Black Music Sunday is a weekly sequence highlighting all issues Black music, with over 250 tales masking performers, genres, historical past, and extra, every that includes its personal vibrant soundtrack. I hope you’ll discover some acquainted tunes and maybe an introduction to one thing new.
As we proceed to spotlight feminine musicians throughout Ladies’s Historical past Month, be part of us as we speak in a festivity of the birthday of Yvette Marie Stevens, recognized to the world as “Chaka Khan,” who turns 72 on Sunday.
Biography.com tells the story of her beginnings:
Chaka Khan was born Yvette Marie Stevens on March 23, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois. Identified for her highly effective voice, her nice quantity of curly hair and her charismatic stage presence, Khan first exploded on to the music scene within the Nineteen Seventies. She fashioned her first group, the Crystalettes, along with her sister Yvonne when she was solely 11 years outdated. A few of Khan’s early musical heroines embrace Billie Vacation and Gladys Knight. The sisters later turned concerned within the Afro-Arts Theater and began one other musical group often known as the Shades of Black.
In 1969, Khan turned energetic within the Black energy motion, becoming a member of the Black Panther Celebration and dealing with the group’s free breakfast program for youngsters. Round this time, she took on a brand new identify: Chaka Adunne Aduffe Yemoja Hodarhi Karifi. She additionally stated goodbye to her formal training, dropping out from highschool.
Within the early Nineteen Seventies, after performing with a number of different teams, Khan joined the band Rufus, which had a robust R&B and funk sound. The world acquired its first style of Khan’s powerhouse vocals when the group launched its eponymous debut album in 1973, which spawned such modest hits as “Whoever’s Thrilling You” and “Feel Good.”
As a former member of the Black Panther Celebration myself, and as a daughter of Yemoja within the New World African diasporic religion system, I can determine along with her adolescence experiences.
There aren’t any recordings of her teenage group, The Crystalettes, however we can provide a take heed to Chaka Khan and Rufus:
Khan tells her personal story on this absorbing 2020 interview with comic and actress Luenell Campbell for VladTV:
On this VladTV Flashback from 2020, music icon Chaka Khan sat down with Luenell to inform her life story. Chaka Khan went via her early days rising up, turning into politically energetic, and getting married on the age of 17 to signal a document contract. She recounted becoming a member of the Chicago funk band Rufus, which served as a launching pad for her music profession, and the way that ultimately led to her solo profession. Chaka additionally mentioned recording classics similar to “Through the Wire” and what her gripe with Kanye was over sampling the observe.
Khan has additionally very frankly mentioned her personal story on her video channel:
Apropos for Ladies’s Historical past Month is her recording of what has turn out to be an anthem. Capitol FM Radio factors out the influence of her debut solo single, “I’m Every Woman” from her 1978 first album “Chaka”:
Chaka Khan’s iconic hit single “I’m Every Woman” was launched in 1978 and rapidly turned a defining anthem of empowerment and self-expression.
Written by the legendary songwriting duo Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, the track showcased Khan’s highly effective vocal prowess and established her as a solo artist after her profitable stint with the band Rufus. Launched underneath the Warner Bros. label, “I’m Every Woman” marked a big milestone in Khan’s profession, setting the stage for her future success
[…]
One of many enduring qualities of “I’m Every Woman” is its skill to resonate with younger girls throughout completely different generations. The track’s lyrics have a good time the multifaceted nature of girls, embracing their energy, independence, and flexibility.
Traces like “I’m every woman, it’s all in me” convey a robust message of self-empowerment and confidence, encouraging girls to embrace their identities and capabilities. The track has turn out to be an anthem for girls’s empowerment, often featured in campaigns and occasions selling gender equality and ladies’s rights. Its common attraction lies in its skill to encourage and uplift, making it a timeless piece that continues to talk to new audiences.
