(October 5, 2017) The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame today announced that Rufus and Chaka Khan are nominees for the 2018 class. Other nominees include Nina Simone, Bon Jovi and The Cars (see more). It is the second time that Rufus has been nominated. Finalists will be chosen by the RRHOF committee and will be announced at a future date.
It is a well-deserved honor for the band (one could argue that honors are deserved for both Rufus and for Chaka’s solo career. For her four decades in the spotlight, Chaka Khan has virtually defined the term "Soul Diva," through a string of memorable, soulful performances and a singularly strong personality both as a member of Rufus and as a solo artist.
(October 5, 2017) The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame today announced that Rufus and Chaka Khan are nominees for the 2018 class. Other nominees include Nina Simone, Bon Jovi and The Cars (see more). It is the second time that Rufus has been nominated. Finalists will be chosen by the RRHOF committee and will be announced at a future date.
It is a well-deserved honor for the band (one could argue that honors are deserved for both Rufus and for Chaka’s solo career. For her four decades in the spotlight, Chaka Khan has virtually defined the term "Soul Diva," through a string of memorable, soulful performances and a singularly strong personality both as a member of Rufus and as a solo artist.
Born Yvette Stevens in Chicago, she changed her name to the African-influenced Chaka Khan while still a teenager. At age 19 Khan joined an established Chicago soul/funk group that was renamed Rufus, and she and the band played Midwest locations (including, amazingly, my brother's Flint, Michigan 1973 prom) before signing with ABC Records and recording the Stevie Wonder-penned classic "Tell Me Something Good" in 1974. The funky, sexy cut shot Rufus to the top of the Soul Music world, a place the group kept for nearly a decade. And while the band developed into one of the tightest, funkiest groups in popular music, the spotlight was always reserved for the mesmerizing Khan.
During her period with Rufus, her voice defined a number of major hits such as "Hollywood," "Once You Get Started," "Everlasting Love" and the wonderful "Sweet Thing." And despite the rocky relationship Khan had with the other members of Rufus, she remained the focus and defining element of the group. From 1978 - 1984, Khan was in and out of the group frequently, with Rufus sales going up and (precipitously) down depending on her participation on their recordings. She debuted as a solo artist in 1978 with the smash hit "I'm Every Woman" (later remade by Whitney Houston) and recorded three hit albums during this period while also scoring with Rufus on "Do You Love What You Feel," and "Sharing the Love." She also cut a rarely referenced but now cherished 1981 jazz album, Echoes of an Era, with an A-list of jazz performers. Her swan song with Rufus, the double album Stompin At the Savoy, was another major hit album and included the great single "Ain't Nobody." It became Rufus's last hit, and the Khan-less group broke up a year later.
Khan went solo for good in 1984, releasing the album and single "I Feel For You," an uber-infectious dance cut that shot to #1 and became the biggest solo hit she would ever have. The follow up single, "Through the Fire," was an adult contemporary hit and solidified her status as a bona fide solo artist. However, while her reputation as an extremely talented, somewhat tempermental singer kept her in the spotlight on Soul radio for several years, her crossover appeal stalled rather quickly. Khan recorded only three albums in the next decade, all of which hit the Soul top 10 but none of which did much on the pop charts.
During the 90s, Khan focused on soundtrack work, working on fifteen movie soundtracks including Waiting to Exhale and Clockers, and also performed on stage in Europe in Mama I Want to Sing. In 1998 she joined with Prince for the album Come 2 My House, which garnered some critical acclaim but didn't sell well. She reappeared in 2003 with her autobiography Through the Fire, and in 2004 with ClassiKahn, an album of jazz standards recorded with the London Symphony. In 2006, Khan signed with with the new Sony imprint Burgundy Records and began preparing for her first release of new material in the 21st century, the album Funk This, recorded with legendary producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The disc was released in Fall 2007 to excellent reviews and sales success. In February 2008 Funk This won the Grammy for Best R&B Album.
Let’s hope this year that the R&R Hall of Fame chooses to honor this all-time classic soul music act.
By Chris Rizik