Rufus

Genres:	Comedy • Foreign Films • Funk • Horror • R&B / Soul
Descriptive "tags":	funk • soul • disco • rhythm and blues
Decades Active:	1970s • 1980s • 1990s • 2000s
Artist Compilations:	Rufus & Chaka Khan

Biography

This Chicago-based group evolved from the American Breed when three original members, Al Ciner (guitar), Charles Colbert (bass) and Lee Graziano (drums), were joined by Kevin Murphy (keyboards), Paulette McWilliams (vocals), Ron Stockard and Dennis Belfield. Initially known as Smoke, then Ask Rufus, it was several months before a stable unit evolved. Graziano made way for Andre Fisher, but the crucial change came when Chaka Khan (Yvette Marie Stevens, 23 March 1953, Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois, USA) joined in place of McWilliams. The group, now known simply as Rufus, signed with ABC Records in 1973, but made little headway until a chance encounter with Stevie Wonder during sessions for a second album. Impressed by Khan’s singing, he donated an original song, ‘Tell Me Something Good’, which, when issued as a single, became a gold disc. It began a run of exceptional releases, including ‘You Got The Love’ (1974), ‘Sweet...

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