Rufus (band)

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Rufus was an American funk band that became popular in the 1970s and was the musical springboard for singer Chaka Khan .

biography

After the rock band The American Breed broke up in the late 1960s, former members first formed the soul and funk band Ask Rufus in Chicago , Illinois in 1970 . When the singer Ron Stockert left the band in 1974, they only called themselves Rufus. With the song Tell Me Something Good (1974, US # 3) composed by Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan as lead singer, a rise began that kept the band at the top of the charts throughout the 1970s.

After many line-ups and renaming (Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan and Rufus), Chaka Khan, who had previously started solo projects, left the band for good in the early 1980s and concentrated exclusively on a solo career.

Members

Original cast

  • Al Ciner (guitar, until 1974)
  • Kevin Murphy (keyboards, until 1977)
  • Lee Graziano (drums, until 1973)
  • Chuck Colbert (bass guitar, until 1973)
  • Paulette McWilliams (vocals, until 1973)
  • Willie Weeks (bass guitar, until 1973)
  • James Stella (vocals, until 1973)

Other members

  • Dennis Belfield (bass guitar, 1973–1974)
  • Robert "Bobby" Watson (bass guitar, from 1974)
  • Chaka Khan (vocals, from 1973)
  • Andre Fischer (drums, 1973–1978)
  • John "JR" Robinson (drums, from 1978)
  • Tony Maiden (guitar, from 1974)
  • Ron Stockert (vocals, 1973–1974)
  • David Wolinski "Hawk" (keyboard, from 1977)

Discography

Albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE UK UK US US
1973 Rufus - - US175 (6 weeks)
US
appeared in 1977 in Germany as Pop Gold
1974 Rags to Rufus - - US4th
gold
gold

(30 weeks)US
feat. Chaka Khan
1975 Rufusized - UK48 (2 weeks)
UK 		US7th
gold
gold

(24 weeks)US
feat. Chaka Khan
1976 Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan - - US7th
gold
gold

(32 weeks)US
feat. Chaka Khan
1977 Ask Rufus - - US12
platinum
platinum

(25 weeks)US
feat. Chaka Khan
1978 Street player - - US14th
gold
gold

(26 weeks)US
with Chaka Khan
1979 Masterjam - - US14th
gold
gold

(26 weeks)US
Rufus & Chaka
Numbers - - US81 (9 weeks)
US
1981 camouflage - - US98 (14 weeks)
US
with Chaka Khan
Party 'Til You're Broke - - US73 (11 weeks)
US
1983 Live - Stompin 'at the Savoy - UK64 (5 weeks)
UK 		US50 (33 weeks)
US
with Chaka Khan
recorded live in February 1982 at the Savoy Theater from New York

More albums

  • 1983: Seal in Red

* Only the albums Numbers , Party 'Til You're Broke and Seal in Red were released without Chaka Khan.

Compilations

  • 1982: The Very Best Of
  • 1984: Twelve inches on tape
  • 1995: Rufusized & Masterjam (2 CDs)
  • 1997: Tell Me Something Good

* All compilations given are productions with Chaka Khan.

Singles

year Title
album 		Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE UK UK US US
1974 Tell Me Something Good
Rags to Rufus 		- - US3
gold
gold

(17 weeks)US
You Got the Love
Rags to Rufus 		- - US11 (16 weeks)
US
1975 Once You Get Started
Rufusized 		- - US10 (13 weeks)
US
Please Pardon Me (You Remind Me of a Friend)
Rufusized 		- - US48 (6 weeks)
US
1976 Sweet Thing
Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan 		- - US5
gold
gold

(21 weeks)US
Dance wit Me
Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan 		- - US39 (8 weeks)
US
1977 At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)
Ask Rufus 		- - US30 (12 weeks)
US
Hollywood
Ask Rufus 		- - US32 (8 weeks)
US
1979 Do You Love What You Feel
Masterjam 		- - US30 (15 weeks)
US
1981 Sharing the Love
Camouflage 		- - US91 (5 weeks)
US
1983 Ain't Nobody
Stompin 'at the Savoy 		DE9 (21 weeks)
DE 		UK6th
platinum
platinum

(21 weeks)UK 		US22 (19 weeks)
US
Chart entry in DE only in 1989

* All chart singles are productions with Chaka Khan.

More singles

  • 1971: Brand New Day
  • 1971: Follow the Lamb
  • 1973: Slip 'n Slide
  • 1973: Feel Good
  • 1973: Whoever's Thrilling You (Is Killing Me)
  • 1974: Stop On By
  • 1975: Jive Talkin '
  • 1976: Have a Good Time
  • 1977: Everlasting Love
  • 1978: Ain't Nobody Like You
  • 1978: Keep It Together
  • 1978: Blue Love
  • 1978: Stay
  • 1979: Do You Love What You Feel (without Chaka Khan)
  • 1979: I'm Dancing for Your Love
  • 1979: Any Love
  • 1981: Hold On to a Friend
  • 1981: Tonight We Love
  • 1981: Party 'Til You're Broke
  • 1981: Better Together
  • 1983: Take It to the Top
  • 1983: One Million Kisses

Awards for music sales

Note: Awards in countries from the chart tables or chart boxes can be found in these.

Country / Region Gold record icon.svg gold Platinum record icon.svg platinum Sales swell
Awards for music sales
(country / region, awards, sales, sources)
United States (RIAA) United States (RIAA) Gold record icon.svg 7 × gold7th Platinum record icon.svg platinum1 5,500,000 riaa.com
United Kingdom (BPI) United Kingdom (BPI) 0! G- Platinum record icon.svg platinum1 600,000 bpi.co.uk
All in all Gold record icon.svg 7 × gold7th Platinum record icon.svg 2 × platinum2

swell

  1. ↑ a b Chart sources: DE UK US
  2. ^ The Billboard Albums by Joel Whitburn , 6th Edition, Record Research 2006, ISBN 0-89820-166-7 .

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