Customer Reviews

Chaka! Through the Fire

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's been thirty years since Chaka Khan was introduced to the music world through the band Rufus. While Khan's tenure with Rufus and subsequent solo career have made her one of the most influential and celebrated artists in popular music (the accolades include seven Grammies), her private life has not been well documented. Thus, this long rumored-to-be-in-the- making autobiography has been highly anticipated by Khan's throng of admirers. If only she had been able to fully recount her incredible journey.

In the opening chapters of Chaka! Through The Fire, Khan is quite forthcoming in discussing her humble beginnings in Chicago's Hyde Park. By the age of ten, she had endured her parents' turbulent marriage and divorce, followed by her father's desertion (leaving Khan and her younger siblings to be raised by her mother, aunt, and grandmother). During adolescence, she entered - and won - many talent contests as a member of the Crystalettes, performed with the Shades Of Black vocal group, and even found time to join the Black Panther Party. Then a teenage pregnancy threatened to stifle her musical dreams, just as Khan's own unplanned birth had halted her mother's artistic aspirations.

Fortunately, Khan continued to pursue a career in music, and the book perks up when she becomes the lead singer of the inter-racial band Ask Rufus in 1972. Khan takes us through the band's relocation from Chicago to Los Angeles, the shortening of their name to Rufus, their failed first album, and onto their breakthrough collaboration with Stevie Wonder on the hit "Tell Me Something Good" (of which Wonder failed to give the naive Khan a deserved co-writing credit). As fame beckoned, Khan recalls the band's abrupt rebilling by their record label to "Rufus featuring Chaka Khan," creating a rift between her and the rest of the band that would continue to grow until she left the group in 1983.

Rufus' hectic itinerary - frequent recordings sessions surrounded by constant touring - drastically altered Khan's life, as she began to take drugs to keep up with the demands. Her escalating drug use also profoundly affected the quality of this book, as the vivid details of Khan's youth give way to vague remembrances of stardom from the late '70s through late '90s. Latter-day Rufus efforts and seminal early solo recordings, for instance, are dismissed by Khan with just a few sentences devoted to each (the only project given adequate commentary is Khan's teaming with Prince on the poorly promoted 1998 album Come To My House). Meanwhile, marriages and romantic relationships - all of which involve substance abuse on both parties' part - go sour, with little or no explanation given.

The book's final chapters depict Khan - at 50 - at peace with herself, a doting grandmother who has been drug-free for over three years (thanks to an intense detox program). Her vocal strength is still considerable and continues to be lauded (her most recent Grammy being bestowed upon her just last February). She has also started her own foundation that "aids and assists woman and children at risk." It's an inspiring - if improbable - rebirth by a remarkable woman.

Chaka! Through The Fire saves the best for last with a discography in the Appendix that contains a listing of all Rufus and solo albums' tracks, as well as Khan's contributions to others artists' albums and side projects like soundtracks and tribute albums. Khan's extraordinary contralto has been sought for dozens of these special projects over the years and this thorough compilation of credits alone merits the cost of the book for Chakaholics.

This memoir of Chaka Khan's life is a must-read. This brilliant piece of work titles each chapter with the title of one of Ms. Khan's songs. Excerpts of the lyrics in the book serve as a kind of icing on what's going on in each chapter. It's a very intelligent book, touching on world/social events while at the same time applying that era to her personal ups and downs. Chaka is very frank in the book. She's basically "keeping it real". It's sheer honesty, sometimes brutal, sometimes shocking, sometimes inspiring. Chaka leaves no rock unturned. And yes, the drug use is in the book. I felt privileged to have this look into this legend's exciting life and I'm a better, more knowledgable person because of it. It's about hope, despite the circumstances. Get it, you won't be disappointed.

I truly enjoyed this memoir written by Chaka Khan and Tonya Bolden and would recommend it to any Chaka Khan fan or anyone curious as to how this siren of song came to be and lived.

