Yvette Marie Stevens was born on March 23, 1953, inChicago, Illinois to Charles Stevens and Sandra Coleman; she has described her father as abeatnik who struggled with heroin addiction.[11][3] She was raised in theHyde Park area of Chicago's roughSouth Sidehousing projects.[12] After her parents divorced when she was 10, her father abandoned them for over 5 years but returned in her late teens.[13] Speaking of her Catholic upbringing, Khan described it as “terrible” and said it was a "great relief" when she left it.[14] Her sister Yvonne is a singer known asTaka Boom,[15] while her brother Mark formed the funk groupJamaica Boys and was a member of soul groupAurra.[16][17] She has two half-sisters, Zaheva and Tammy.[18] She has four siblings (two are half).[18]
Khan attributed her love of music to her grandmother, who introduced her tojazz as a child.[3] Khan became a fan ofrhythm and blues music as apreteen and when she was 11 years old she formed agirl group, the Crystalettes, which included her sister Taka.[4] In the late 1960s, Khan attended severalcivil rights rallies with her father's second wife, Connie, a strong supporter of the movement.[3] She joined theBlack Panther Party after befriending a fellow member, activist and Chicago nativeFred Hampton in 1967.[19] At the age of 13, she was given the nameChaka Adunne Aduffe Hodarhi Karifi by aYorubaBabalawo priest during a naming ceremony.[3] Chaka means "woman of fire."[20]
In 1969 at age 16, Khan ran away from home after her mother slammed her up against a wall, revealing, "She had me up against a wall by my neck. My feet touched air."[21] She left the Panthers and dropped out of high school, having attendedCalumet High School and Kenwood High School (nowKenwood Academy).[22] She began to perform in small groups around the Chicago area, first performing withCash McCall's group Lyfe, which included her then-boyfriend Hassan Khan. Chaka and Hassan married in 1970.[23]
Khan was asked to replaceBaby Huey ofBaby Huey & the Babysitters after Huey's death in 1970. The group disbanded a year later. While performing in local bands in 1972, Khan was spotted by two members of a new group calledRufus; the lead singerPaulette McWilliams, decided to leave the band and suggested to Khan that she join.[4] The group caught the attention of musicianIke Turner, who flew them out toLos Angeles to record at his studioBolic Sound inInglewood, California. Turner wanted Khan to become anIkette; she declined, stating that she was "really happy with Rufus. But Ike's attention was certainly a boost."[24]
The band gained a reputation as a live performing act, with Khan becoming the star attraction, thanks to her powerful vocals and stageattire—which sometimes includedNative American garb and showing her midriff. Most of the band's material was written and produced by the band itself with few exceptions. Khan has also been noted for being an instrumentalist playing drums and bass; she also provided percussion during her tenure with Rufus. Most of her compositions were collaborations with guitarist Tony Maiden. Relations between Khan and the group, particularly between her and drummer Andre Fischer, became stormy. Several members left with nearly every release. While Khan remained in the group, she signed a solo contract withWarner Bros. Records in 1978. While Khan was busy at work on solo material, Rufus released three albums without her participation, including 1979'sNumbers, 1980'sParty 'Til You're Broke, and 1983'sSeal in Red. Outside of her work with Rufus, Khan provided backing vocals on singer-songwriterStephen Bishop's first album,Careless (1976), on the tracks "Little Italy", "Save It For A Rainy Day" and "Never Letting Go". The album went gold.
1978–1983: Early solo career and final years with Rufus
In 1978,Warner Bros. Records released Khan's solodebut album, which featured thecrossoverdisco hit, "I'm Every Woman", written for her by singers-songwritersAshford & Simpson. The success of the single helped the album go platinum, selling over a million copies. Khan also featured onQuincy Jones's hit "Stuff Like That", also released in 1978, which also featured Ashford & Simpson as co-writers, along with Jones and several others. Ashford & Simpson performed with Khan on the song.
