12/06/2024
Still Transfixed By Khan
Way over a half-century ago, while still a kid, minding my own business, as I walked up the stairs to the porch of our house in Compton, CA., like a sorceress, a woman's singing voice soared through the screen door. The speakers on our modest stereo system faced the front door, usually playing KDAY, the most popular radio station then. A funky as-hell (or heaven) sound filled my ears with vocal musicianship that soared, stretched, and innovated at every phrase. I was transfixed and unable to take another step until her performance of Stevie Wonder's "Maybe Your Baby" was over. I kept thinking to myself, "Who is this!?" It was a moment of pure musical discovery.
As the song faded, I attempted to rush into the house to be ready when the DJ announced who the artist was. Simultaneously, my mother opened the screen door to tell me something, but I couldn't hear her. I was under a musical spell. Finally, the DJ said, "That was Rufus." Instantly, I looked up at my mother and said, "Momma, please give me some money so I can go to the record store and buy this record by Rufus?" This was a bold move for me. This was the first time I had made such a request; the record store was over a mile away, and I would have to walk. But I didn't care. I had to have her voice in my life on a reliable basis. I loved the funk and groove of the original version of "Maybe Your Baby" by its composer, Stevie Wonder. Yet, I had just heard the impossible, a song by Wonder performed by someone else at the same level (if not higher) than him. This was my introduction to Chaka Khan, a moment that would help shape my musical journey. I have been transfixed ever since, including today.
Now 71 years old, Khan's music continues to inspire. Her recent Tiny Desk concert is a testament to her enduring impact. Her music, often imitated but never duplicated, reflects her unmatched originality. It's a unique blend of soul, funk, pop, and jazz fusion that has left an indelible mark on the architecture of modern music.
This Black Music Month, Tiny Desk is giving the ladies their flowers. We’re releasing nine Tiny Desk concerts from Black women artists, from veterans who’ve ...