With a career that is now spanning four decades, singer Chaka Khan has never been easy to fit into a box. A Chicago native, she began her career as the front woman for Rufus then broke out on her own with such hits as "Through the Fire" "I'm Every Woman" and "I Feel for You."
She has worked with many music icons such as Miles Davis, Mary J. Blige and Prince.
Khan went on Broadway for The Color Purple playing the role of Sofia and gambled on a Stevie Wonder musical—Signed, Sealed, Delivered—in Vegas.
This year is proving to be a very busy year with the chanteuse being inducted into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame. A series of albums will be released one this July entitled The iKhan Project: Alive that will also include an I'm Every Woman Tour.
Lucky for our community Center on Halsted has her first and we got a chance to talk about it.
Windy City Times: Hi, Chaka. You are coming back to your hometown again.
Chaka Khan: Well, I don't get home often enough. I come in town for the Taste of Chicago and an occasional gig. I don't get back as often as I should or as I would like to.
WCT: With Center on Halsted's gala, this will be a chance to see many of your LGBT following.
Chaka Khan: I am really looking forward to it. I love my people!
WCT: This following must have started back with Rufus.
Chaka Khan: Oh, yeah—back in the day.
WCT: After a 40-year career, how do you protect your voice all of this time?
Chaka Khan: Sleep. It's a muscle. You have to rest it. That is not to say that I have not been a bad girl, too. I am not an opera singer. I am really blessed to have a voice at this point because it could have easily gone the other way. I could have lost it a couple of times. I am a living state of grace. By the grace of God, here I am!
WCT: Your latest album is coming out in the next few months.
Chaka Khan: Yes, I am finishing it up right now.
WCT: Did you collaborate with anyone on it?
Chaka Khan: A few friends mostly, like Sheila E. There will also be some newer artists, like the Dirty Loops and acts like that. I prefer sometimes working with young people.
WCT: Speaking of young, I asked Sheila E. one time how she stays looking so young and she said she cakes on the moisturizer.
Chaka Khan: Her skin is fabulous. I think it might be good genes, too.
WCT: How do you pick a set list for a gala like this?
Chaka Khan: It is the hardest thing in the world and with great duress, but I live with duress. It is tough. There will be some songs I will be singing until I die. The good thing is that I have such a large repertoire that I can go back and forth. I can pull songs that people know but haven't heard a lot.
WCT: We can look forward to some new songs?
Chaka Khan: There will be a couple of new ones in there, yeah.
WCT: I want to try some of these Chakalates.
Chaka Khan: Then just go to www.chakakhan.com, darling, and do get you some chocolates and please pick up some Khana Sutra candles.
WCT: I heard you are going to be a on a reality show called L.A. Hair.
Chaka Khan: No, I am not. They wanted me to, but I am not. I don't do reality. I am realistically living.
WCT: Speaking of hair, how big is your hair going to be for this event?
Chaka Khan: I don't know—big enough! I don't plan those kinds of things I just got to be me. I'm gonna look good, okay? Does that work for you? [Laughs]
WCT: I'm sure you will. After being on shows like VH1's Divas Live, do you consider yourself a diva?
Chaka Khan: No, I don't. You can call me what you want. I don't care, just call me! The thing is that I have always seen a diva as a negative thing. In the opera they don't want someone to smoke around them or curse around them or even talk to them, that kind of crap. I am not that kind of vibe. You know what I mean? I am just a chick trying to break mine off, baby. You dig?
WCT: Sometimes being a diva is a good thing because it can mean a woman that knows what she wants.
Chaka Khan: Okay then, well, I know what I don't want. So maybe then I am really not a diva!
WCT: This upcoming tour that you are embarking on—"I'm Every Woman"—is an anniversary tour?
Chaka Khan: You can call it that if you like. I would like it to be like Lilith Fair only I want to be an equal opportunity employer. You know what I mean?
WCT: Yes, so maybe a variety of artists on the tour to support it. Who are you listening to these days?
Chaka Khan: I don't listen to a lot of music. I listen to talk radio—XM talk radio, mostly. If I do listen to music, then it is jazz. I also love country music.
WCT: Do you?
Chaka Khan: I do, baby! I just don't know everybody's names.
WCT: Being from Tennessee, I like the old-school artists like Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn.
Chaka Khan: Go on, now! Yes, honey!!!
WCT: I thought it was interesting that you lived in Germany, as I was just there. What part?
Chaka Khan: I was in the south of Germany. I lived in a little village then, in Mannheim. I also had a residence in London. The world is my home.
WCT: Do you ever get tired of the traveling?
Chaka Khan: Yes, very much so. That is the part that I hate the most. Hurry up and wait, it is hard and tough.
WCT: The last time I interviewed you was for the Palm Springs Dinah event.
Chaka Khan: Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was fun. I had a good-ass time on that night. I had on my Spider-Woman dress. The dress was long with spider webs and I had my whip. Yes, child…
WCT: I can hardly wait to see what you are going to wear for Center on Halsted's event!
Chaka Khan: Well, I am going to do something. [Laughs] I don't know exactly what. Maybe if you have ideas…
WCT: I can tweet you some ideas.
Chaka Khan: Please do. Do you think I should bring my whip anyway?
WCT: I think so. Why leave home without it?
Chaka Khan: Yeah, then I will bring it.
WCT: It is a pretty formal evening, though.
Chaka Khan: It won't be raunchy because my whip has all kinds of stones in it. I can keep it classy, if that is what they want…
WCT: I love it. There will be tons of gay fans there.
Chaka Khan: I know and I am so thankful. I feel so blessed and lucky, trust. I find my gay and lesbian fans to be my least fickle of everybody. They stand by you. I mean really. I appreciate everybody. I don't know why I am so loved. Maybe it is the butch in me…
WCT: I think it's because of the music.
Chaka Khan: Oh good, okay! Whatever it is I don't look a gift horse in the mouth. I'm just trying to do what I do and do the best that I can.
One thing is for sure: "Ain't Nobody" like Chaka Khan! Don't miss the Human First Gala Saturday, May 18, at the Hilton Towers Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave. For tickets, visit www.centeronhalsted.org .
