The story of how Prince inadvertently saved Chaka Khan’s life.
Chaka Khan had already established a career in music before the iconic artist Prince emerged from Minnesota. However, the pair went on to form a bond over the course of their careers, a relationship that started when Khan covered Prince’s song ‘I Feel for You’ in 1984.
Khan’s version became the lead single off her album I Feel for You, taking its title from Prince’s original. Moreover, it ironically became the best selling version of the song. Prince would have his musical revenge though, as ‘Purple Rain’ helped to keep Khan’s cover off the top of the charts, peaking at number three on the Billboard Top 100.
Khan’s fantastic cover even included Stevie Wonder on harmonica and a rap by Melle Mel of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. The title of this song would go on to embody a more tangible meaning for Khan when Prince tragically passed away in 2016—but we will come to that later.
Khan first shot to fame amongst the glitz of funk and disco in the ’70s as lead singer in the Chicago funk band, Rufus. They scored their biggest hit in 1974 with ‘Tell Me Something Good’, penned by none other than Stevie Wonder. Rufus would embark on a hit-making run before disbanding in 1983. Consequently, Khan went it alone and has since earned several Grammy Awards in response.
Prince wouldn’t break through until 1979, with the iconic hit ‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’, from his self-titled second album. This is the album that contained the original ‘I Feel for You’, the penultimate track.
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