Chaka Khan at Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair

Chaka Khan entered the limelight when she joined the American funk band, Rufus. During the early ‘70s, the band was a phenomenal success. Their song “Tell Me Something Good” served as their breakthrough song and later won the band their first Grammy Award for R&B Vocal Performance by Duo, Group, or Chorus. With Khan’s vocal ability and the band’s penchant for writing good, high-energy songs, the band gained a reputation for being phenomenal live performers.

Chaka Khan worked on a few solo projects before ultimately parting ways with Rufus. In 1978, Khan released her debut album, Chaka, featuring the hit single “I’m Every Woman.” The song’s popularity led to a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for Chaka. Khan would work with Rufus a few more times before officially leaving the band. “Do You Love What You Feel” was one of the last hits they released together. The song peaked at number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles and number 5 on the U.S. Billboard Disco Top 100.

In 1990, Khan, together with Ray Charles, won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group for the song, “I’ll Be Good to You.” The legendary R&B queen would continue to be nominated at the Grammys for her hit singles, “Love Me Still,” “Missing You,” “Never Miss the Water,” “Stomp,” and “Summertime.”

During the early and late 2000s, Khan won two more Grammys for her songs, “What’s Going On” and “Disrespectful,” with Mary J. Blige. Her eleventh album, Funk This, won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.