Rufus

They were originally called smoke but later changed the name to Rufus, who’s first hit was in 1968. In 1979 Rufus released “Numbers” which was a disappointment but returned a few years later with the release of “Party till your broke” which contained the hit “Tonight We Love” and a few other songs, that featured songwriting from Angela and Rene. Their last album “Sealed In Red” didn’t do that well even though George Duke produced it. Rufus hasn’t been around lately but one day I hope they’ll get back together. Some of the Rufus members have gone on to success in other areas of music. Tony Maiden you can find on a few Jeff Lorber cd’s, and on Boney James new Christmas cd, and Chaka Khan’s new cd "Funk This".

Davis “Hawk” Wolinski has written songs for major artist’s including Evelyn “Champagne” King, Michael Jackson and Minnie Ripperton and his biggest songwriting hit was “Ain’t Nobody” for Chaka Khan and Rufus. Andre Fischer who’s a seasoned session player was once married to Natalie Cole. John Robinson who’s also a seasoned session player, can be found on anything Quincy Jones produces. Including albums by Michael Jackson.

Rufus and Chaka Khan

Rufus grew out of the Chicago band the American Breed, which had a hit in 1968 with the oldies-radio staple "Bend Me, Shape Me." Guitarist Al Ciner, bassist Chuck Colbert, drummer Lee Graziano, and keyboardist Kevin Murphy had all played in the band at one time or another before forming a new group, originally called Smoke, with vocalists Paulette McWilliams and James Stella. After awhile the group changed it name to Rufus and after Paulette McWilliams( the most sought after Background singer in the music business, you know her best for being in the music artist Sting's video “If You Love Somebody” (she’s the one in the white short set)(http://youtube.com/watch?v=fGb9H1kn6cI)  left to sing for Quincy Jones, but before she left she introduced her friend Yvette Stevens to audition for the gr oup. By the time Rufus’s first self titled album “Rufus” came out Yvette Stevens had changed her name to Chaka Khan. There first ablum yielded and medium hit “Maybe Your Baby” and “Love The One Your With” but Chaka’s stage presence and voice was starting to get recognition. Their second album “Rags to Rufus” handed them there first number one hit, a song written especially for Chaka Khan by Steveland Morris titled “Tell me Something good”.

Their third album spawned the top ten hit “Once You Get Started” and “Pack’d My Bags” and the Bobby Womack written song “Stop On By”. The billing on their 1975's album “Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan” made the singer's star power official, and produced one of the group's biggest hits in the R&B number one “Sweet Thing.”, which has been covered by numerous artists but none so recent as Mary J Blige, also mary covered another Chaka hit “Everlasting love” for the 2000 Olympic cd. My favorite album “Ask Rufus” is virtually a sing-a-long songfest, with song’s like “At Midnight", "Close The Door", "Everlasting Love", "Hollywood, Egyptian Song”, Chaka and Rufus have changed the game.

Streetplayer was rufus’s next album which consisted of such hits as “Destiny", "Stay" and the title track "Streetplayer”, also Andre Fischer left the group and was replaced by William “moon” Calhoun on drums., This album was a good album despite rumblings within the group. Rufus and Chaka bounced back with a Quincy Jones produced Masterpiece Masterjam, yielded the hit “ Do you love what you feel”, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg1OSK1nXDc&mode=related&search= ) but that was not the only jam on the album Any Love was a personal song for me caused I lived by the lyrics “ You go out everynight as a single, but you don’t really know what to do, you see someone that you like to mingle and imagine that she’s is waiting for you” I lived by that song and still do. 

The next jam off this album was “Live in me” where at the end of the song Chaka envokes a classic three part harmony, that is just mesmerizing., and the title track Masterjam (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx0mAkBkDw4&mode=related&search=)is just pure funk.

Camouflage was Rufus and Chaka Khan last and studio album, “better together and Secret Friend were the tasty songs, and Loser in love, true love were very nice ballads, But the album itself was decent album, also on the albums were songs written by Angela and Rene, and Katreese and Jerry Barnes, both went on to successfull nusic careers.

The last and final album was Rufus and Chaka Khan “Stompin and the Savoy” which was a live album and some studio tracks to finish a great run of funk infused soul. The biggest hit was the infectious “Ain’t nobody” written by David “Hawk” Wolinski. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TTxiOz1XaY&mode=related&search=) I remember sitting in a club at the bar when this song came on and two African- American’s were dumb-founded because it was a “causasion boy” that wrote that song for Chaka. “Try a little understanding” was a head nodder, but the other standout song was “One million Kisses” written by Jeffery Osborne, which talks about the fun they had through the years and parting was going to be painful. There has been talk about a reunion and I’m hoping there will be one soon. For almost 4 1/2 decades Rufus and Chaka Khan has released some of the best funk/ r&b/jazz music ever.  

Chaka Khan

Have you ever been in love? I was in love with a voice that I didn’t know, and when I found who owned that voice; I fell deeper and deeper in love with Chaka Khan.

