Resolution for Ms. Chaka Khan
WHEREAS, Il is with great pleasure that the members of City Council of the City of Chicago are hereby informed of the life of International Recording Super Star Chaka Khan; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Chaka Khan, born Yvette Marie Stevens on March 23, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois. A place she loves to call home. She is known for her powerful voice, her great volume of curly hair, and her charismatic stage presence, and is highly respected as a musical vocalist, political activist, leader, and entertainer; and
WHEREAS, Chaka Khan is a singer, song writer, and performer; she has performed and recorded with some of the worlds greatest: Ashford and Simpson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and Michael McDonald to name a few; and
WHEREAS, Chaka Khan attended Calumet and Kenwood Academy High Schools in Chicago, during her school years. Inl969, Khan became active in the black power movement, joining the Black Panther Party and working on the organization's free breakfast program for children; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1970's after performing with a few other groups, Chaka joined the band Rufus, which had a strong R & B funk sound. Rufus was renamed Rufus featuring Chaka Khan shortly after she joined the group. The group scored a Grammy Award for best R&B Vocal Performance by Duo, Group, or Chorus in 1974 for the Stevie Wonder penned hit single, "Tell Me Something Good;" and
WHEREAS, Chaka Khan made an impressive debut as solo artist in late 1970's, in 1978 she released "I'm Every Woman" which she won two Grammy Awards as a solo artist and one Grammy Award as member of Rufus. Chaka the solo artist reigned supreme and won in 1984 another Grammy Award. She reached the top of the charts with "I Feel For You" and has received many more awards and honors to date; and
WHEREAS, Chaka Khan continues to help children with the Chaka Khan Foundation, which in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club of America, provides education programs to at-ri...
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