Chaka Khan

Chaka Khan is a R&B singer who got her start as the headlining member of the multicultural band Rufus. In the late 1970s Chaka Khan left the group to pursue her solo career. Her first album, Chaka, included the major disco hit, "I'm Every Woman". In 1984 she released her most successful album I Feel For You which went Platinum and earned her a Grammy Award for best R&B; Vocal Performance.

Chaka Khan (born Yvette Marie Stevens), is also known as The Queen of Funk Soul. She received the name Chaka Khan when she joined the Black Panther Party. In many African languages, Chaka actually means “fire.”

At the age of 18 in 1970, she joined Rufus, the band that made her famous. She left the band and went solo in 1978. However, for part of 1983 she teamed back up with Rufus to record “Rufus and Chaka Khan Live! Stompin’ at the Savoy.” The record included the top ten hit, “Ain’t Nobody.”

In 1978, Chaka debuted her first solo album, Chaka, which included the hit “I’m Every Woman” and the song was later covered by Whitney Houston. Her third album, What Cha’ Gonna do for Me, was a gold seller. In 1982 the album Chaka Khan was released and the “Be Bop Medley” won her a grammy.

In 1982, she switched from her funk-based R&B, to record Echoes of an Era, which was in the jazz sector. This project got Chaka her first Grammy nomination as best female jazz vocalist.

Chaka is also the singer for the title theme of Reading Rainbow, a popular children’s television show. She maintained this credit for 150 episodes from 1983 to 2005.

Chaka Khan is still singing and making live appearances. To her credit she has 22 Grammy Award nominations (3 of which when she was with Rufus). Of those 22 nominations, she has 10 wins (2 with Rufus). The first award came in 1975 and the last 2 in 2008. Chaka Khan is currently ranked #17 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Women of Rock n’ Roll.

• 1978: Chaka
• 1980: Naughty
• 1981: What Cha' Gonna Do For Me
• 1982: Echoes Of An Era
• 1982: Chaka Khan
• 1984: I Feel For You
• 1986: Destiny
• 1988: C.K.
• 1989: Life Is A Dance: The Remix Project
• 1992: The Woman I Am
• 1995: Dare You To Love Me
• 1998: Come 2 My House
• 2004: ClassiKhan
• 2007: Funk This

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