Chaka Khan — NPR Tiny Desk, 2024

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Why this recording

NPR's published set list has seven songs, from “Tell Me Something Good”, opened on talk box by Rob Bacon, to the closing “I'm Every Woman”, written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. In between, “Stay” and “Through the Fire” round out the set. Melvin Davis plays bass and serves as musical director of a nine-piece band that includes three backing singers. Producer Mitra I. Arthur notes that Tiffany Smith takes on the most daunting moment of “Sweet Thing”. Joshua Bryant directed and edited.

— Simon Janvier, live-sound professional and editor of the catalogue

Recording technical sheet

Rights-holding channelNPR Music
Source statusOfficial — broadcaster or organiser
Broadcast
Uploaded
Exact runtime
ResolutionHD (720p+)
Directed byJoshua Bryant
Source qualityProfessional (multi-camera)

Metadata checked on YouTube on 29 September 2026; direction, camera setup and sound documented by the editors.

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Published on September 5, 2026 by Simon Janvier

A live concert filmed at NPR’s headquarters in Washington in June 2024, this Tiny Desk celebrates Chaka Khan, the “Queen of Funk,” as part of a Black Music Month devoted to women in Black music. Emerging in the 1970s with the funk band Rufus, the singer has built an extraordinary career: 22 albums, ten Grammy Awards, forays into jazz and theatre, collaborations with Prince, Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones, and a well-deserved 2023 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Behind Bob Boilen’s desk, she sets the crowd alight from Tell Me Something Good, carried by Rob Bacon’s guitar and talk box, Melvin Davis’s bass and Jay Williams’s drums. What Cha’ Gonna Do for Me, Ain’t Nobody and Sweet Thing recall Khan’s immense imprint on soul and funk. A groove-filled live capture to rediscover a legendary voice, fifty years after her debut.

Setlist

  1. Tell Me Something Good
  2. What Cha' Gonna Do for Me
  3. Ain't Nobody
  4. Sweet Thing

Personnel & credits

  • Chaka Khan — vocals
  • Rob Bacon — guitar, talk box
  • Melvin Davis — bass
  • Jay Williams — drums
  • Tiffany Smith — vocals
Category

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