Chaka Khan Biography

Fast Facts

• Established the Chaka Khan Foundation in 1999 to raise public awareness about and aid those with autism
• Has had ten singles reach number one on the Billboard charts, seven of which went gold and two of which went platinum
• Received an honorary doctorate in Music from the Berklee College of Music in 2004
• First reached success with the song "Tell Me Something Good," which was written by Stevie Wonder and appeared on Rufus's 1974 album "Rags to Rufus․"
• Formed her first group at the age of 11, an all-female singing group called the Crystalettes, with her sister Taka Boom
• Has released 22 albums over the course of her career, including "I Feel for You," "The Woman I Am," and "Destiny․"
• Often worked with music producer Arif Mardin, who also worked with Aretha Franklin and Bette Midler, and who produced many of her hit songs like "Clouds" and "Papillon․"
• Best known as a singer, songwriter, actress, and lead singer of the funk band Rufus
• Launched her solo career in 1978 with the hit single "I'm Every Woman," which was written by Ashford & Simpson
• Made her acting debut in musical theater as the star of "Mama I Want to Sing" in London's West End in 1995
• Remade the classic song "Night in Tunisia" with the help of producer Arif Mardin and featuring the original artist, Dizzy Gillespie, on the trumpet