Chic were an American soul-funk band from N.Y.C. that released seven albums on Atlantic between 1977 and 1983.
Members: Nile Rodgers (guitar, vocals, producer, 1977-present), Bernard Edwards (bass, vocals, producer, 1977-96), Tony Thompson (drums, 1977-83), Norma Jean Wright (lead vocals, 1977), Luci Martin (lead vocals, 1977-83), Alfa Anderson (lead vocals, 1978-83)
Chic evolved from a partnership between guitarist Nile Rodgers (b. 1952) and Bernard Edwards (1952–1996), who met as R&B sidemen in the early 1970s. Rodgers was already writing songs; two of his co-compositions (“Black Satin Amazon Fire Engine Cry Baby” and “Loose Here”) appear on the 1970 album The Blue Guerrilla by soul-jazz poet Kain.
Rodgers and Edwards formed an R&B-rock combo The Boys, later renamed The Big Apple Band, which gigged the NYC club circuit. Despite interest in their demos, they were unable to secure a record deal. They served as the backing band for the soul group New York City, which issued two albums on Chelsea Records in 1973/74.
After that group split, Rodgers and Edwards played on the album Missing You by soul singer Robert Cotter, released in 1976 on the tax-scam Tiger Lily label. Here, the pair first encountered drummer Tony Thomas, who’d done uncredited backing stints with Labelle and Ecstasy, Passion & Pain. The three formed the core of Chic, conceived to match disco-funk with a high-fashion style of dress.
Discography:
- Chic (1977)
- C’est Chic (1978)
- Risqué (1979)
- Real People (1980)
- Take It Off (1981)
- Tongue in Chic (1982)
- Believer (1983)
- Chic-Ism (1992)
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