Music legend Chaka Khan was presented with a proclamation honoring her life and achievements by Speaker of the New York City Council Adrienne Adams.
Adams presented Chaka with the proclamation in front of a small gathering of fans at Times Square in New York City on Tuesday, Oct. 25.
Chaka Khan is a pioneer whose music has inspired generations of artists.
Chaka, real name Yvette Marie Stevens, was the first R&B artist to score a crossover hit featuring a rapper, with “I Feel for You” in 1984.
The 10-time Grammy Award winner has sold an estimated 70 million records worldwide.
She got her start as a teenager performing with groups around Chicago.
In 1972, she replaced her good friend Paulette McWilliams as lead singer of a funk band called Rufus.
In 1973, Rufus signed with ABC Records and released their debut album, Rufus. The group scored a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974 with a song titled “Tell Me Something Good.”
“Tell Me Something Good” soared to No. 3 and won the group’s first Grammy award in 1974.
The group’s follow-up single “You Got the Love” peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their second album, Rags to Rufus, sold over 1 million copies.
More hit singles followed over the years including “Once You Get Started”, “Sweet Thing”, “Hollywood”, “Ain’t Nobody”, and “Do You Love What You Feel”.
“Ain’t Nobody” earned the group its second Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group in 1983. By then, Rufus was known as Rufus and Chaka Khan.
“Ain’t Nobody” became a top 30 Billboard Hot 100 hit and peaked at No. 1 on the R&B chart. The group disbanded in the 1980s after Chaka went solo.
Her solo hits include “I’m Every Woman” (1978), “What Cha’ Gonna Do for Me” (1981), “I Feel for You” (1984), and “Through the Fire” (1985).
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