Chaka Khan

Chaka Khan joins Vernon Kay to choose ten songs that have soundtracked her life, including tracks by Jimi Hendrix, Billie Holiday and Miles Davis.

Chaka tells Vernon all about discovering her love of music as a child, the importance of a particularly inspirational teacher and then becoming part of the Black Panther movement. She then tells the story of joining Rufus and getting signed and treats Vernon to tales of meeting and working with some of her heroes, including Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston and Joni Mitchell.

Chaka Khan headlines Radio 2 In The Park in Stirling on Saturday 12 September, just ahead of the release of her thirteenth studio album Chakzilla. She is an eleven-time Grammy Award winner, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. After starting her career as the lead singer of the band Rufus, and having numerous hits, she developed an astonishing solo career, known for global smashes like I'm Every Woman and I Feel For You. Having started in the 70s, she has been making and releasing music for more than five decades.

You can watch this episode of Tracks Of My Years and more with guests such as Paul McCartney, Phil Collins and The Rolling Stones on BBC iPlayer and Radio 2's YouTube channel, just search for 'Tracks Of My Years'.

A BBC Audio production for BBC Radio 2.