Early life
Khan was born Yvette Marie Stevens in Great Lakes, Illinois to Charles Stevens and Sandra Coleman. Her sister is dance music artist Taka Boom, and her brother is Mark Stevens of Aurra. Khan was raised on Chicago's South Side, and at the age of 11 formed her first 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" while working as a volunteer on the Black Panthers' Free Breakfast for Children program in Chicago. She received her name during a naming ceremony at the Afro- Arts Theater where a Yoruba priest christened her Chaka Adunne Aduffe Yemoja Hodarhi Karifi (as stated on her official website). After quitting high school in 1969, Chaka joined the group Lyfe, soon exiting that group to join another soul band, The Babysitters, replacing former lead singer Baby Huey. Neither group enjoyed mainstream success, but her fortunes changed when she t
More about Chaka Khan (From Wikipedia)
Early Life
Khan was born Yvette Marie Stevens in Great Lakes, Illinois to Charles Stevens and Sandra Coleman. Her sister is dance music artist Taka Boom, and her brother is Mark Stevens of read more...
Life With Rufus
Rufus debuted in 1973 with a self-titled album on the ABC label. The first album contained fine fiery vocals by Chaka Khan and "phat trax" from the band but failed to make an impression read more...
Solo Stardom
In 1978, Khan recorded her debut solo album Chaka featuring the Arif Mardin-produced disco hit "I'm Every Woman" (#1 R&B and #21 Pop) later covered by Whitney Houston. Chaka read more...
Jazz Experiment
In 1982, Khan recorded Echoes of an Era, a collection of jazz standards featuring performances from Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea and Lenny White. 1983 read more...
Hip Hop
In 1984, she released I Feel for You, a platinum-selling album launched by its title cut, an Arif Mardin produced, Grammy Award-winning, hip hop-based rendition of a Prince album read more...
1990–2004
The success of Khan's Destiny (1986) and C.K. (1988) were limited to the R&B charts but in 1990, she won another Grammy for "I'll Be Good To You," a duet with Ray Charles which read more...
2005—Present
2005's "let go" track originally appeared in movie 'Roll Bounce' as 'Let's Roll'. Matthew Knowles opted not to include 'Let's Roll' on the movies soundtrack CD
In early 2006, read more...
Grammy Awards
To date, she has had twenty two Grammy Award nominations (including three as a member of Rufus). She received ten Grammy Awards (including two as a member of Rufus).
read more...American Music Award Nominations
To date, she has had four American Music Award nominations.
References:
read more...Chaka Khan (born March 23, 1953) is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American singer known for hit songs such as "I'm Every Woman", "I Feel For You" and "Through the Fire", also sung read more...