Rufus (band)

Rufus

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1968
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois , United States
Products	Music albums, singles

Rufus is a funk ensemble originating from Chicago, Illinois, United States, widely recognized for launching the career of lead vocalist Chaka Khan. The band scored multiple hits such as "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing", "Do You Love What You Feel", and "Ain't Nobody". During the 1970s, Rufus alongside Chaka Khan emerged as one of the most impactful funk groups, boasting four successive number-one R&B albums, ten singles reaching the top 40 on pop charts, and five chart-topping R&B tracks.

Formation

In 1968, Charles "Chuck" Colbert (bass) and Lee Graziano (drums), formerly of the American Breed, established a new band by recruiting Kevin Murphy (keyboards), Paulette McWilliams (vocals), James Stella (vocals), and Vern Pilder (guitar). This lineup rebranded as Smoke in 1969. After switching management to Bob Monaco and Bill Traut in 1970, the group adopted the name Ask Rufus, inspired by an advice column featured in Mechanix Illustrated. Al Ciner rejoined the band replacing Pilder on guitar, while Willie Weeks took over bass duties from Colbert.

By 1971, they had signed with Epic Records, although their album was never released and they were dropped early in 1972. Subsequently, Weeks was replaced by Dennis Belfield on bass; Stella was succeeded by Ron Stockert, who contributed both keyboards and vocals; Graziano was replaced by Andre Fischer on drums.

When Paulette McWilliams departed, she recommended Chaka Khan as her successor. Khan had previously performed with local groups such as Lock and Chain and Lyfe. With McWilliams’ endorsement and assistance during her transition, Khan joined Rufus, marking a significant turning point for the band.

Initial phase

Bob Monaco, affiliated with booking agency Ashley Famous alongside Jim Golden, played a key role in securing Ask Rufus’s contract with ABC Dunhill. After the label provided a budget for demos, Monaco arranged the recording of eleven tracks over two days at Paragon Studios in Chicago. This demo facilitated a long-term deal with ABC Dunhill in 1973.

Prior to Monaco witnessing Rufus live, Ike Turner had already taken notice and invited them to record at his Bolic Sound studio located in Inglewood, California. Turner expressed interest in recruiting Khan for The Ikettes; however, she declined to remain with Rufus. The band’s debut album Rufus, recorded at Quantum Recording Studios in Torrance, California, was released in 1973. While it gained some traction on R&B radio stations, sales were modest. The group promptly returned to the studio to work on their follow-up record Rags to Rufus.

At this time, members Ciner, Belfield, and Stockert departed; they were replaced by keyboardist Nate Morgan, guitarist Tony Maiden, and bassist Bobby Watson. These additions brought enhanced funk and jazz elements that complemented Khan’s increasingly prominent vocals.

Rise to fame and internal dynamics

Released in 1974, Rags to Rufus included hits like Stevie Wonder’s "Tell Me Something Good" and "You Got the Love," earning Platinum certification. The band toured opening for acts such as Stevie Wonder and received their first Grammy Award. "Tell Me Something Good" achieved sales exceeding one million copies and was awarded Gold status.

As Khan’s popularity grew, the group began billing themselves as Rufus featuring Chaka Khan. Their 1974 album Rufusized also reached Platinum status and featured top ten funk singles including "Once You Get Started" and "Please Pardon Me," both written by Brenda Russell.

During their 1975 tour, Khan’s commanding vocal performances and dynamic stage presence attracted media attention that likened her to Tina Turner while branding her a "wild child." This spotlight generated internal friction as other members felt eclipsed.

The band’s fourth release, Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan (1975), contained the top-five single "Sweet Thing," co-written by Khan and Maiden; it achieved Gold certification. Despite commercial success and a second major tour supporting the album, tensions escalated between Khan and drummer Andre Fischer.

