Born 1953 as Yvette Marie Stevens in Chicago, Illinois, American singer and songwriter Chaka Khan has her career spanned nearly five decades, beginning in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus.
Khan received public attention for her vocals and image. Known as the “Queen of Funk”, Khan was the first R&B artist to have a crossover hit featuring a rapper, with “I Feel for You” in 1984. She has won ten Grammy Awards and has sold an estimated 70 million records worldwide.
In the course of her solo career, Khan has achieved three gold singles, three gold albums and one platinum album with I Feel for You. With Rufus, she achieved four gold singles, four gold albums, and two platinum albums. She has collaborated with Ry Cooder, Robert Palmer, Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Guru, Chicago, De la Soul, Mary J. Blige, among others.
In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked her as the 65th most successful dance artist of all time. Khan was ranked at number 17 in VH1’s original list of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll. She has been nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice; and was first nominated as member of Rufus in 2011.
Take a look at these cool pics to see the unique styles of young Chaka Khan in the 1970s.
Leave a Reply