Chaka’s first self titled album came out in 1978 and had a blistering first single I’m every woman” they this album was more than just a debut of funk, it was a anthem. “Woman in a man’s world” Chaka is talking about how hard it for a woman than a man in the music business, then Chaka is shows the world how far her singing range can go on the track “Some Love” and it’s her brother Mark playing the bass on the song (who went on to join the Jamaica boys) along with the Brecker Brothers, and the drummer elite Steve Ferrone

Various producers produced most of Chaka’s cd’s but it was Arif Mardin that shaped the sound of Chaka

Chaka’s second cd “Naughty” still produced by Arif Mardin, bring in Ashford and Simpson who are stars in their own right, penned the track “Clouds”, on other tracks Luther Vandross and Cissy and Whitney Houston are doing background vocals, other great tracks are, “What You Did", "Papillion (aka Hot Butterfly)", "Move Me No Mountain", and the title track "Naughty”.

Chaka’s third album featured Chaka's "Night In Tunisia (The Melody Remains The Same)" is also a timeless classic (featuring Dizzy Gillespie & Herbie Hancock), which has Chaka hitting 'notes that aren't in the book. Other great songs on this album were, “Night Moods", "Heed The Warning", "Any Old Sunday" and the title track "What’cha Gonna Do For Me”.

In 1982, Warner Brothers released the Arif Mardin produced 'Chaka Khan' album. This album featured the single 'Tearin It Up', as well as Chaka's cover of Michael Jackson's 'Got To Be There'. 'Slow Dancin' (a duet with Rick James) was also featured, but her 'Be Bop Medley' won the Diva a Grammy Award, as well as praise from jazz legend Betty Carter, who praised Chaka for her improvis ational skills.

In the meanwhile Chaka was originally scheduled to the female lead on Tom Browne's hit "Funkin' For Jamaica" and Dennis Edwards' hit "Don't Look Any Further" (which he went on to perform with Siedah Garrett). She also recorded the song "Addicted to Love" with Robert Palmer. Her vocals were later removed after her management refused to allow its release.. Also in 1982, Khan recorded Echoes Of An Era, a collection of jazz standards featuring performances from Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea and Lenny White.

Chaka embraced thehip hop culture with a bang, by doing a cover of Prince’s song "I Feel For You", and thus started a musical releationship with Prince that has lasted to this day. Stevie wonder appeared on the song and rapper Melle Mel, “Through The Fire” was produced by David foster and was sampled by Kanye West . Other songs on the album were, “Eye to eye", "Caught In the Act" & "This is your night”.

Chaka recorded Destiny in 1986 and C.K. in 1988. Which kept Khan high on the R&B charts, with songs written by Charlie Singleton, Bobby Womack, Prince but the albums were produced by Russ tittleman. And they were big sellers even though were some great songs.

In 1992, Khan released “The Woman I Am” where she excutive producer, for which she received a Grammy award for best Rhythm & Blues vocal performance. The album's hit single "Love You All My Lifetime" was penned by German songwriter duo Irmgard Klarmann and Felix Weber (aka Klarmann/Weber and was produced by David Gamson. “Make the story right” was a hit for Chaka. Her last album for warner brothers was “epiphany” which was a collection of greatest hits and some new tracks which included “Never miss the water", "Your Love Is All I Know", and a cover of Fleetwood mac’s "Everything”.

The Prince-produced Chaka Khan album "Come 2 My House" appeared in 1998, and went gold despite little or no promotion. Songs like the funky “ I Betcha", "Spoon", and the sensual ballad “I Remember You”. It was the only chaka cd that was produced by Prince.

In October 2004, Khan released her cover album "ClassiKhan" by her own label Earth Song Records and Sanctuary Records. An album of standards featuring the London Symphony Orchestra with songs like “Hey Big spender, Stormy weather” and two classic James Bond songs that were originally done by Shirley Bassy “Diamonds are forever and Gold finger”.

In 2007 Ckaka Khan released “Funk This” a collection of songs that brings Chaka back to her funky/r&b roots in nearly ten years. Produced by the Grammy award winning hit team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. This cd also features Michael McDonald, Tony Maiden and Mary J. Blige. The Blazing track "Disrespectful" featuring Mary J. Blige (Mary also wrote the song) is tearing up the speakers in my car, and the bass driven mid-tempo song ”Hail To The Wrong”. The poignant ballad “Angel” was based on a poem Chaka wrote. When you listen to this cd is reminds you of old classic Chaka Khan and Rufus songs. For all the female singers who say Chaka is one of their influences they need to go and buy this cd, and learn how to make quality music.

On a sad note Chaka’s longtime producer Arif Mardin passed away last June, and if he were alive today he would be proud of Chaka’s new cd “Funk This”.

For more information on Chaka Khan go to www.chakakhan.com to view video, and other information.

Marvin Dickey