In 1979, Khan reunited with Rufus to collaborate on the Jones-producedMasterjam, which featured their hit "Do You Love What You Feel", which Khan sang with Tony Maiden. Despite her sometimes-acrimonious relationship with some of her bandmates, Khan and Maiden have maintained a friendship over the years. In 1979 she alsodueted withRy Cooder on his albumBop Till You Drop. That year, she spent time working on her producing and writing skills at Ike Turner's Bolic Sound studio. They had planned to record together.[25] In 1980, while Rufus releasedParty 'Til You're Broke, again without Khan, she released her second solo album,Naughty, which featured her on the cover with her six-year-old daughter Milini. The album yielded the disco hit "Clouds" and the R&Bballad "Papillon".
In 1983, following the release of Rufus's final studio album,Seal in Red, which did not feature Khan, the singer returned with Rufus on a live album,Stompin' at the Savoy - Live, which featured the studio single "Ain't Nobody", which became the group's final charting success, reaching No. 22 on theBillboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B chart, while also reaching the top ten in the United Kingdom. Following this release, Rufus separated for good.
In 1984, Khan released her sixth studio album,I Feel for You. Thetitle track, the first single released, was originally written and recorded byPrince in 1979 and had also been recorded byThe Pointer Sisters andRebbie Jackson. Khan's version featured a harmonica solo byStevie Wonder and an introductoryrap byGrandmaster Melle Mel. It became a million-selling smash in the U.S. and United Kingdom and helped to relaunch Khan's career. "I Feel for You" topped not only the U.S. R&B and dance charts, but achieved great success on the U.S. pop chart and reached No. 1 in the U.K. The song reached No. 3 on theBillboard Hot 100 in December 1984 and remained on that chart for 26 weeks, well into 1985. Additionally, it hit No. 1 on theCash Box chart. It was listed asBillboard's No. 5 song for 1985 and netted Prince the 1985Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. In addition to the song's successfulradio airplay and sales, a music video of Khan withbreakdancers in an inner-city setting enjoyedheavy rotation on television and helped to solidify Khan's notoriety in popular culture.
Other singles that helped theI Feel For You album goplatinum included "This is My Night" and the ballad "Through the Fire", the latter of which was also successful on theadult contemporary chart. Khan was featured inSteve Winwood's 1986 number-one hit, "Higher Love". That same year, aduet was planned withRobert Palmer for the song "Addicted To Love". However, her manager declined to release the duet, citing the desire not to have too much product from her in the marketplace at one time. She was still credited for the vocal arrangements in the album'sliner notes, and the song became an international hit.[27] Khan followed up the success of theI Feel For You album with 1986'sDestiny and 1988'sCK. Khan found more success in the late 1980s with aremix album,Life Is a Dance: The Remix Project, which reached the top ten on the British albums chart. As a result, she performed regularly in the U.K., where she maintained a strongfan base. In 1986, Khan sang alongsideLuther Vandross,Cissy Houston and others onDavid Bowie's single "Underground" from the movieLabyrinth (1986).[28]
In 1990, she was a featured performer on another major hit when she collaborated withRay Charles andQuincy Jones on anew jack swing cover ofThe Brothers Johnson's "I'll Be Good to You", which was featured on Jones'sBack on the Block. The song reached No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the R&B chart, later winning her and Ray Charles a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance By a Duo or Group. Khan returned with her first studio album in four years in 1992 with the release ofThe Woman I Am, which was a success due to the R&B songs "Love You All My Lifetime" and "You Can Make the Story Right". Around this time, Khan also did a duet withPeter Cetera on the song "Feels Like Heaven", which was a minor success. .[29]
Khan also contributed to soundtracks and worked on a follow-up toThe Woman I Am she titledDare You to Love Me, which was eventually shelved. In 1995, she and rapperGuru had a hit with the duet "Watch What You Say", in the U.K. That same year, she provided acontemporary R&B cover of the classicstandard, "My Funny Valentine", for theWaiting to Exhale soundtrack. In 1996, following the release of hergreatest-hits album,Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1, Khan abruptly left Warner Bros. after stating the label had neglected her and failed to releaseDare You to Love Me.[30]
In 1998, Khan signed a contract with Prince'sNPG Records label and issuedCome 2 My House, followed by the single "Don't Talk 2 Strangers", a cover of a 1996Prince song. She later went on atour with Prince as a co-headlining act. In 2000, Khan departed NPG and she released her autobiographyChaka! Through The Fire in 2003.[24] The following year she released her first jazzcovers album in twenty-two years with 2004'sClassiKhan. She also covered "Little Wing" with Kenny Olson on the albumPower of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix.
