Chaka Khan: Tiny Desk Concert

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 paved the way for what we hear today in Black music, to those who are carving out their own paths.

Mitra I. Arthur | June 11, 2024
When the “Queen of Funk,” Chaka Khan, began to sing her hit “Sweet Thing” at the Tiny Desk, she seemed surprised at how the audience enthusiastically joined in. It’s just one example of how ingrained her work is in the fabric of music history. Since she emerged in the 1970s with the funk band Rufus, Khan has crafted a legacy that includes 22 albums, 10 Grammys, forays into jazz and theater and collaborations with Prince, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell and Quincy Jones. Her 50 years in the music industry recently culminated in a long overdue 2023 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The moment guitarist Rob Bacon opened the set on the talk box, with bassist Melvin Davis and drummer Jay Williams laying down the beat, it was clear we were about to get a lesson in some naaaasty funk with “Tell Me Something Good.” If the way our in-office audience was jamming to “What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me,” and “Ain’t Nobody” is any indication, be prepared to watch this show in a location where you can comfortably groove. “Sweet Thing” showcased vocalist Tiffany Smith killing the most iconic (and most vocally difficult) moment in the song, something that has humbled many a singer.

And what better way to close out this Tiny Desk during a month celebrating the contributions of Black women in music than with the anthem that has empowered woman-identified audiences for decades: the Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson penned “I’m Every Woman.”Throughout the set, I’m reminded that Khan’s unfathomably big and powerful voice is a glue that holds intergenerational music together.

SET LIST
“Tell Me Something Good”
“What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me”
“Stay”
“Sweet Thing”
“Through the Fire”
“Ain’t Nobody”
“I’m Every Woman”

MUSICIANS
Chaka Khan: lead vocals
Melvin Davis: bass, musical direction
Jesse Milliner: keys
Rob Bacon: guitar
Euro Zambrano: percussion
Jay Williams: drums
Audrey Wheeler-Downing: vocals
Tiffany Smith: vocals
Trina Broussard: vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producers: Bobby Carter, Mitra I. Arthur
Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
Audio Technical Director: Neil Tevault
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Alanté Serene
Audio Engineer: Hannah Gluvna
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
Animation: Jackie Lay
Florist: Kelanda Edwards
Tiny Desk Copy Editor: Hazel Cills
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

#nprmusic #tinydesk #chakakhan

[gregjones]

Whoever is booking these tiny desk concerts deserves a annual raise

[tomfoolery]

I met her when she was in the hospital. I walked into the room and said, "Hey you're Chaka Khan", she smiled and said, "Not today baby, it's Yvette when I'm in the hospital"🤣🤣

[zinagrace]

Umm, can we please give it up for the BACKGROUND singers too?! They understood the assignment!!!

[cmccarthy]

Good lord those backup singers ain't taking no prisoners. They out here killin' it.

[LTee]

Lord please let me look like this at 71

[gitsurfer]

She killed it in the 70's
Now she's killing it in her 70's

[jayt]

I met her once in the Las Vegas airport. I was stunned, she's super short. I was like, OMG you’re Chaka Khan! She said, Hey, Baby, I'm in a rush walk with me! So, I did, we talked and when she got to her gate she gave me a hug and told me to take care! I couldn't believe how nice she was. She's also absolutely gorgeous!

[nanip]

Makeup-flawless. Voice-effortless. Body-snatched. Teeth-glowing. Chaka, I love you.

[jaesonhicks]

50 year career and still sound this good at

[shviewjames]

Chaka up here singing like it’s 1973! She sounds so fresh! Aaaamazing.

[sigitprabowo]

When you see her effortlessly singing like that, you've just seen a living legend with huge amount of talent

[Capricornsaresuperior]

The way Chaka and Patti have been able to sustain their voices for so long NEEDS to be studied. I'm being so serious

[BennyTheBrawler]

0:01 Tell me something good
5:02 What cha gonna do for me
9:05 Stay
12:13 Sweet thing
15:44 Through the fire
23:32 Ain’t Nobody
29:01 I’m every woman

[TheSkyhighmusic]

She’s not called the QUEEN OF FUNK for no reason

[DJAjamu]

This is who influenced Erykah Badu musically more than anyone else. The great Chaka Khan baby!! 🔥 🔥 🔥

[Aggielife]

She 71 years old out here looking better than 50 year olds!!

[drishananicole_]

No autotune. No studio alterations. Straight raw vocals.🔥

[joycelynjackson]

Everybody was on point for this. The guy in the back played 8 instruments and didn't miss a beat. The backup singers were top tier. This might be my favorite so far

[paulinacalquin]

there´s no freaking way she´s 71!!! she looks

[m.l.]

They don't want us to get any work done this month. At all. Chaka's gonna sing Through the Fire and flip the tiny desk with her throat.