[…]
The enduring reputation of “I’m Every Woman” is obvious in its quite a few cowl variations. Whitney Houston’s 1992 rendition for “The Bodyguard” soundtrack introduced the track to a brand new era, turning into successful in its personal proper. Houston’s model stayed true to the spirit of the unique whereas including her signature vocal aptitude, making certain that the track remained a beloved basic. In recent times, “I’m Every Woman” has been featured in varied media, from commercials to motion pictures, demonstrating its continued relevance. The track’s message of empowerment and self-worth resonates simply as strongly as we speak because it did in 1978, making it a perennial favourite for celebrations of womanhood and energy.
For these of you who weren’t alive or have been too younger to be hanging out in discos within the late 70s, I’ll attest to the truth that it was an enormous dance hit:
Her Kennedy Middle bio (which might not be recognized by that identify sooner or later attributable to Despot Donald) notes one thing extraordinary about her vocal vary—which I’ve bolded:
Chaka Khan is a real Renaissance Lady. A singer, songwriter, producer, visible artist, writer, actor, philanthropist, entrepreneur, activist, and mom, Chaka is a global music icon who has influenced a number of generations of artists and continues to take action. From the second she burst onto the music scene within the Nineteen Seventies because the 18-year-old lead singer of the multiracial band Rufus, her highly effective voice and show-stopping stage presence set her aside from another singer, and through her 40-year profession, she has developed an unlimited worldwide fan base and carried out on six continents. Chaka is a ten-time Grammy Award winner (with 22 Grammy nominations) who has the uncommon skill to sing in eight music genres, together with R&B, jazz, pop, rock, gospel, nation, classical and dance music. She has launched 22 albums and racked up ten #1 Billboard journal charted songs, eight RIAA licensed gold singles and eleven RIAA licensed gold and platinum albums.
Her collaborations with different musicians are legendary.
With Prince:
With George Duke, who we lately featured right here in “Black Music Sunday: Celebrating jazz, funk, and fusion master George Duke”:
With Fourplay:
Relating to her multigenre approaches, this dwell 1992 jazz efficiency at Blue Notice in New York might shock a number of of you.
Miles Davis was clearly conscious of her jazz talents, as confirmed on this 1998 live performance on the Montreux Jazz Competition:
Khan’s autobiography was written with Tonia Bolden, who posted this description from the dust-jacket blurb:
Rolling Stone in contrast it to melted caramel, and Miles Davis in contrast it to his horn.
Chaka Khan’s scorchingly soulful voice first dazzled most of us again in 1974 with Rufus and “Tell Me Something Good,” and most lately in her Grammy Award-winning efficiency in Standing within the Shadow of Motown, singing “What’s Going On?” with the Funk Brothers. Through the years, she’s had twelve number-one hits and 9 number-one albums. Over 100 appearances on the Billboard charts. Nineteen Grammy nominations and eight Grammy wins. Her achievements within the music trade are legendary, and like her twenty albums, they’re well-known to the general public.
However the personal aspect of Chaka, the story of what fame and fortune have value her – and taught her – hasn’t been informed earlier than. In Chaka! By way of the Fireplace, Chaka Khan offers us the entire story of the lady behind the diva and divulges her excessive and low factors. A cheerful early childhood in a loving artistic house was shattered by escalating fights between her dad and mom. After they lastly break up, Chaka’s father disappeared with out even a goodbye, leaving Chaka bewildered, bereft, and blaming her mom. she reconnected along with her dad in her teenagers, discovering that he was a liberal and permissive a dad or mum as her mom was strict. Chaka began experimenting with medication and joined the Black Panthers. Quickly after, she fronted for a band known as Rufus.
“Through the Fire” can also be the title of her 1984 hit.
I may proceed posting music within the story as we speak—nevertheless, it’s already video heavy, so please be part of me within the feedback part under for extra, and I hope you’ll submit your favorites too.
Wishing Chaka Khan an exquisite birthday, and thanks for the presents she’s given us over the a long time.