In 2002, Chaka Khan provided backing vocals for her sisterTaka Boom's rendition of "Misti Blu," a collaboration with the British electronic music group amillionsons.[35]
In December 2004, Khan was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music fromBerklee College of Music during the inauguration of its president, Roger H. Brown.[36]
Khan performing in 2006
In a 2008 interview Khan said that she, unlike other artists, felt very optimistic about the current changes in the recording industry, includingmusic downloading. "I'm glad things are shifting and artists – not labels – are having more control over their art. My previous big record company (Warner Bros.) has vaults of my recordings that haven't seen the light of day that people need to hear. This includesRobert Palmer's original recording of 'Addicted to Love' – which they took my vocals off of! We are working on getting it (and other tracks) all back now."[30] In 2009, Khan hit the road with singersAnastacia andLulu forHere Come the Girls.
In 2009, Khan was guest singer on the song "Alive"[37] on jazz drummerBilly Cobham's albumDrum ' n voice 3. In 2010, she contributed to vocals forBeverley Knight's "Soul Survivor", collaborated withClay Aiken on a song for the kids showPhineas and Ferb, and appeared as a featured artist on "One More Try" and a cover of her song "Through the Fire" on Japanese-American singer-songwriterAi's eighth studio album,The Last Ai. Both Khan and Ai won the International Collaboration Special Award at the 2010Billboard Japan Music Awards for the two songs.[38] Khan continues to perform to packed audiences both in her native United States and overseas.
On May 19, 2011, Khan was given the 2,440thHollywood Walk of Fame star plaque on a section of Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. Her family was present when the singer accepted the honor, as wasStevie Wonder, who had written her breakout hit "Tell Me Something Good". On September 27, 2011, theRock & Roll Hall of Fame committee announced that Khan and her former bandRufus were jointly nominated for induction to the hall. It was the collective's first nomination 13 years after they were first eligible. The group were nominated partly due to Khan's own storied reputation, including her own solo career in conjunction with her years with Rufus. Recently, Khan rerecorded her song "Super Life" under the title "Super Life: Fear Kills, Love Heals" withEric Benet,Kelly Price, andLuke James in tribute toTrayvon Martin, a teenager who was killed on February 26, 2012. A number of celebrities also joined in the recording includingLoretta Devine,Terry Crews,Eva Pigford, and reporterKevin Frazier.
Khan in 2012
On December 6, 2012, Khan performed at a benefit for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF originally invited Stevie Wonder; however, after a successful lobbying campaign by the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, Wonder withdrew and was replaced by Khan, who was able to raise $14 million for the IDF. This support contrasted with her earlier support for the Black Panther Party that publicly supported Palestine.[39][40][41]
On July 27, 2013, Khan was honored 40 years after signing her first recording contract with a ceremonial renaming of Blackstone Avenue between 50th and 51st street (where her former high school, Kenwood Academy, sits) as Chaka Khan Way and on July 28 the city declared the day Chaka Khan Day. She performed atMillennium Park'sPritzker Pavilion on the 28th.[42] In August 2014, Khan served as grand marshal at the 85th annualBud Billiken Parade and Picnic in her hometown of Chicago.[43]
On August 27, 2015, Khan was announced as one of the celebrities who would compete onseason 21 ofDancing with the Stars.[44] She was paired with professional dancerKeo Motsepe.[45] Khan and Motsepe were the first couple eliminated from the competition on September 21, 2015.[46] In July 2016, she canceled her upcoming concert performances and enteredrehab.[47]
In June 2018, she released a new single called "Like Sugar," a collaboration withMajor Lazer member Switch. She later went on to promote the single on theEllen show.[48] "Like Sugar" is included on her 2019 albumHello Happiness. The album was released on February 15, 2019, and is her first album in twelve years.
