American singer Yvette Marie Stevens, better known by her stage name Chaka Khan, was born on March 23, 1953.

She began her career in the 1970s as the main vocalist of the funk band Rufus, and her career has lasted for more than five decades. With “I Feel for You” in 1984, the “Queen of Funk” Khan became known as the first R&B performer to have a crossover success with a rapper. Khan has amassed eleven Grammy Awards and a global record sales total of over 70 million albums.

Rufus signed with ABC Records in 1973 and released their self-titled debut album. Despite their fiery rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Maybe Your Baby” from Wonder’s acclaimed Talking Book and the modest success of the Chaka-led ballad “Whoever’s Thrilling You (Is Killing Me),” the album flopped. That changed when Wonder collaborated with the band on a song he wrote for Khan. “Tell Me Something Good” became the group’s breakthrough hit, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974 and earning the group their first Grammy Award.

The success of the single and its follow-up, “You Got the Love,” which peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the R&B chart, aided the platinum certification of their second parent album, Rags to Rufus, which sold over a million copies. Rufus released six platinum-selling albums between 1974 and 1979, including Rufusized, Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, Ask Rufus, Street Player, and Masterjam. During this period, the group scored hits such as “Once You Get Started”, “Sweet Thing”, “Hollywood”, “At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)”, and “Do You Love What You Feel”.

Did Chaka Khan pass away?

No, Chaka Khan is still alive, and the rumors circulating on social media about her death are unfounded and false.