Co-founded in the late seventies by Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards, Chic distinguished itself with uncanny musicianship and a distinctly identifiable soul-funk sound, The band changed the course of disco and pop music forever, and their songs became anthems, as did the duo’s works for Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” and Diana Ross’s “Diana” – featuring I’m Coming Out and Upside Down.

Chic’s enduring power brought the pair together again in the early nineties to tour and work on new recordings. In April 1996, Chic performed in Japan at the multi-media JT Super Producer series. Guest artistes included Slash – playing lead guitar on the unforgettable hit Le Freak, and on Jimi Hendrix’s Stone Free with Steve Winwood singing vocals. The concert also featured performances of Chic classics, Good Times and Dance Dance Dance as well as Sister Sledge singing He’s The Greatest Dancer and We Are Family.

The Monumental concert would be Edwards last. He died unexpectedly in his hotel room just after the performance.

“Though the producer in me wanted to enhance the production of a raw, live performance, I decided to maintain the purity and reality of Bernard’s last performance”, stated Rodgers. “Chic Live at the Budokan” is thus a final tribute to him.

Long an innovator within the music industry, Rodgers established Sumthing Distribution and Sumthing Else Music Works in order to gain control over his work and over projects her cares about. Rodgers is the first African-American to own a full service distribution network.

Rodgers music has left a permanent mark on American culture for over two decades. He began his career as a guitarist, incorporating various styles and influences, before forming Chic. After Chic disbanded, he continued to develop as a songwriter and producer.

Rodgers has produced innumerable #1 records and many of the biggest albums of all time including David Bowie’s Lets Dance, and Madonna’s Like A Virgin, as well as albums for Duran Duran, INXS and Mick Jagger. He has also scored numerous films including Thelma and Louise, Alphabet City, Soup for One, The Fly, Earth Girls are easy, Coming to America, The Flintstones and Beavis and Butthead as well as producing the soundtrack recordings performed by Peter Gabriel, Kim Carnes, Teddy Pendergrass, the B-52’s, Slash, Bob Dylan, and Seal.

Chic have won countless awards, including three Grammys. They were recently honoured in Japan as the JT Super Producer and were recently featured on VH-1’s “Where are They Now?” Two recent No. 1 hits – Will Smith’s Getting Jiggy With it and Notorious B.I.G’s Mo Money Mo Problems features samples of Rodgers early work with Sister Sledge and Diana Ross, while the soundtrack for the film “Last Days of Disco” features five of Rodgers songs.

NILE RODGERS SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:

CHIC AS ARTISIE

Chic – First Chic LP
Dance Dance Dance – first Chic single, hits Top 10, introduces phrase, “Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah.
Everybody Dance – Group’s second hit
Le Freak – Chic’s third single, hits No.1 and goes on to become WEA’s all time, biggest-selling single
C’est Chic – Chic’s second album, hits Top 5
I Want Your Love – Chic single goes Top 5
Good Times – chart-topping 70’s anthem of disco lifestyle, 80’s bass riff for many ensuing songs
Risqué – considered Chic’s best LP, reaches Top 5
Chic’s Greatest Hits – first greatest hits album release
Real People – Grittier Chic LP
Good Times – bassline sampled by Pioneer rap group Sugerhill Gang for Rapper’s Delight
Take It Off – LP release
Tongue In Chic – LP release
Believers – eighth Chic LP in six years, album release followed by break up of group
Chic Mystique – Chic Reforms, records ninth Chic LP, recorded by Nile Rodgers and Bernard with a new line-up and released by Warner Brothers Records
Chic Freak And More Treats – released in Japan by video Arts to coincide with the JT Super Producer concerts and television special featuring Nile Rodgers, Nile and Bernard record some of Chic’ greatest hits with new arrangements, record becomes a hit in Japan and Southeast Asia.
Chic Live at the Budokan LP, released Feb 1999
Chic: songs covered by numerous artists and samples used in hit songs by Puff Daddy, Faith Evans, Notorious Big, and Will Smith.

CHCI AS WRITERS / PRODUCERS / PERFORMERS FOR OTHER ARTISTES

We Are family: Sister Sledge smash LP, includes We Are Family and He’s The Greatest Dancer
Diana Ross: Diana Ross’s groundbreaking LP with hits Upside Down and“I’m Coming Out
Why – Performed by Carly Simon, 12”remix

NILE RODGERS AS ARTISTE

Honeydrippers: Rodgers is recruited to be one of the Honeydrippers, along with Jeff Beck and Robert Plant
Steve Winwood: Rodgers adds his famous guitar sound to “Higher Love”
Seal: Nile Rodgers adds his famous guitar sound to Seal’s remake of “Fly Like An Eagle” for the film Space Jam
Steve Winwood: Rodgers adds hid guitar sound to the song “It’s A Family Affair” which was dedicated to Bernard Edwards on Steve Winwood’s “Junction 7” LP
Nile Rodgers: featured guest artist for the VH-1 Honours with Steve Winwood
Nile Rodgers: Featured artist for the Rainforest Benefit with Sting at Carnegie Hall
Nile Rogers: Solo LP, work in progress

NILE RODGERS PRODUCTIONS

Debbie Harry: Koo Koo Backfired, The Jam Was Moving / Inner City Spillover
David Bowie: Let’s Dance LP, includes hit title track, China Girl and Modern Love
Madonna: Like A Virgin LP, including the top 10 hits Like A Virgin, Dress You Up, and Material Girl (Madonna’s vault to superstardom)
Duran Duran: The Reflex (#1 for 15 weeks) and The Wild Boys singles.
Hall & Oates: Adult Education single
INXS: Original Sin groundbreaking single
Mick Jagger: She’s The Boss, co-produced LP
Sister Sledge: When The Boys Meet The Girls LP, including No. 1 UK hit, Frankie
Sheena Easton: Do You LP
Thompson Twins: Here’s To Future Days LP
Jeff Beck: Flash LP
Duran Duran: Notorious LP, including title track single, which went to#2 on pop chart
Phillip Bailey: Inside Out LP
Al Jarreau: L Is For Lover LP and Moonlighting, title single for hit television show
Grace Jones: Inside Story LP
Diana Ross: Workin Overtime LP
B-52’s: Co-production on Cosmic Thing LP includes hits Roam and Deadbeat Club
Paul Young: A Little Bit Of Love single
Vaughan Brothers: Family Style LP
Stray Cats: Let’s Go Faster LP
Ric Ocasek: Fireball Zone LP
B-52’s: Co-produced Good Stuff LP
David Bowie: Black Tie White Noise LP
David Lee Roth: Your Filthy Little Mouth LP
Eric Clapton: Stone Free, single from Stone Free – A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix LP
Eric Clapton: You Must Believe Me, single from A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield LP
Ashford and Simpson/Maya Angelou: Where We Come From single
Samantha Cole: Samantha Cole LP for Universal/MCA Records
Jimmy Vaughan: Strange Pleasure New LP for Epic Records
All 4 One: Two new singles for new LP for Blitzz/Atlantic Records

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