Chaka Khan’s Tiny Desk Concert

The legendary Chaka Khan aka the Queen of Funk Soul graced the Tiny Desk room to give a show for Black Music Month. NPR wanted to showcase nine Black women artists and Khan is one of them. Khan performs seven of her classics with her band and trio of backup singers including Trina Broussard, Tiffany Smith, and Audrey Wheeler-Downing the lead singer of the ’80s New York dance band Unlimited Touch.  By the time Khan gets to “Sweet Thing,” the audience is singing with and without her. She ends her set with the Ashford & Simpson-penned “I’m Every Woman.” Chaka Khan is on tour this summer. 



Chaka Khan, Missy Elliott, The Spinners & DJ Kool Herc & George Michael Were Inducted Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

Missy Elliott, DJ Kool Herc, The Spinners, Chaka Khan, George Michael, and Don Cornelius were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Elliott is the first female rapper to have the honor. Queen Latifah introduced Elliott before she performed a medley of her hits onstage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn during the induction ceremony on Saturday, November 4th. Jazmine Sullivan introduced Khan, who performed “I Feel For You” with Common rapping Melle Mel’s part. H.E.R. and Sia joined her while she sang “Ain’t Nobody,” “Sweet Thing,” and  “I’m Every Woman.” Khan brought Tony Maiden from Rufus after she accepted her award. New Edition put on a well-choreographed show in tribute to The Spinners, while a Soul Train scenario played out in the background in honor of Don Cornelius. LL Cool J inducted Kool Herc, who accepted his award with his sister Cindy. Andrew Ridgeley, who was one-half of Wham with Michael, inducted his later former bandmate. Miguel, Adam Levine, and Carrie Underwood performed some of Michael’s classics, including “Careless Whisper” and “Faith.” 



Whitney Houston, Biggie Smalls, Kraftwerk & Rufus Feat. Chaka Khan Nominated For 2020 Rock Hall Of Fame

official site. 



Chaka’s Travels

21539n49b1l.jpg

1973: Rufus
First female leader of a funk band.
Rufus proudly explores the dimensions of rock and soul via Ike and Tina Turner in their sound.
31pckvzb6el.jpg

1974: Rags To Rufus
Stevie Wonder writes their first hit “Tell Me Something Good” and the song wins a Grammy.

31em48yvfrl.jpg

1974: Rufusized
Records party anthems “Once You Get Started,”
Covers Bobby Womack’s “Stop On By” and writes “Packed My Bags” with Tony Maiden and Ray Parker Jr.

21sp0excb2l.jpg

1975: Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
The Birth of “Sweet Thing.”

1977: Ask Rufus
“Hollywood” “At Midnight” and “Everlasting Love” strengthen the Chaka with Rufus legacy.

1978: Street Player
Powerful ballad “Stay” confirms Chaka’s skill at slow love songs.
314wpdmn1vl.jpg

1979:Masterjam
Quincy Jones produces new cultural mainstays “Heavenbound” “Do You Love What You Feel” and “Any Love.”

1980:Naughty
“Clouds” and “Papillon (A.K.A. Hot Butterfly)” satisfy.Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston and Luther Vandross sing back-up on “Papillon” (Hot Butterfly.)

1981: Camouflage
“Sharing The Love” and “Better Together” are worth the trip. Rene and Angela and Greg Phillinganes make guest appearances.

1981:What Cha’ Gonna Do for Me
The title song maximizes Chaka’s combustible vocals to give her a second number one R & B hit. And she experiences more popularity with the jazz crowd with “And The Melody Still Lingers On (A Night In Tunisia.”
images4.jpeg

1982:Echoes of an Era
Commits to a full album of jazz with guests Freddie Hubbard, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Lenny White and Stanley Clarke.

21chjpzppsl.jpg
1982:Chaka Khan
Covers “Got To Be There” and flexes her range with “BeBop Melody”

219q1fvw1yl.jpg
1983: Stompin’ at the Savoy (Live)
A combination live album and new studio material. “Ain’t Nobody” first appears on the radar.
images7.jpeg

1984:I Feel For You
Before New Jack Swing and Hip-Hop Soul Chaka sings on the first Hip-Hop and R&B collaboration by covering Prince’s “I Feel For You” with Melle Mel.Stevie Wonder plays the Harmonica.

images8.jpeg

1986:Destiny
Big vocals, rock guitar and synthesizers provide some of the better music with that ‘80’s sound. The title song had a big spot in Richard Pryor’s autobiographical film Jojo Dancer.

1988:C.K.
Another visit of great songs with an excellent vocalist “Baby Me” was the most commercial of this collection that missed larger audiences.

31fasn0tbel.jpg
1989:Life Is a Dance (The Remix Project)
Fun remix project where people like Tony Humphries and Hank Shocklee remake her classics.

21zjecx3sgl.jpg
1992: The Woman I Am
Positive uptempo “Love You All My Lifetime” becomes a hot club tune.

1996 Epiphany: The Best Of Chaka Khan, Volume One.
A survey of Chaka’s solo material and better songs with Rufus. The surprise is “Miss The Water” with funk mystic Meshell Ndegeocello.

1996: The Very Best of Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
A sampler of the band’s most popular songs.
31jrb3j71sl.jpg

1998:Come 2 My House
Funkin fun with Prince, Larry Graham and Queen Latifah. A Sandra St.Victor song “Never B Another Fool” gets a video of Chaka playing
Drums.
images5.jpeg

2004:Classikhan
Film songs and jazz classics Cha-ka-fied with The London Symphony Orchestra.

images6.jpeg
2007:Funk This
Her ultimate return to form with half classic and half new material. She grooves with Tony Maiden and Mary J.Blige.