Chaka Khan

Yvette Marie Stevens — Chaka Khan — earned the title "Queen of Funk" through a voice of such explosive power and improvisational agility that it turned every song into a master class in vocal freedom. From her groundbreaking work with the band Rufus in the 1970s to her solo career spanning five decades, Khan has been one of the most consistently thrilling performers in popular music.

Born in Chicago in 1953, Khan was a musical prodigy who joined her first group at age 11 and was performing in nightclubs by her mid-teens. She took the name Chaka during a brief involvement with the Black Panther Party. At 17, she joined the band Rufus, and their 1974 hit "Tell Me Something Good" — written by Stevie Wonder — announced the arrival of a vocal force that defied classification.

Khan's solo career produced some of the most beloved songs of the era: "I'm Every Woman," "Through the Fire," and "Ain't Nobody." She has won ten Grammy Awards and sold an estimated 70 million records worldwide. Her voice has influenced everyone from Whitney Houston to Beyoncé to Mary J. Blige. At 70, she continues to perform with the same fire that made her a legend, proving that the Queen of Funk has no expiration date.