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Chaka Khan

NTS aired an episode dedicated to the music of Chaka Khan on 24 December 2017. Chaka Khan has been played on NTS over 210 times, featured on 184 episodes and was first played on 12 December 2012.

Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known as Chaka Khan, and frequently referred to as the "Queen of Funk", is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus.

In 1964, at the age of 11, Khan formed her first musical group, the Crystalettes. While still in high school, she joined the Afro-Arts Theater, a group which toured with Motown great Mary Wells; a few years later, she adopted the African name Chaka Khan while working on the Black Panthers' breakfast program. After quitting high school in 1969, Khan joined the group Lyfe, soon exiting to join another dance band, the Babysitters — neither was on the fast track to success, but her fortunes changed when she teamed with ex-American Breed member Kevin Murphy and Andre Fisher to form Rufus.

Debuting in 1973 with a self-titled effort on the ABC label, Rufus was among the preeminent funk groups of the decade. Distinguished by Khan's dynamic vocals, the group earned half a dozen gold or platinum albums.

While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career. Her signature hits, both with Rufus and solo, include "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing", "Ain't Nobody", "I'm Every Woman", "I Feel for You" and "Through the Fire".

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Chaka Khan

NTS aired an episode dedicated to the music of Chaka Khan on 24 December 2017. Chaka Khan has been played on NTS over 210 times, featured on 184 episodes and was first played on 12 December 2012.

Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known as Chaka Khan, and frequently referred to as the "Queen of Funk", is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus.

In 1964, at the age of 11, Khan formed her first musical group, the Crystalettes. While still in high school, she joined the Afro-Arts Theater, a group which toured with Motown great Mary Wells; a few years later, she adopted the African name Chaka Khan while working on the Black Panthers' breakfast program. After quitting high school in 1969, Khan joined the group Lyfe, soon exiting to join another dance band, the Babysitters — neither was on the fast track to success, but her fortunes changed when she teamed with ex-American Breed member Kevin Murphy and Andre Fisher to form Rufus.

Debuting in 1973 with a self-titled effort on the ABC label, Rufus was among the preeminent funk groups of the decade. Distinguished by Khan's dynamic vocals, the group earned half a dozen gold or platinum albums.

While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career. Her signature hits, both with Rufus and solo, include "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing", "Ain't Nobody", "I'm Every Woman", "I Feel for You" and "Through the Fire".

Original source: Last.fm

Artist in focus

Most played tracks

I Feel For You
Chaka Khan
Warner Bros. Records1984
Clouds
Chaka Khan
Warner Bros. Records1980
What Cha' Gonna Do For Me
Chaka Khan
Warner Bros. Records1981
I'm Every Woman
Chaka Khan
Warner Bros. Records1978
I Know You, I Live You
Chaka Khan
Warner Bros. Records1981
Through The Fire
Chaka Khan
Warner Bros. Records1984
Tell Me Something Good
Rufus, Chaka Khan feat. Chaka Khan
ABC Records1974
Papillon (aka Hot Butterfly)
Chaka Khan
Warner Bros. Records1980
Magic In Your Eyes
Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan feat. Chaka Khan
ABC Records1977
Like Sugar
Chaka Khan
Diary Records, Island Records2018