee College of Music Inaugurates its 3rd President, Roger H. Brown, Chaka Khan and Dennis Chambers accept Honorary Doctorates of Music, James Taylor lauds college". News.allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  25. ^ "CHAKA KHAN – BILLY COBHAM – GINO VANNELLI I – Drum 'n' voice vol.3 (produced by Nicolosi / Novecento)". YouTube. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  26. ^ a b "Billboard Japan Music Awards Name Exile Artist Of The Year". Billboard. March 1, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  27. ^ JTA Staff (December 28, 2012). "Gentiles of the Year 2012". JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency). Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  28. ^ "We Did It!". US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation. December 27, 2012. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  29. S2CID 143183963
    .
  30. Sacramento Bee (Press release). PR Newswire. Archived from the original
    on July 31, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  31. ^ "Bud Billiken Parade 'Like A Big Homecoming' To Grand Marshal Chaka Khan". CBS News. Chicago. August 9, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  32. ^ "DancingABC Instagram". Instagram. August 27, 2015. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  33. ^ "Dancing with the Stars Season 21 Cast Announcement". ABC. September 2, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  34. ^ Kubicek, John (September 21, 2015). "'Dancing with the Stars' Recap: Hometown Glory and the First Elimination". BuddyTV. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  35. ^ Rowland, Marijke (July 9, 2016). "R&B singer Chaka Khan cancels fair show, enters rehab". The Modesto Bee. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  36. ^ Reed, Ryan (March 13, 2019). "Watch Chaka Khan Play Funky 'Like Sugar' on 'Ellen'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  37. ^ Chris Lindahl, The 2019 Rose Parade grand marshal is Chaka Khan, Pasadena Star-News, October 18, 2018
  38. ^ "Variety Announces 2019 Power of Women Honorees: Jennifer Aniston, Mariah Carey, Awkwafina, Chaka Khan, Brie Larson and Dana Walden". Variety. September 18, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  39. ^ Katz, Evan Ross (October 29, 2019). "Chaka Khan Was Hilariously Honest About Her Upcoming Duet with Ariana Grande". Oprah Magazine. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  40. ^ "Chaka Khan's rendition of National Anthem at NBA All-Star Game wrecked by internet". TribLIVE.com. February 16, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  41. ^ "Chaka Khan Performs Medley Of Hits With 'Idol' Contestants Casey Bishop, Grace Kinstler, Alyssa Wray & More". Music Mayhem Magazine. May 23, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  42. ^ Mitchell, Gail (November 19, 2021). "'Sister Love': Best Moments From Chaka Khan & Stephanie Mills' 'Verzuz' Legacy Showcase". Billboard. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  43. ^ Samuels, Keithan (July 21, 2022). "Chaka Khan Announces New Single 'Woman Like Me'". Rated R&B. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  44. ^ "The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone. January 1, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  45. ^ "Chaka Khan, Mexican Mate Marry In Quiet Ceremony". Jet: 47. September 2, 1976.
  46. ^ "Chaka's Husband Files For Divorce In L. A." Jet: 58. February 21, 1980.
  47. ^ "Chaka Khan Reveals Feelings on Sex, Marriage, Drugs And Religion". Jet Magazine. 63 (13): 55. December 6, 1982.
  48. ^ Kim, Soo (July 3, 2015). "Chaka Khan's Travelling Life". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  49. ^ Brennan Williams, "Chaka Khan Opens Up on Weight Loss, New Music, Being a Sex Symbol", Huffington Post, June 21, 2012.
  50. ^ Williams, Robert (April 29, 2008). "Chaka Khan, son ordered to pay $1.3 million in wrongful death lawsuit". Nj.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  51. ^ Rosen, Craig (November 6, 2006). "Chaka Khan Siding with the Democratic Ticket".[permanent dead link]
  52. ^ Celebrity Ghost Stories, 2013.
  53. ^ "Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated Announces Award-Winning Entertainers, Religious and Military Leaders As Nominees for Honorary Membership". Prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  54. ^ "Chaka Khan". Grammy.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  55. ^ Arnold, Chuck (2007). "Chaka Khan Through the Fire". People. pp. 115–117. Retrieved May 18, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  56. ^ "Chaka Khan @ The Envelope Awards Database". Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  57. ^ a b "UK Music Video Awards 2018: all the winners!". Promonewstv. October 25, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  58. ^ "2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee: Chaka Khan". www.rockhall.com. May 3, 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chaka Khan.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chaka_Khan&oldid=1220338274"