CHIC: Biography

CHIC: biography Helmed by the legendary duo Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, CHIC were one of the most influential and enduring bands of the disco era, incorporating two of the generation’s best producers as the very backbone of the group. To this day, CHIC’s pared down funk and dance has proven to be some of the most distinctive and emblematic music of the disco era. Before having a deal or even a name for their band, Nile and ‘Nard started laying down dance tracks with drummer Tony Thompson and keyboardist Rob Sabino. In those early days, there was not much budget for vocals, so Nile and Bernard’s good friend and mentor Luther Vandross taught them to use vocal doubling and tripling to add depth and complexity to a song. He introduced them to the vocal élite of New York City, including Fonzi Thornton, Diva Grey, Robin Clark, David Lasley, who all sang or contributed to the vocal stylings of the early CHIC singles. Their DJ friend, Robert Drake played them all at The Night Owl, and advised Nile and Bernard of the crowd’s reactions to their work. Their underground hit “Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)” was a smash in clubs, but since they still didn’t have a record deal, it was not available to fans. After backing Luther at Radio City Music Hall in 1977, CHIC were signed by Jerry Greenberg, the president of Atlantic Records. They then hired vocalist Norma Jean Wright. Later that year, the dream came true: the band’s self-titled first album, Chic came out and went gold. “Dance, Dance, Dance” and “Everybody Dance” both went to #1 on the disco charts. CHIC had a number one record, but like many others, on occasion they too were forced to wait outside Studio 54. While they were personally invited by Grace Jones, Nile and ‘Nard’s names were not on the list, so they could not get past the bouncer. They went home disgusted and started to jam, singing “f@*& off!” They realized that what they were playing was a hit, but to play it in public, they just might have to change the lyrics. The tune they played would echo in so many people’s ears for years and become the biggest selling single in Atlantic’s history: they changed the lyrics to “freak out!” and “Le Freak” was born! The single “Le Freak” hit #1 on the pop, R&B and disco charts. It sold 6 million copies in the United States alone. For CHIC’s next incarnation, they hired vocalists Alfa Anderson and Luci Martin. With the 1978 release of their second album, CHIC were stars. “Le Freak” was on the platinum album, C’est Chic, which also featured “I Want Your Love”. By the time their third album Risqué came out in 1979, CHIC had cemented their place in the history books with “Good Times”, “My Forbidden Lover” and “My Feet Keep Dancing”. The sampling of Bernard’s funky bass line from “Good Times” started with the Sugarhill Gang, in their seminal “Rapper’s Delight”, the first rap hit ever to hit the Top 40. It was also “borrowed” in 1980 by Queen in “Another One Bites the Dust”. In the years since, it’s been sampled in literally hundreds of other songs—along with all the other classic CHIC hits, making CHIC one of the most widely sampled bands in history. • 1 • Later in 1979, CHIC released their first Greatest Hits album. The CHIC Organization, Inc. was conceived as an ever-changing, organic collaboration of artists, already tested with the band CHIC. It is under the CHIC Organization that Nile and Bernard produced some of their generation’s greatest music. Their first big production credits were for Sister Sledge in 1979. Inspired by their sweet youthfulness, Nile and Bernard wrote the classic anthem, “We Are Family” from the album of the same name. The song was adopted by the Pittsburg Pirates as their theme song when they won the 1979 World Series. The perennial favorite has stood the test of time and is still played at countless family celebrations throughout the world. Established artists too were looking for a little CHIC magic: Diana Ross enlisted the hot shot team to produce her 1980 album, Diana with the CHIC-penned hits “I’m Coming Out” and “Upside Down”. Due to creative differences, Motown replaced the CHIC mixes with their own before releasing the album, but re-released the album in 2003 including the original killer tracks. In 1982, the dynamic duo not only composed the score, but also produced the Soup for One Soundtrack which featured CHIC and other artists such as Teddy Pendergrass, Debbie Harry, Sister Sledge and Carly Simon, whose “Why” went to the top 10 in the UK. As a group, CHIC made the move toward a more electronic sound in 1980: Real People (“Real People”, “Rebels Are We”, “Chip Off The Old Block”); and again in 1981’s Take It Off (“Stage Fright”), 1982’s Tongue in Chic (“Hangin’”) and 1983’s Believer (“Give Me The Lovin’”). After Nile and Bernard disbanded CHIC, they each spent the rest of the ‘80s producing some of the most popular acts of the era (David Bowie, the Power Station, Madonna, etc.). But in 1992, they were together again for the first CHIC record in years: Chic-ism. CHIC were once again tearing up the dance charts with “Chic Mystique” and “Your Love”. Since Nile and ‘Nard’s roots were in live music, CHIC had always toured, proving that slick production values can be taken on the road. In 1996, Nile was honored as a JT Super Producer in Japan, and CHIC went on tour. After a legendary performance at the Budokan featuring Slash, Simon LeBon, Sister Sledge and Steve Winwood, Bernard Edwards, the funky bass voice of CHIC, tragically passed away. Live at the Budokan, CHIC’s first and only live album is a tribute to him, released as a CD and DVD. While he had not played with the band for some years, in 2003, Tony Thompson, CHIC’s original drummer also passed away. But the CHIC Organization lives on: After 9/11, “We Are Family” was re-recorded by 300 singers, musicians, actors and citizens as a call for unity and healing, and the We Are Family Foundation was formed to spread the message of tolerance. Nile Rodgers and CHIC are still performing across the world, and creating new CHIC music for the next generation. • 2 • .

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