Artist:Rufus
Song:Once You Get Started
Album:The Very Best Of Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan
Chicago based R & B/funk group Rufus is best known today for bringing us vocalist Chaka Khan. But they were very successful in the 70s and they started out as more of a pop group and evolved into R & B through personnel changes. The group was a spinoff of American Breed who had a hit with Bend Me, Shape Me in 1968. They were called Smoke and the original lead singers were Paulette McWilliams & James Stella. Stella was replaced by Ron Stockert and he took over a lot of the songwriting. Drummer Andre Fischer was brought in and Chaka Khan replaced McWilliams in 1972. Rufus signed with ABC Records and their debut album tanked. It was too rock oriented for Khan's vocals. But Stevie Wonder heard Rufus and gave them a song for their next album. Tell Me Something Good was a huge hit and made Chaka Khan a star. Stockert left Rufus and ABC house producer Bob Monaco wisely emphasized Khan's vocals and produced a more funky album with 1974's Rufusized. Once You Get Started reached number two on the dance charts in 1975. This comp is the only one available. Universal should probably do a more comprehensive comp. Rufus continued to record and Chaka Khan inevitably went solo in 1978. Rufus took legal action to keep her and she did return for subsequent albums. Rufus split up in 1983. Andre Fischer has had a significant career as a producer. He was once married to Natalie Cole and won a Grammy for a 1993 Tony Bennett CD. Rufus is recommended to any R & B/funk fan. Here's Chaka Khan & Rufus performing Once You Get Started in 1975. Check out those bellbottoms.
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