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Best known for her superb 1984 cover of Prince's "I Feel for You," R&B singer Chaka Khan enjoyed solo success as well as popularity as a member of the group Rufus. Born Yvette Marie Stevens in Great Lakes, IL, on March 23, 1953, she 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 Khan while working on the Black Panthers' breakfast program. After quitting high school in 1969, Khan joined the group Lyfe, soon exiting to join another dance band, the Babysitters; neither was on the fast track to success, but her fortunes changed when she teamed with ex-American Breed member Kevin Murphy and Andr? Fisher to form Rufus.
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About Chaka Khan
An icon of R&B, vibrant singer Chaka Khan first came to attention as the vocalist for 1970s funk band Rufus, for whom she sang such enduring hits as "Tell Me Something Good" and "Sweet Thing." When Khan ventured into the inevitable solo career, the hits kept coming well into the '80s. In fact, the hip-hop-inflected smash "I Feel For You" brought her music to a whole new generation of listeners. Subsequently, Khan has proved herself capable of more than some ever might have guessed, even releasing an album of jazz standards in 2004.
Chaka Khan (born March 23, 1953) is the stage name of the American singer Yvette Marie Stevens. Khan first came to the attention of the music world as the singer of the funk band Rufus in the mid-1970s and with the help of Stevie Wonder, broke into both the pop and R&B charts in 1974 with the hit "Tell Me Something Good". Throughout the 1970's and early 1980's, the band had a number of R&B hits including "Tell Me Something Good", "Ain't Nobody", "Masterjam", "Sweet Thing", "Do You Love What You Feel?", and "Everlasting Love". In 1978, Khan launched her smash hit "I'm Every Woman". Khan later released her hip-hop based hit, "I Feel for You" off the album of the same name, written by Prince, which launched her recording career back into full gear. Produced by David Foster, the popular ballad "Through the Fire" also soared to into the top ten.
Khan's career has been gratifying in terms of record sales, but she continues to record and expand musically. Her legacy as a soul icon is indisputable. She recorded the theme song for the children's television series Reading Rainbow.
In September 2004 her 25 year old son Damien Patrick Holland was arrested on charges of murder in the first degree, but he was later released when the prosecutors claimed that there was not enough evidence. Holland's bail was originally set at $2 million, but Judge Paula Adele Mabrey reduced to $500,000. The preliminary hearing was held on March 15, 2005. On December 3, 2004, she received an honorary doctorate degree from Berklee College of Music.
Like any other singer, Chaka Khan has been given several more or less fitting nicknames. But no, she's not the Queen of Soul, not the Godmother of R&B nor the Grand Lady of Funk. Yes, she may me divalicious -- but she's not a soul or disco diva. Chaka has perfected a style, a sizzling stage presence and intimacy with her adoring fans that keeps them stuck like glue. The New York Times once wrote: "Chaka Khan's singing is extraordinary. She can coo with a girlish sweetness, cut to the bone with a nasal Dinah Washington, turn, whisper a breathy invitation or proclaim high-flying jubilation." In New York Newsday, the words were equally flattering: "Her huge voice refuses to acknowledge any state other than sheer ecstasy."
