Rufus
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Biography
Funk band Rufus - formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1970 â is best known for the hit single âTell Me Something Goodâ and for launching the career of vocalist Chaka Khan. The group was formed by former members of The American Breed, who had scored a hit in 1968 with the song âBend Me, Shape Me.â Original American Breed members Chuck Colbert (bass) and Lee Graziano (drums) formed the band Smoke in 1969 with later bandmates Kevin Murphy (keyboards) and Paulette McWilliams (vocals) alongside James Stella (vocals) and Vern Pilder (guitar). In 1970, they changed their name to Ask Rufus. After several line-up changes, the group signed to Epic Records in 1971 and recorded an unreleased album before being dropped by the label the following year. With nearly all the founding members leaving the group over the next year and being replaced with new members, singer Paulette McWilliams suggested her friend Chaka Khan as her replacement in Ask Rufus and the band signed a new deal with ABC Dunhill. Shortening their name to Rufus, the group â with only Kevin Murphy remaining from the original line-up - released their self-titled debut album in 1973. Although it contained several local hits, the album was not a national success. In 1974, the bandâs career took off with the hit âTell Me Something Goodâ (number 3 on the Hot 100) and the album Rags to Rufus (number 4 on the Billboard 200). Later that same year, the album Rufusized climbed to number 7 and the single âOnce You Get Startedâ reached number 10. With vocalist Chaka Khan receiving the lionâs share of the press, she began to receive billing in the bandâs name which was reflected in the title of their 1975 album Rufus featuring Chaka Khan. The album was the first of three consecutive full lengths to hit the top of Billboardâs R&B / Soul Albums chart, the others being Ask Rufus (1977) and Street Player (1978). Chaka Khan left Rufus and their next album, Numbers, wasnât as commercially successful as their previous releases. ABC Dunhill Records folded, and the bandâs contract was purchased by MCA Records. Chaka Kahn returned briefly to the fold, and they released the album Masterjam. The album â produced by Quincy Jones - was credited to Rufus & Chaka and reached number 1 on the R&B / Soul Albums chart. Without Chaka for their next album, Party âTil Youâre Broke (1981), the groupâs commercial hold on the charts began to slip and it only reached number 24 on the R&B / Soul Albums chart. Chakaâs return for 1981âs Camouflage didnât help the band return to past glories and after 1982âs The Very Best of Rufus with Chaka Khan, Rufus left MCA and signed with Warner Bros. The groupâs next album was Seal in Red (1983) and featured new member Ivan Neville on vocals. Chaka returned for one more album, the double live / studio release Stompinâ at the Savoy â Live (1983) and then the group split up. Chaka Khan then went to score her massive hit âI Feel for Youâ in 1984 and has maintained a successful solo career ever since. Members of Rufus have reunited on several occasions since then, but no original founding members have been involved.
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Albums
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- What Cha' Gonna Do For Me
- Hollywood by Chaka Khan
- At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up) by Chaka Khan
- Any Love
- Dance Wit Me by Chaka Khan
- The Naked Mole Rap
- Little Boy Blue by Chaka Khan
- On Time by Chaka Khan
- Babylon Come
- Circles by Chaka Khan
- Ooh I Like Your Loving by Chaka Khan
- Everybody Has An Aura by Chaka Khan
- Haulin' Coal
- Fool's Paradise by Chaka Khan
- Whoever's Thrilling You (Is Killing Me)
- Have A Good Time by Chaka Khan
- Half Moon by Chaka Khan
- I'm A Woman (I'm A Backbone)
- Right Is Right by Chaka Khan
- Contra la pared
- Stop On By by Chaka Khan
- Desinteresadamente
- Maxin´s
- Fiesta en la calle
