Chaka Khan

American funk/soul singer.
Born 23rd March 1953 in Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Illinois, she was raised on Chicago's South Side and at the age of 11 formed her first group, the Crystalettes. While still in high school, she joined the Affro-Arts Theater, a group which toured with Motown great Mary Wells; a few years later, she adopted the African name Chaka Khan while working on the Black Panthers' breakfast program.