Khan married Richard Holland amid sessions for Ask Rufus, having finalized her divorce from Hassan Khan in 1974 before their child was born. Holland’s involvement intensified disputes with Fischer that culminated in a physical altercation during recording. The 1977 album Ask Rufus produced hits such as "At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)" and "Hollywood." Following touring commitments, Fischer and Morgan exited the group; replacements included Richard "Moon" Calhoun on bass and David "Hawk" Wolinski on keyboards.

The revamped lineup recorded Street Player, which featured Khan’s composition "Stay". Around this time Khan confirmed intentions to pursue a solo career with Warner Bros., causing strain within the band. Her self-titled solo debut released in 1978 went Platinum, propelled by the Ashford & Simpson-penned single "I'm Every Woman." In April of that year, John "JR" Robinson took over drumming duties from Calhoun.

Decline and final years

Following Calhoun's departure, ABC Records was incorporated into MCA, resulting in Rufus transitioning to MCA. While Khan concentrated on advancing her solo career with Chaka, Rufus issued the less impactful album Numbers without her involvement. Khan rejoined the group for Masterjam, which was produced by Quincy Jones. By this stage, Rufus and Khan functioned largely as independent entities. The popularity of Khan played a significant role in Masterjam achieving Gold status, propelled by the funk-disco track "Do You Love What You Feel". Although Khan was prepared to depart after Chaka (1978), she was contractually obligated to complete two more albums with Rufus under ABC/MCA and agreed to fulfill this commitment. After releasing Masterjam and another less successful album without Khan titled Party 'Til You're Broke, Rufus and Khan reunited for their last MCA project, Camouflage (1981). However, friction became evident during recording sessions, with Khan opting to lay down her vocals separately.

The album Camouflage struggled to gain momentum, partly due to Khan's flourishing solo career marked by two Gold-certified releases, Naughty and What Cha' Gonna Do for Me. Following the release of Camouflage, Khan exited the band in early 1982. Rufus went on to produce their final studio effort, Seal in Red (1983), which failed to attract significant attention. The group decided to disband after issuing one last live album and invited Khan back for their concluding concert, which was recorded by Warner Bros.. She participated in this performance that was subsequently issued as the documentary film Stompin' At the Savoy. Initially, Warner Bros. withheld the film’s release, offering only the live album. Eventually, the concert footage became available on home video formats.

The live album featured four studio tracks led by Khan, including Dave Wolinski’s notable "Ain't Nobody". This song gained prominence when a producer for the movie Breakin' selected it for its soundtrack. Warner Bros. released it under the name Rufus and Chaka Khan, where it reached the top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100, secured number one on the R&B chart, and climbed to number eight on the UK Singles Chart. This achievement earned Rufus their second Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Subsequent to these events, Rufus disbanded permanently. Khan embarked on a solo path that included the successful album and single "I Feel for You", ensuring her continued prominence.

Post-break-up

In 2001, a reunion tour took place featuring Rufus members Kevin Murphy, Tony Maiden, Bobby Watson, Dave Wolinski, John "JR" Robinson, alongside Khan. This reunion was recounted by Khan in her 2003 memoir, Chaka! Through the Fire, co-authored with Tonya Bolden. Later, Khan collaborated with Maiden on a contemporary rendition of the Rufus medley "Pack'd My Bags"/ "You Got the Love" included in her double Grammy-winning 2007 release, Funk This. When discussing prospects of a second reunion in a 2008 interview with Billboard, Khan clarified that there were no plans involving the classic lineup—which included Andre Fischer and Nate Morgan—and that performing alongside Maiden represented the closest scenario to reviving Rufus.

A version of Rufus featuring Bobby Watson and JR toured briefly in 2008 but did so without original members Kevin Murphy, Tony Maiden, or Dave Wolinski. In September 2011, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame committee announced that both the band and Khan had been nominated jointly for induction into its 27th annual class—their first nomination since they became eligible in 1999. Earlier that same year, Khan was honored with a solo star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Rufus received another nomination in September 2017.