I've been a Chaka fan since childhood. She is my favorite all-time vocalist. My father bought Rufus' first album but I didn't pay much attention until the second, "Rags to Rufus". Chaka's raw primal energy on the microphone had me hooked from the first guitar riff of "You Got the Love" and "Tell Me Something Good". The third album, "Rufusized", sealed my fate as a lifelong Rufus and Chaka Khan fan. I would sit, listen and ogle over the album covers for hours on end. In my naive young mind, Chaka Khan was the epitome of womanhood. I wanted to be her. All at once this woman was incredibly talented, beautiful, vivacious, tender... exuding tremendous confidence, power and an animal-like sensuality. I would shake my braids loose, dress up in my summer halter and bell-bottoms and dance about the family room doing that side-to-side-jerk-shimmy thing that was her trademark. The band's appearances on shows like Bandstand and Soul Train were moments that I lived for. My father even bought my first guitar to help appease my obsession. It was only much later that I discovered all that glitters is not gold... in regard to my idol and otherwise. My first live Chaka experience was at a mid-80's concert in the Chicago area. She was good... but clearly trashed and suffering. It broke my heart. My adulation remains however, and I'd always yearned to know her story.

The thing that I enjoyed most about the book is the conveyance of her personality through the words. Her candid expression and frankness are qualities that I deeply appreciate. Her matter-of-fact sense of humor tends to come out of nowhere. From the first mention of her first-born you can sense the guilt that haunted her career, having left her child for long periods to pursue her career. Others have remarked on the brevity and lack of detail throughout some periods of her career (if not MOST of it). I would agree. Though personal and to the point, her recollections are fairly vague. I don't know if she was limited to a certain number of pages, by deadlines, or simply couldn't recall those times through the haze of substance abuse. I will say that I wished there were more... much more. (C'mon Chaka... girl if you're gonna write it... write it) Perhaps the intent was to focus on a few specific moments and what she pulled from those experiences. To the self-dubbed "in-the-moment gal", I gather everything else was irrelevant. I would like to know more about her rise with Rufus beyond the formative years, more detail on the inter-relationships (she could've devoted an entire chapter to her and Tony Maiden alone), inspiration for songs that she penned and adventures on the road. Most importantly, more on where that voice derived it's passion and fire. She seems to have completed this book for the purposes of exorcising demons, rather than putting focus on the beauty and legend that she created. In a way the book IS optimistic, in the sense that she feels that she has now gotten the upper hand on her demons. She continues to look forward, taking each day as it comes. I wish her the very best.

Though the book name is Chaka! "Through the Fire", Ms. Khan shows that she can go through the fire, shed the traces of her former selves and spread her wings and soar like the Hot Butterfly that she is. As stated by previous reviewers this is a very honest and heartfelt review of the ups and downs, and turn arounds of a artists who is royalty in the world of music. Ms. Khan traces her interesting, but turbulent childhood and teens years as a black panther, through her initial rise to fame with Funk Legends Rufus, and her forray into a successful solo career. Behind the glitz and glamour Chaka shares in details her many addictions to drugs and the many insecure men she has had in her life. Throughout all of this Chaka was able to eventually find herself, self love and innerpeace. This book is very inspiring and Chaka's narrative reads like a movie script. You feel like she's sitting in the roon with you as you read it. I say this is a Must Have, and you'll walk away very inspired. As the old cliche's go Chaka proves that she is "A woman, a Backbone, and it's all in her".

Chaka Khan has one of those "forever voices." She's a diva who has influenced many a modern songtress with her limitless range and soulful delivery. Now she's been given a chance to tell her story from the highs to the lows and back again, and the result is a gripping biogrpahy of one of the most talented singers to ever pick up a microphone.

Despite what people may think, Chaka's life was not all glitter and stardust. In fact, it wasn't until her teens that the idea of becoming a professional singer even entered her mind. Raised in Chicago during the tumultuous era of the Black Panthers and civil unrest, Chaka had her share of reasons to grow up and leave the violence and heartache that the movement often brought. Thus began her journey.