In 2020, Khan competed inseason three ofThe Masked Singer as "Miss Monster." She was eliminated and unmasked in the third episode.
Khan was invited to sing the National Anthem at the2020 NBA All-Star Game. Her rendition was heavily criticized on Twitter, drawing comparisons to Fergie's rendition in 2018.[52]
In May 2021, Khan appeared at the season 19American Idol finale, where she performed a medley of her hits alongside the contestants.[53] In June 2021, Khan joined YouTuber and performerTodrick Hall on his albumFemuline for the song "Fabulosity". In November 2021, Khan participated in aVerzuz battle with singerStephanie Mills, at which both singers performed hits from their discography.[54]
In July 2022, Khan announced her new single "Woman Like Me", which was released on July 29.[55]
In 2023,Rolling Stone ranked Khan at No. 29 on their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[56]
In 2024, Chaka Khan collaborated with her sister,Taka Boom, and their brother, Mark Stevens, on the single "Misti Blu Two." This track, released by the British electronic music group amillionsons, is a reimagined version ofTaka Boom's earlier rendition of "Misti Blu."[59]
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.[60][better source needed]
Khan married her second husband, Richard Holland, in 1976.[61] The marriage reportedly caused a rift between Khan and several members of Rufus, in particular, Andre Fischer. Holland wanted her to tone down her sexy stage image, but she refused. Following their split in 1979, Khan spent time in the studio withIke Turner, who she said was a "real inspiration and a catalyst emotionally and in other ways as well" during that difficult time.[25] Holland filed for divorce in 1980, citing "irreconcilable differences."[62][63]
During her solo stardom in the mid-1980s, she dated a Chicago-areaschoolteacher. Following their separation, Khan moved to Europe, first settling in London, and later buying a residence in Germany. She lived in Germany for a while "in a little village in the Rhine Valley" and also inMannheim.[64]
Khan defines herself as spiritual and does not belong to any religious organization.[65] She has heavily criticized her Catholic upbringing and describes it as a "negative" religion.[14] She stated: "I had a heavy Catholic upbringing and Catholicism is terrible—it’s the reason there were slaves. Mass every morning at seven o’clock during Lent. Shit. It was a great relief when I finally realized what I was into and got out of it."[14]
Khan has struggled with drug abuse and alcoholism, having abused cocaine, heroine, prescription medication, and alcohol. Her drug use ended in 1999 in her late 40s.[18] In 2016, she and her sister entered rehab for dependency to prescription medication which she initially took for an injury.[67] She also had an on-and-off struggle with alcoholism until 2005, declaring herselfsober.
In 2006, her son Damien Holland was accused of murder after 17-year-old Christopher Bailey was shot dead. Khan testified on her son's behalf. Holland claimed the shooting was an accident. He was acquitted in the criminal trial and found liable in the civil suit.[68]
Khan was featured in a 2013 episode ofCelebrity Ghost Stories, in which she told the story of ashadow man who followed her on tour for years, until she met aguardian angel who admonished her to change her life or die.[70]
Khan was inducted as an honorary member ofZeta Phi Beta sorority in November 2020.[71]
To date, Khan has won 10 Grammy Awards, including two as a member of Rufus. She has received 22 Grammy Award nominations, including three as a member of Rufus.[73]
^abc"New Again: Chaka Khan".Interview Magazine. June 2, 2015.Archived from the original on July 23, 2015.I had a heavy Catholic upbringing and Catholicism is terrible—it's the reason there were slaves. Mass every morning at seven o'clock during Lent. Shit. It was a great relief when I finally realized what I was into and got out of it.
^Khan, Chaka (2003).Chaka! Through The Fire. pp. 30–31.ISBN978-1-57954-826-1.Next thing I knew, she had me up against a wall by my neck. My feet touched air. Then I broke loose. This is it! This is it. This is the time! I had known this day was coming. ... If my mother thought that slamming me up against a wall would teach me a lesson, she had another think coming; I had other plans. I ran away from home (and not for the first time).