Short Biography

Chaka Khan (born March 23, 1953) is an American singer known for hit songs such as "I`m Every Woman", "I Feel for You" and "Through the Fire", also sung 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. Though regarded as an R&B singer, she has performed numerous musical genres including funk, disco, jazz, ballads, hip hop, adult contemporary, pop and blues standards. Her contributions to funk and soul music in her early career earned her the title of the "Queen of Funk Soul" Khan is known for her perfectly pitched contralto vocals. [1]

Khan was born Yvette Marie Stevens in Great Lakes, Illinois. Her sister is dance music artist Taka Boom, and her brother is Mark Stevens of 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

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, among others. 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 giant single hit, "You Got The Love", 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 and album 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 epitomized 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", "On

Miscellaneous Information

Distinctive Features

wild clothes!

big hair!

big voice!

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