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Chaka Khan

Singer & Songwriter; Ten-Time Grammy Award-Winner

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Chaka Khan Biography

Grammy Award-winning singer Chaka Khan, formerly with the band Rufus, is famous for an array of hit songs like "I'm Every Woman," "Ain't Nobody," and "Through the Fire."

Khan first exploded on to the music scene in the 1970s. She formed her first group, the Crystalettes, with her sister Yvonne when she was only 11 years old. The sisters later became involved in the Afro-Arts Theater and started another musical group known as the Shades of Black. In 1969, Khan became active in the black power movement, joining the Black Panther Party and working with the organization's free breakfast program for children. Around this time, she took on a new name: Chaka Adunne Aduffe Yemoja Hodarhi Karifi. She also said goodbye to her formal education, dropping out from high school.

In the early 1970s, after performing with a few other groups, Khan joined the band Rufus, which had a strong R&B and funk sound. The world got its first taste of Khan’s powerhouse vocals when the group released its debut album in 1973, which spawned such modest hits as "Whoever's Thrilling You" and "Feel Good." The follow-up album, "Rags to Rufus," was a smash hit commercially and critically. Stevie Wonder penned for the band the hit single "Tell Me Something Good," which sold more than a million copies. The group also scored a Grammy Award for best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus for the song.

While she recorded with Rufus until the early 1980s, Khan made an impressive debut as a solo artist in the late 1970s. In 1978 she released "Chaka," which featured the No. 1 R&B hit and empowerment anthem "I'm Every Woman," written by Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. Khan's second solo album, "1980's Naughty," offered the popular singles "Clouds," also penned by Ashford and Simpson, and "Papillon (aka Hot Butterfly)." And in a twist of synchronicity, she won two Grammy Awards as a solo artist and one as a member of Rufus in 1983. The next year, however, Chaka the solo artist reigned supreme. Covering a Prince song, she made major moves on the charts with "I Feel for You," a top 5 smash hit. It also won Khan another Grammy Award in 1984. She won another Grammy in 1990 for her duet with the legendary Ray Charles on "I'll Be Good to You," from Quincy Jones' 1989 "Back on the Block" album, and another one in 1992 for "The Woman I Am."

In the early 1990s, Khan left the United States for London to raise her two children. Her daughter Milini was born in 1973 and her son Damien was born in 1979. While there, she branched out into acting, appearing as Sister Carrie in the musical "Mama, I Want to Sing." Near the end of the decade, she established the Chaka Khan Foundation, which provides education programs to at-risk children and helps low-income families with autistic children.

In 2002, Chaka Khan scored her eighth Grammy Award — this time for her cover of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" with the Funk Brothers. The next year, she shared her life story with the world in her autobiography, "Chaka! Through the Fire." In it, she detailed her career as well as her years of substance abuse. Khan described the loneliness she felt while touring. She was often away from her two children, which only compounded her sadness and guilt. With her life on track, Khan experimented with different musical styles. She did an album of standards with the London Symphony Orchestra entitled "ClassiKhan," released in 2004. In 2008, Khan made her Broadway debut and appeared as the character Sofia in the musical "The Color Purple," based on the book by Alice Walker.

Khan was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2011, which she fought against with an impressive loss of weight after finding out. Khan has only recorded occasionally in more recent years and has continued to perform live. She returned to the airwaves in 2016 with the single "I Love Myself," with portions of sales going to the domestic abuse organization Face Forward as well as STOMP Out Bullying, and later sang with two of her siblings on the dance music track "House of Love," by FOMO. In July 2016, Khan announced that she and her sister Yvonne (aka Taka Boom), would be entering rehab due to prescription drug addictions, having been moved to do so after the overdose-related death of Prince.

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FAQs
  • How do I book Chaka Khan to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Chaka Khan for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Chaka Khan, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Chaka Khan or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Chaka Khan

    Speaking fees for Chaka Khan, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Chaka Khan are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Chaka Khan, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Chaka Khan speak about?

    Chaka Khan is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Actors, Arts & Humanities, Entertainers, Music.
  • Where does Chaka Khan travel from?

    Chaka Khan generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Chaka Khan’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Chaka Khan for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Chaka Khan for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Chaka Khan or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

Singer & Songwriter; Ten-Time Grammy Award-Winner

Travels From:
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Speaking Fee:

Chaka Khan Biography

Grammy Award-winning singer Chaka Khan, formerly with the band Rufus, is famous for an array of hit songs like "I'm Every Woman," "Ain't Nobody," and "Through the Fire."

