CHAKA KHAN JIMI HENDRIX LITTLE WING
Chaka Khan is one of music's greatest treasures, no matter the time, place or galaxy. Whether you love Chaka for her Rufus years as the innovative "Queen of Funk" or her years as a solo artist that saw her sell over 70 million records worldwide, earning seven gold singles, seven gold albums, three platinum albums, and 10 Grammy Awards with 22 nominations, Chaka Khan has already gone down as one of the greatest vocalists of all time.
And now Chaka has been nominated for a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, having influenced and worked with rock royalty since her first hit with Rufus' “Tell Me Something Good,” which was written by Stevie Wonder. This certified Gold and Grammy award winning recording is in essence a “Riff Rock” anthem using the 'wawa' pedal on the clavinet and was among the earliest hits to use the talk box on the guitar. "Tell Me Something Good" marked just the first bullet-point on her titanic resume of collaborative efforts. The list of icons to collaborate with Khan goes on to include Prince, who wrote “I Feel For You” and whom she recorded an entire album with, Steve Winwood who recruited her for soaring vocals on “Higher Love”, Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman’s album 1984 and even Robert Palmer whose hit song “Addicted To Love” was originally slated as a Chaka duet. It’s no wonder Khan was ranked #17 on VH1’s original list of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll.
In case you still have doubts to Chaka’s rock cred, we've unearthed a never-before-heard cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” recorded on both coasts (partly in LA, partly in a secret Brooklyn studio lair) featuring the ridiculously magical Memphis up-side-down magician Eric Gales on guitar and produced by life long partner-in-funk, Ira Schickman. Press play and cast your votes for the 2016 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame below.