THROUGH THE FIRE highlights Chaka's ups and down in the recording industry as well as her personal life. The book was an eye-opener to many of the things that are wrong with the music business, but it was also a memoir of Chaka's struggle to maintain control of her world in an industry that has been the fall of many. Chaka's story reads like a letter to the reader in many ways. The language is casual and the stories are somewhat chronological, bringing to mind an old friend telling a story over a cup of coffee. I felt as though I had been a part of Chaka's journey. I'd encourage all of Chaka's fans and naysayers, as well as those who have yet to experience her, to read this book.

Reviewed by CandaceK
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

With all the glowing praise heaped upon Khan's autobiography, I anticipated a work cut above the usual. Unfortunately, it is the usual lifestyle that entertainers tout as part of their past that makes this book "routine": dysfunction in the family, drug abuse, touring and band tensions, failed relationships, and "rehabilitation" from all the wrongs.

While a well-written and organized piece, the book just fails to really "catch fire". The two sets of personal photos are welcome and do add to the enjoyment of the read. Also, a lengthy discography fills out the final section of the book.

I just wish the text had been more scorching.

Recently checked out this book and thought it was not bad as celebrity memoirs go. Though the book is a collaborative effort, it is unmistakeably the voice of Chaka Khan. She frankly discusses both the successes, spoils and the pressures of an unexpectedly rapid rise to pop stardom. As the powerhouse tomboy of seventies soul music, Chaka Khan created a amazing body of work with the integrated pop/rock/soul band Rufus. On her own, she has been less successful but no less interesting. Indeed, she is now getting her well-deserved props for the white-hot trail she blazed in pop/R&B music. At the same time, she is also upfront about her legendary drug problems, romantic failings and her flaws as a parent. All told, this is a quick read, enjoyable and very down-to-earth.

This opening comment is directed to the writer who titled their review; "Chaka Uncut".

Aretha gave birth to her first child when she was thirteen years of age. She most certainly could be Chaka's momma. As we used to say in the neighborhood a very looong time ago...."So talk what you know!"

A good read. Boring if you are looking for lots of juicy details about intimate and private portions of the author's life.

I believe this is an honest and forthright book that makes Chaka transparent before her fans and the world. Chaka's drug addiction and addled behavior was a well know industry secret.

It's good to know she is clean and moving forward with her life. She purports to be a Christian these days. Lets all wish her the best.

In Uncharacteristic Charity,

Miss Ross

Growing up listening to Chaka Khan's music and already having a sense of understanding about her, made this quite the enjoyable read! Every fan should read this book and then share it with anyone who would like to see how a sister triumphed over the harsh reality of the ghetto, drug abuse and the entertainment industry.

This autobiography shapes Sister Khan's life in a positive, truthful way. I read this and at times, would catch myself looking at her pictures, listening to some of her favorite songs and then acutally crying, because our music would not be the same without her. It felt good knowing that after all that she had been through, she is still here and we can still experience her gift through the sampling of new artists and by dusting off an old album or CD.

I have a new found respect for Sister Khan after reading this book and would recommend that everyone read it as well. This is the perfect book club novel, full of great discussion points and filled with many great lessons in life. An excellent novel, to say the least.
Rene Reyes
MBC/2004

As a little one of about 3 yrs old I remember my sister having the Rufus feat. Chaka Khan LP and staring at the sexy woman in leather, fur, and feather clippings and wondering "WHO IS THIS WILD CHILD"! Well, that woman would possess one of the most AWESOME and influential voices to ever sing.

Fans have waited years for this memoir and as Chaka states in the book, she's worked on it for years, but was afraid to face all her demons or even remember alot of things, but after persistence from her sister and with the help of others for recollection, decided to finish it in hopes that it would help someone and also to leave something for her children and grandchildren.

Chaka! Through the Fire, chronicles her childhood in Chi-Town, her affiliation with the Black Panthers, Rufus, 2 marriages and 2 children, alcohol and drug abuse, diva antics, and the highs and lows of every realm of her legendary career and life. The language in the book is definitely in your face, no holds barred and simply Chaka, but what can you expect from the WOMAN OF FIRE!

Thanks Chaka for sharing a glimpse into your life. God Bless.