Chaka Khan was born Yvette Marie Stevens in Chicago on March 23rd 1953. In 1969 after becoming active in the Black Panther Party she changed her name to Chaka meaning “fire.”
In 1974, Stevie Wonder penned a single ‘Tell Me Something Good’ for the group Rufus and earned them a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus in 1974, four years before Chaka left the group.
1978 Khan decided to take a chance in leaving the band and going solo. She released her first solo album ‘Chaka’ including the international hit single ’I’m Every Woman,’ eventually becoming Khan’s signature song.
Chaka Khan made her funky big hair and beautiful big smile her signature, and draws all eyes on her here in a sexy and playful 80s look.
Singers Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan perform at the VH1 Divas Duets, a concert to benefit the VH1 Save the Music Foundation held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2003 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
1984’s ‘I Feel for You’ followed the success of Khan’s previous solo efforts, and hit the top of the charts and won her fifth Grammy.
In 2003, singers Mary J. Blige and Chaka Khan poses backstage at the VH1 Divas Duets in Vegas, the same year She penned the autobiography ‘Chaka! Through The Fire.’
Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross and Gladys Knight at 2001’s GRAMMY Awards. The following year Khan scored her eighth Grammy for a cover of Marvin Gaye’s ’What’s Going On’ with the Funk Brothers.
Longtime friends Chaka Khan and Natalie Cole perform. at the 32nd Annual NAACP Image Awards in 2001. Like Cole, Khan battled with years of substance abuse, plaguing a significant chunk of her career.
Khan poses with Tisha Campbell Martin Magic Johnson and his wife Cookie at the 2nd Annual Gala Dinner Benefiting the Chaka Khan Foundation in 2005. Khan’s 30-year career despite personal and public strife, has earned her millions of loyal fans worldwide.
In 2011, the UNCF honored Chaka with a star-studded tribute aired on BET
Chaka Khan accepting the honor from Dr. Lomax, Quincy Jones, and Stevie Wonder during the UNCF An Evening Of Stars Tribute To Chaka Khan.
