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Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), known professionally as Chaka Khan ( SHAH-kə KAHN), is an American singer and songwriter. Known as the "Queen of Funk", her career has spanned more than five decades beginning in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus. With the band she recorded the hits "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing", "Do You Love What You Feel", and the platinum-certified "Ain't Nobody".

Her debut solo album featured the number-one R&B hit "I'm Every Woman" (which became a pop hit for Whitney Houston). Khan scored another R&B charts hit with "What Cha' Gonna Do for Me" before becoming the first R&B artist to have a crossover hit featuring a rapper, with her 1984 cover of Prince's "I Feel for You". More of Khan's hits include "Through the Fire" and a 1986 collaboration with Steve Winwood that produced a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, "Higher Love".

Khan has won eleven Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. With Rufus, she achieved three gold singles, one platinum single, four gold albums, and two platinum albums. In the course of her solo career, Khan achieved three gold singles, three gold albums, and one platinum album with I Feel for You. She has also worked with Whitney Houston, Ry Cooder, Robert Palmer, Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Guru, Chicago, Joni Mitchell, Gladys Knight, De La Soul, Mary J. Blige, Ariana Grande, and Sia. In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked her as the 65th most successful dance club artist of all time. She was ranked at No. 17 in VH1's original list of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll.……

Early life

Yvette Marie Stevens was born on March 23, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois to Charles Stevens and Sandra Coleman; she has described her father as a beatnik who struggled with heroin addiction. She was raised in the Hyde Park area of Chicago's South Side. After her parents divorced when she was 10, her father abandoned them for over five years but returned in her late teens. Speaking of her Catholic upbringing, Khan described it as “terrible” and said it was a "great relief" when she left it.……

Career

1973–1977: Early career with Rufus

In 1973, Rufus signed with ABC Records and released their eponymous debut album. Despite their fiery rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Maybe Your Baby" from Wonder's acclaimed Talking Book and the modest success of the Chaka-led ballad "Whoever's Thrilling You (Is Killing Me)", the album failed to gain attention. That changed when Wonder himself collaborated with the group on a song he had written for Khan. That song, "Tell Me Something Good", became the group's breakthrough hit, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974, later winning the group their first Grammy Award.……

1978–1983: Early solo career and final years with Rufus

In 1978, Warner Bros.……

Personal life

Khan has been married twice and has two children, daughter Indira Milini and son Damien Holland. Her first marriage was to Hassan Khan, in 1970, when she was 17, and ended in divorce a short time later. Milini's birth was the result of a relationship between Chaka Khan and Rahsaan Morris.

Khan married her second husband, Richard Holland, in 1976. The marriage reportedly caused a rift between Khan and several members of Rufus, in particular drummer Andre Fischer. Holland wanted her to tone down her sexy stage image, but she refused.……

Awards and nominations

American Music Awards

The American Music Awards are awarded annually. Khan has received 4 nominations.

BET Awards

The BET Awards are awarded annually by the Black Entertainment Television network. Khan has received 1 honorary award and 1 nomination.

Grammy Awards

To date, Khan has received 11 Grammy Awards, including 2 as a member of Rufus and 1 Lifetime Achievement award. She has received 22 Grammy Award nominations, including three as a member of Rufus.

Soul Train Awards

The Soul Train Music Awards are awarded annually. Khan has received 2 nominations and 2 honorary awards.

Discography

Studio albums