chaka khan
clouds (maily edit)
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American funk/soul singer. Born 23rd March 1953 in Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois, 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 Affro-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-The American Breed members Kevin Murphy (2) and Andre Fischer (2) to form Rufus. Debuting in 1973 with a self-titled effort on the ABC Records label, Rufus was among the preeminent funk groups of the decade; distinguished by Khan's dynamic vocals, the group earned half a dozen gold or platinum albums before she went solo in 1978. Chaka began her solo career with the hit, "I’m Every Woman," a tune written especially for her by the songwriting team of Ashford & Simpson. Since then, Chaka has recorded nine albums and been honored with five Grammy Awards. Her solo hits include "What Cha Gonna Do For Me?" "Clouds," "Papillion," "I Feel For You," and "Through The Fire." Sister of Yvonne Stevens (aka Taka Boom / Taka Kahn) and Tammy Coleman McCrary. Daughter of Sandra Coleman (4).
discogs
Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), known professionally as Chaka Khan, is an American singer and songwriter. She began her career in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus. With Rufus, she recorded the singles "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing", "Do You Love What You Feel", and "Ain't Nobody". Her debut solo album included the number-one R&B single "I'm Every Woman". She also achieved success on the R&B charts with "What Cha' Gonna Do for Me" and her 1984 cover of Prince's "I Feel for You", which incorporated elements of rap. Other notable singles include "Through the Fire" and a 1986 collaboration with Steve Winwood, "Higher Love", which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Khan has received eleven Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. With Rufus, she earned three gold singles, one platinum single, four gold albums, and two platinum albums. As a solo artist, she achieved three gold singles, three gold albums, and one platinum album for "I Feel for You". She has collaborated with artists including Whitney Houston, Ry Cooder, Robert Palmer, Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Guru, Chicago, Joni Mitchell, Gladys Knight, De La Soul, Mary J. Blige, Ariana Grande, and Sia. In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked her as the 65th most successful dance club artist of all time. She was also ranked 17th on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll. 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. In 2023, she was selected as an inductee in the Musical Excellence category. Studio albums Chaka (1978) Naughty (1980) What Cha' Gonna Do for Me (1981) Chaka Khan (1982) Echoes of an Era (1982) I Feel for You (1984) Destiny (1986) CK (1988) The Woman I Am (1992) Come 2 My House (1998) ClassiKhan (2004) Funk This (2007) Hello Happiness (2019)
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