About Chaka Khan
Country of Birth
United States
Industry
Music
Top achievements
Known for her powerful voice and as the “Queen of Funk,” Chaka Khan is an exceptional singer who achieved international fame as a vocalist for the soul and funk band Rufus and as a solo singer. She won 10 Grammy Awards throughout a successful career that spanned over 50 years and sold over 70 million records worldwide.
Early life
Chaka Khan was born Yvette Marie Stevens on March 23, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois. She was the first of five children in a bohemian household and grew up in the South Side housing projects. Khan attended Saint Thomas the Apostle Church elementary school. Her grandmother introduced Khan to jazz as a child, sparking her love for music. Influenced by Gladys Knight and Billy Holiday, Khan formed her first group with her sister when she was only 11.
Career
After she dropped out of high school, Chaka Khan began performing in small groups around Chicago. Her first group was with Lyfe, Cash McCall’s group. After Baby Huey died, Baby Huey & the Babysitters asked Khan to replace him. The group split the following year. Khan performed in local groups, and two Rufus members spotted and recruited her.
Solo Career
In the late 1970s, Chaka Khan launched her solo career and achieved significant success. Her first album, “Chaka,” featured the No. 1 R&B hit “I’m Every Woman.” Her second album, “Naughty,” featured the hits “Papillon” and “Clouds.” Khan’s success continued for several years as she raked in awards and enjoyed collaborations with top performers like Ry Cooder, Steve Winwood, Robert Palmer, Guru, De La Soul, Ray Charles, Chicago, Quincy Jones, Ariana Grande, Mary J. Blige, and more.
Activism
In the 1960s, Khan joined her stepmother in attending various civil rights rallies. She joined the Black Panther Party, a Black Power political organization, and befriended other activists. She became active in the Black Power movement and helped with programs like the Free Breakfast Program for children.
Achievements
Early in her career, Khan achieved significant success with Rufus. The band shot to international fame with hits like “Sweet Thing,” “Hollywood,” and “Tell Me Something Good.” In the late 1970s, she launched a highly successful solo career with hits like “I Feel For You,” “Through the Fire,” “This Is My Night,” and “I’m Every Woman.”
Khan achieved four gold albums, four gold singles, and two platinum albums with Rufus. Solo, she achieved three gold albums, three gold singles, and one platinum album.
Recognition
Billboard magazine ranked Chaka Khan as the 65th most successful dance club artist of all time in 2016, and VH1 ranked her at 17 in the 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll. She was nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame seven times – three times as a solo artist and four times as the vocalist of Rufus. In 2023, Khan was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the Musical Excellence category.
Additional facts
- Contrary to popular belief, Chaka Khan did not adopt her name while she was in the Panthers. She claimed that a spiritual leader, Yoruba Babalawo, gave her the name when she was 13.
- Khan is vegan. She chose a plant-based diet to combat health problems.
- Khan won ten Grammy Awards, both as a solo musician and as a Rufus Member.
