AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Chic

Artist:Chic
Song:Freak Out
Album:The Very Best Of Chic





Le Freak was one of the biggest hits of the disco era in 1978. But there's much more to Chic than mere disco as their influence on hip hop has been profound. Guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards met in 1970. Both were New York City session musicians. They toured with the R & B group New York City when they had the hit single I'm Doing Fine Now in 1973. After New York City split up, Rodgers and Edwards started their own band first called The Boys and then The Big Apple Band. They toured the east coast but were unable to get a record contract. In 1977, they brought in drummer Tony Thompson from LaBelle and he was also in the short lived group Ecstasy, Passion & Pain. Thompson recommended the keyboard player from that band Raymond Jones. Then they brought in singer Norma Jean Wright. They had to change the band name because of the hit single Fifth Of Beethoven by Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band. They were now called Chic. Singer Alfa Anderson was also brought in. Chic's debut single Dance, Dance, Dance led to a contract with Atlantic Records. Meanwhile, Rodgers & Edwards produced an album for Norma Jean Wright. Her contract forced her to leave Chic and she was replaced by Luci Martin. Le Freak is from their second album C'Est Chic. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 and the album was certified Platinum. Le Freak was a big "F*** You" aimed at the famed New York City club Studio 54 for not admitting Rodgers & Edwards when they were invited to go by Grace Jones. Chic had another number one hit with Good Times in 1979 and they also wrote and produced the 1979 smash We Are Family for Sister Sledge. You can get all Chic's hits on this budget comp. With the 80s disco backlash, Rodgers & Edwards turned to producing and were very successful with acts like Diana Ross, David Bowie, Duran Duran and many others. This continued into the 90s though they would reform Chic occasionally. It was during a 1996 tour of Japan that Bernard Edwards died of pneumonia on Apr. 19, 1996 at age 43. Tony Thompson died of cancer on Nov. 12, 2003 at age 48. Nile Rodgers still produces other artists. He is writing his autobiography and was diagnosed with cancer last year and is currently recovering from surgery. There's more to Chic than just disco. They were a big influence on a lot of artists. Here's the video for Le Freak by Chic. This video is not on Youtube.