Which Chic co-founder received the Rock Hall’s Award for Musical Excellence in 2017? The answer is Nile Rodgers.
Nile Rodgers received the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Award for Musical Excellence in 2017. He co-founded Chic with bassist Bernard Edwards, and the band became a central force in late-1970s disco through tightly arranged grooves, Rodgers’s instantly recognizable guitar style, and Edwards’s influential bass playing.
Chic’s “Le Freak” became a major international hit, while “Good Times” supplied a foundational bass groove for early hip-hop sampling. Rodgers also built an extraordinary career as a producer, songwriter, guitarist, and collaborator. His credits include David Bowie’s Let’s Dance, Madonna’s Like a Virgin, and songs with artists ranging from Diana Ross to Daft Punk.
The award should not be confused with a performer induction for Chic in 2017. The Hall’s Award for Musical Excellence recognizes musicians, songwriters, producers, and other industry figures whose work has made a major creative contribution. Rodgers later entered the Hall as a member of Chic in 2023, after the group’s earlier unsuccessful nomination campaigns.