RUFUS is-
Bobby Watson-Bass
John Robinson-Drums
Larry Dunn-Keyboards
Michael Thompson-Guitars
Hawk Wolinski-Keyboards
Niki Haris-Vocals
Rufus was a 1970s funk band, best known for launching the career of their lead singer Chaka Khan. They had several hits throughout their career, including "Tell Me Something Good" (penned by Stevie Wonder), "Ain't Nobody", and "Sweet Thing".
One of the most commercially successful funk groups of the '70s, the multi-racial Rufus are today best remembered for launching the careers of Tony Maiden, Bobby Watson, Andre Fischer, Dennis Belfield and soul diva Chaka Khan, whose lead vocals were easily the band's fiery focal point. Powered by Khan — who was eventually billed in addition to the group — and an unerring sense of groove, Rufus scored an impressive string of hit singles on both the pop and R&B charts, which lasted through the '70s and up to Khan's official departure in 1983.
Rufus grew out of the Chicago band The American Breed, which had a hit
in 1968 with the oldies-radio staple "Bend Me, Shape Me." Guitarists Al Ciner, Gary Luizo, bassist Chuck Colbert, drummer Lee Graziano, and keyboardist Kevin Murphy had all played in the band at one time or another before forming a new group, originally called Smoke, with vocalists
Paulette McWilliams and James Stella. Stella was quickly replaced by lead vocalist/songwriter/keyboardist Ron Stockert, and Colbert by bassist Dennis Belfield; the group changed its name to Ask Rufus, which was later shortened to Rufus. In 1972, drummer Andre Fischer —nephew of Composer, pianist Clare Fischer, Fischer formerly played with Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions, Baby Huey and the Babysitters, James Moody and Tennyson Stephens — replaced Graziano, and a young female vocalist named Chaka Khan (born Yvette Marie Stevens) replaced McWilliams. Although Khan's dynamic stage presence helped this version of the band take off, Stockert was still the guiding force when they signed with ABC in 1973, and he lent a more pop/rock flavor to the group's self-titled debut, released later that year.
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