Final roster

• Kevin Murphy – keyboards (1970–1983)
• Chaka Khan – lead vocals (1972–1983)
• Tony Maiden – guitar, vocals (1974–1983)
• Bobby Watson – bass guitar (1974–1983)
• Dave "Hawk" Wolinski – keyboards, backing vocals (1977–1983)
• John "JR" Robinson – drums (1979–1983)
• Ivan Neville – vocals (1983)

Past members

• Lee Graziano – drums (1970–1972)
• Chuck Colbert Jr. – bass guitar (1970)
• Al Ciner – guitar (1970–1974)
• Paulette McWilliams – vocals (1970–1972)
• James Stella – vocals (1970–1972)
• Willie Weeks – bass guitar (1970–1972)
• Andre Fischer – drums (1972–1977)
• Ron Stockert – keyboards, vocals (1972–1974)
• Dennis Belfield – bass guitar (1972–1974)
• Nate Morgan – keyboards (1974–1977, deceased 2013)
• Richard "Moon" Calhoun – drums (1977–1979)

Studio albums

Year	Album	Highest chart rankings					Certifications	Label
		US Pop	US R&B	AUS	CAN	UK
1973	Rufus	175	44	—	—	—		ABC
1974	Rags to Rufus	4	4	—	23	—	RIAA: Gold
	Rufusized	7	2	—	51	48	RIAA: Gold
1975	Rufus featuring Chaka Khan	7	1	86	73	—	RIAA: Gold
1977	Ask Rufus	12	1	—	—	—	RIAA: Platinum
1978	Street Player	14	1	—	13	—	RIAA: Gold
1979	Numbers	81	15	—	—	—
	Masterjam	14	1	—	—	—	RIAA: Gold	MCA
1981	Party 'Til You're Broke	73	24	—	—	—
	Camouflage	98	15	—	—	—
1983	Seal in Red	—	49	—	—	—	Warner Bros.

Live albums

Year	Album title	Peak chart positions			Label
		US Billboard 200	US R&B	UK Albums Chart
1983	Stompin' at the Savoy – Live	50	4	64	Warner Bros. Records

Compilation albums

• The Very Best of Rufus with Chaka Khan (1982, MCA)
• Chaka Khan and Rufus - Maybe Your Baby (2008, Cugate Ltd.)

Singles

... [table continues with similar formatting and data compression applied] ...

Year	Single	Highest chart positions						Certifications	Album
		US Pop	US R&B	US Dance	AUS	CAN	UK
1970	"Brand New Day"	—	—	—	—	—	—		rowspan="2" Template:N/A
1971	"Fire One, Fire Two, Fire Three"	—	—	—	—	—	—
1973	"Slip 'n Slide"	110	—	—	—	—	—		Rufus
	"Whoever's Thrilling You (Is Killing Me)"	—	40	—	—	—	—
	"Feel Good"	—	45	—	—	—	—
1974	"Tell Me Something Good"	3	3	—	64	21	54	* RIAA: Gold		Rags to Rufus
	"You Got the Love"	11	1	—	—	21	—
"Ain't Nobody"	22	1	6	—	—	8	* RIAA: Platinum; BPI: 2× Platinum; MC: Gold; ARIA: Platinum	Stompin' at the Savoy – Live
"One Million Kisses"	102	37	67	—	—	86
"Ain't Nobody" (7" Remix Edit)	—	—	1	—	—	6		Life Is a Dance: The Remix Project

Grammy Awards

Rufus earned two Grammy wins out of three nominations.

Year	Work nominated	Award category	Outcome
1974	"Tell Me Something Good"	Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals#Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group Or Chorus"	Template:Won
1977	Ask Rufus		Template:Nom
1983	"Ain't Nobody"	Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal	Template:Won

Covers

Rufus performed renditions of tracks such as Quincy Jones' "Body Heat". The song "Ain't Nobody" has been extensively interpreted by artists including Kelly Price, Faith Evans, Diana King, and George Michael. In addition, the Belgian group Awaken released their version of "You're Really Out of Line" in 2001, originally from 1983.

External links

• [Rufus] on AllMusic