Chaka Khan first rose to fame as the lead singer of the 1970s funk band Rufus. Born Yvette Marie Stevens, Khan joined the Chicago-based group around 1972 after its original lead singer, Paulette McWilliams, left.
Rufus signed with ABC Records and released its debut album in 1973. The group’s breakthrough came in 1974 with “Tell Me Something Good,” a song written by Stevie Wonder for Khan’s voice. The single reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Rufus its first Grammy Award.
The band was often billed as Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, reflecting how central her distinctive, powerful vocals had become. During the 1970s, Rufus released a series of successful albums, including Rags to Rufus, Rufusized, and Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan. Their songs “Sweet Thing” and “Ain’t Nobody” also became enduring funk and R&B favorites.
Khan launched her solo career in the late 1970s and later earned major hits such as “I’m Every Woman.” The common confusion is that she is remembered primarily as a solo star, but her first major fame came through Rufus.