Skip to Main Content

Chaka Khan: Home

Chaka Khan and Rufus were nominated for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Chaka Khan was nominated as a solo performner in 2016, 2017, and 2021.

Chaka Khan

Chaka Khan and Rufus represented not only the freedom and raw sexuality of pure funk, but also the racial and social integration at the heart of rock & roll.

In the 1970s, as the rise of disco exacerbated racially charged divisions between rock & roll and dance music, a band from Chicago brought on the funk with a force, and grace, that defied all boundaries. First formed by black and white members of the 1960s rock band, the American Breed, Rufus acquired a secret weapon in Chaka Khan, whose voice of liquid fire and sweet incense carried a carnality as ferocious as it was distinctly feminine. Stevie Wonder, an early fan, crafted the breakthrough hit “Tell Me Something Good,” which Rufus and Khan made an unabashed simulation of sex without uttering a single naughty word.

Promo photo of Rufus and Chaka Khan  Biographical information on Rufus featuring Chaka Khan  Live concert photo of Chaka Khan  Biographical information on Rufus and Chaka Khan

Click on images for source information

Books

Books pertaining to Chaka Khan can be found here. Notable items displayed below.

Audio

Spotify Playlist

Podcasts

Rock's Backpages Articles

Free articles are available on Rock's Backpages through the Free on RBP link. The articles below may require you to be on-site at the Library & Archives in order to read them.

YouTube

Archival Resources

All archival materials related to Chaka Khan can be found in our online catalog. Pictured and linked below are examples from our collection.

Promo photo of Rufus

Live concert photo of Chaka Khan
Click on images for source

Influence & Legacy

Chaka Khan was influenced by...

Chaka Khan inspired people like...

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame | Library & Archives
2809 Woodland Avenue | Cleveland, OH 44115 | 216.515.1956 | rockhall.com/library