Chaka Khan: Biography in Details
Who is Chaka Khan?
American ten times Grammy Awards winner, Chaka Khan is a singer and songwriter.
Chaka Khan is Queen of Funk known to as the lead vocalist of the band Rufus from the 1970s.
As of Jan 14, 2019, her 12th studio album Hello Happiness title song Chaka Khan- Hello Happiness was released.
Chaka Khan- Birth Age, Family
Chaka Khan was born Yvette Marie Stevens on March 23, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S, to Charles Stevens and Sandra Coleman.
She was raised in Hyde Park with her four siblings: Taka Boom, Kathleen Burrell, Tammy McCrary, Mark Stevens. Khan was eldest among five in her family.
Taka Boom is an American successful female R&B and dance music singer.
Her brother Mark Stevens is also a former funk group band Aurra member and he is also a musician.
In which school did Chaka Khan attend?
She graduated from elementary school of Saint Thomas the Apostle Church.
In 1969, she dropped out of Calumet High School and Kenwood High School.
Chaka Khan also attended the Berklee College of Music to learn music.
Social Media
Chaka Khan has over 1.7 m followers on Facebook, 436k on Twitter, 163k on YouTube and 478k on Instagram.
Chaka Khan- Career
Early Life
When Chaka Khan was 11, she formed a girl group, the Crystalettes, along with her sister Taka.
In 1964, Yoruba Baba was named Chaka Adunne Aduffe Hodarhi Karifi.
She began to perform with Cash McCall’s group Lyfe, her first husband Hassan Khan was also a member of this group.
She asked to join the Baby Huey and the Babysitters band but the group was disbanded within a year.
Career with Rufus Band
In 1972, Chaka Khan was introduced to the band Rufus by replacing the singer Paulette McWilliams. Musician Ike Turner gives this band an opportunity to record at his studio Bolic Sound in Inglewood, California.
Released their eponymous debut album, released on the ABC Records label in 1973.
A song by Rufus Tell Me Something Good written by Stevie Wonder, be the hit song and reach at the top three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. They also get Grammy Award from this song.
1974-1979, Rufus band released six albums, Platinum-selling, Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, Ask Rufus, Street Player, and Masterjam.
In 1979, Chaka Khan again reunited with Rufus for a song Do You Love What You Feel from the album Masterjam. She sang with Tony Maiden.
A Solo Career
Khan’s solo career started when she sighed with Warner Bros in 1978. Released her first solo debut album Chaka and the first song I’m Every Woman written by Ashford & Simpson.
1981-1982, solo album What Cha’ Gonna Do for Me, Echoes of Era and Chaka Khan were released.
I Feel for You
1984, Khan issued a sixth studio album, I Feel for You. This song took her solo career into another level because it achieved great success and reached No. 1 in the U.K. The song reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1984, also remained on the chart for 26 weeks plus, it was No.1 on the Cash Box chart and won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 1985.
From 1986 to 2007
| Year | Album name |
| 1986 | Destiny |
| 1988 | CK |
| 1992 | The Woman I Am |
| 2004 | ClassiKhan |
| 2007 | Funk This |
Awards
| Year | Award Name | Categories |
| 2011 | Star on the Walk of Fame | Recording |
| 2009 | Soul train Award | Legend Award- Female |
| 2008 | Grammy Award | Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group |
| 2006 | BET Award | Lifetime Achievement Award |
| 2003 | Grammy Award | Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance |
| 1993 | Grammy | Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female |
| 1991 | Grammy | Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) |
| 1985 | Grammy | Best Rhythm & Blues Song, Best R&B vocal Performance, Female |
| 1984 | Grammy | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Female |
Chaka Khan- Some Facts
- Her birth sign is Aries.
- Nickname, the Queen of Funk.
- Chaka means fire in an African language.
- She released 13 solo albums and 9 with the band, Rufus, to date in 2019.
- She is a vegan.
Chaka Khan Son’s Controversy
Chaka Khan’s son Damien Patrick Holland killed, Christopher Bailey, 17 years aspiring rapper on 24 September 2004. He killed his friend by M-16 assault rifle because Holland didn’t like Christopher talking about his girlfriend.
Khan and her son, Holland had to pays more than $1.3 m to Christopher’s family and was discharged after two years of jury trial in May 2006.
What is Chaka’s Net Worth, Salary?
Chaka Khan’s net worth is approximately $ 30 m U.S. Her main income source is a singing career.
The average salary of a musician or singer of the U.S. is around $39k the US, Chaka earns way more than that through her singing, endorsements, shows, and much more.
Body Measurement
Chaka Khan has black hair and dark brown eyes. Her height is 5 feet 4 inches and weight is around 75 kg.
Chaka Khan’s Birthday Dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | March | Saturday |
| 2025 | March | Sunday |
| 2026 | March | Monday |
| 2027 | March | Tuesday |
| 2028 | March | Thursday |