Womad

Chic

Kings of the '70s disco scene continue to do Le Freak

Few individuals have been so identifiable with a musical genre as guitarist and producer Nile Rodgers. Along with much-copied bassist Bernard Edwards (who sadly passed away in 1996), Rodgers and Chic became synonymous with the disco era. When they emerged with the album Chic in 1977, they injected a healthy dose of funk, groove and loose band interplay into a scene that was already in danger of becoming somewhat formulaic. Classic singles such as Everybody Dance, I Want Your Love and their signature tune Le Freak (which went on to sell a not unimpressive six million copies) followed. The 1979 album Risqué would seal their position as musical trailblazers, with the lead single Good Times being sampled on the Sugarhill Gang's pivotal hip-hop single, Rapper's Delight. After Chic parted ways in 1983, Rodgers became one the most important producers of the decade, enjoying an unbelievable run of success as the guiding force behind David Bowie's Let's Dance, Duran Duran's Arena and Madonna's Like A Virgin. And now, more than 30 years after their stunning debut, a new Chic album is finally on the way.

Biog by Rob Williams