Chaka Khan - Biography

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The Funk band 'Ask Rufus' was formed in the late sixties from members of the Chicago bands 'Circus' and 'The American Breed'. After a number of changes to the line up, the shortening of the name to just 'Rufus' and the recording of an LP (which never got released) the band gained a new female vocalist, 'Chaka Khan'.

Chaka Khan had already been involved in a number of bands by this time and had been singing from an early age. The bands' debut album 'Rufus' on the Warner Brothers label, included an excellent cover of one of 'Stevie Wonders' songs - 'Maybe your Baby'. Liking the cover, Stevie Wonder asked the band to record 'Tell me something good' which he had written and would suit Chaka's voice. The song was a huge hit and paved the way for the band to become one of the biggest funk groups of the time.

Chaka Khan started her parallel solo career in 1978 with the release of her debut album 'Chaka' which contain the huge hit 'I'm every Woman' (which was later covered by 'Whitney Houston') that reached no. 1 in the US R&B Chart. She officially left Rufus in 1983.

Chaka, as well as her role with 'Rufus' and her solo career, has recorded with a large number of artists as a featured vocalist. These include Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, De La Soul, Mary J. Blige and Prince.

So far, Chaka Khan has received 10 Grammy awards (solo or as part of 'Rufus') and 22 Grammy award nominations. She has also covered a vast number of genres and styles and still continues to release material. Her latest album 'Funk This' was released in 2007.