Khan first exploded on to the music scene in the 1970s. She formed her first group, the Crystalettes, with her sister Yvonne when she was only 11 years old. The sisters later became involved in the Afro-Arts Theater and started another musical group known as the Shades of Black. In 1969, Khan became active in the black power movement, joining the Black Panther Party and working with the organization's free breakfast program for children. Around this time, she took on a new name: Chaka Adunne Aduffe Yemoja Hodarhi Karifi. She also said goodbye to her formal education, dropping out from high school.

In the early 1970s, after performing with a few other groups, Khan joined the band Rufus, which had a strong R&B and funk sound. The world got its first taste of Khan’s powerhouse vocals when the group released its debut album in 1973, which spawned such modest hits as "Whoever's Thrilling You" and "Feel Good." The follow-up album, "Rags to Rufus," was a smash hit commercially and critically. Stevie Wonder penned for the band the hit single "Tell Me Something Good," which sold more than a million copies. The group also scored a Grammy Award for best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus for the song.

While she recorded with Rufus until the early 1980s, Khan made an impressive debut as a solo artist in the late 1970s. In 1978 she released "Chaka," which featured the No. 1 R&B hit and empowerment anthem "I'm Every Woman," written by Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. Khan's second solo album, "1980's Naughty," offered the popular singles "Clouds," also penned by Ashford and Simpson, and "Papillon (aka Hot Butterfly)." And in a twist of synchronicity, she won two Grammy Awards as a solo artist and one as a member of Rufus in 1983. The next year, however, Chaka the solo artist reigned supreme. Covering a Prince song, she made major moves on the charts with "I Feel for You," a top 5 smash hit. It also won Khan another Grammy Award in 1984. She won another Grammy in 1990 for her duet with the legendary Ray Charles on "I'll Be Good to You," from Quincy Jones' 1989 "Back on the Block" album, and another one in 1992 for "The Woman I Am."

In the early 1990s, Khan left the United States for London to raise her two children. Her daughter Milini was born in 1973 and her son Damien was born in 1979. While there, she branched out into acting, appearing as Sister Carrie in the musical "Mama, I Want to Sing." Near the end of the decade, she established the Chaka Khan Foundation, which provides education programs to at-risk children and helps low-income families with autistic children.

In 2002, Chaka Khan scored her eighth Grammy Award — this time for her cover of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" with the Funk Brothers. The next year, she shared her life story with the world in her autobiography, "Chaka! Through the Fire." In it, she detailed her career as well as her years of substance abuse. Khan described the loneliness she felt while touring. She was often away from her two children, which only compounded her sadness and guilt. With her life on track, Khan experimented with different musical styles. She did an album of standards with the London Symphony Orchestra entitled "ClassiKhan," released in 2004. In 2008, Khan made her Broadway debut and appeared as the character Sofia in the musical "The Color Purple," based on the book by Alice Walker.

Khan was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2011, which she fought against with an impressive loss of weight after finding out. Khan has only recorded occasionally in more recent years and has continued to perform live. She returned to the airwaves in 2016 with the single "I Love Myself," with portions of sales going to the domestic abuse organization Face Forward as well as STOMP Out Bullying, and later sang with two of her siblings on the dance music track "House of Love," by FOMO. In July 2016, Khan announced that she and her sister Yvonne (aka Taka Boom), would be entering rehab due to prescription drug addictions, having been moved to do so after the overdose-related death of Prince.

Speaker Lists Featuring Chaka Khan

FAQs on booking Chaka Khan

  • How do I book Chaka Khan to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Chaka Khan for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Chaka Khan, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Chaka Khan or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Chaka Khan

    Speaking fees for Chaka Khan, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Chaka Khan are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Chaka Khan, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Chaka Khan speak about?

    Chaka Khan is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Actors, Arts & Humanities, Entertainers, Music.
  • Where does Chaka Khan travel from?

    Chaka Khan generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Chaka Khan’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Chaka Khan for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Chaka Khan for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Chaka Khan or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Chaka Khan is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Chaka Khan for your event is available upon request. Chaka Khan generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Terry Ellis, Cynthia Erivo, India.Arie, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Vanessa Hudgens. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Chaka Khan for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Chaka Khan News

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Speakers Similar to Chaka Khan

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

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