Music

Born in 1952 in New York, Nile Rodgers confided in an interview: "My mother had me when she was 14 years old. She was in a kind of prison for teenagers and children. That's where I was officially born." 

This difficult start to life later led him to escape into music, where his parents often left him alone. Music kept him company and he listened to it as much as he practiced it, first with the flute at the age of six, then on classical guitar during his adolescence.  At the age of 18, he took part in the TV program "Sesame Street" as a guitarist, then in the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem where he accompanied Aretha Franklin. "I already knew that music was going to be my life," he confides. At the same time, the young prodigy founded The Big Apple Band with his guitarist friend Bernard Edwards, whom he met at "Sesame Street". In 1973, the band, which was beginning to meet with some success, was offered the opening slot for the Jackson 5 tour. After a second album with more timid sales, the two accomplices decided to join forces with drummer Tony Thompson to found The Boys on the ashes of The Big Apple Band. The rock-funk band began a long tour but unfortunately did not catch the ear of music labels.

In 1977, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards renamed the band, which became Chic. A year later, they started their international career with "Le Freak c'est chic". The hit set the dancefloors on fire and became the best-selling single in the history of Atlantic Records. For the record, the global hit was born on New Year's Eve, when the two accomplices were refused entry to the artists of the mythical Studio 54 (despite being invited by Grace Jones). After celebrating the New Year by drinking champagne sitting in front of the club, the duo composed their song on the phrase pronounced by the bouncer: "Freak Out!".

In 1979, they released "Good Times" which remains one of the most sampled tracks in history. In particular by the group The Sugarhill Gang who took the famous bass line of the song to make a song released the same year, "Rapper's Delight". Success was immediate for what is often considered the first worldwide rap hit. Is a sample a copy? The answer seems to be "yes" for the two members of Chic. After some negotiations, they reached an agreement with The Sugarhill Gang and were credited as co-writers of the hit. No hard feelings for Nile Rodgers who sometimes covers "Rapper's Delight" on stage.  The members of The Sugarhill Gang have probably kept a more bitter memory of the incident since it turns out that they didn't sample the Chic track, they had played it again in the studio with a funk band.

The two companions were then offered to produce some of the talents of their label, Atlantic Records, themselves. They chose Sister Sledge and the famous "We are Family". They then contributed to Sheila's success with "Spacer". "He has offered a new path to my career, it's one of the greatest gifts I've received," said the French singer, whose song was recently put back in the spotlight at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris.

In the 1980s, the disco craze gradually died out, and Chic broke up in 1983. Nile Rodgers then began a solo career but above all made an encounter that would be decisive for him: David Bowie. The same year, they released the pop-sounding album "Let's Dance" together, which brought the producer and guitarist a new lease of life, and new collaborations.

 In 1984, the tireless hitmaker produced Madonna's iconic album "Like a Virgin", which sold more than 21 million copies. He says: " Madonna came with demos, all generated by electronic sequencers. I told her, 'Anyone can do this, use a sequencer.' But if my band plays this music, it will sound completely different. Because Chic has its own original sound. So I offered to play her records."

The hits followed. For the English band Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers signed "Seven and the Ragged Tiger". He later collaborated with Avicii on the album "True". We also owe him "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk. Nile Rodgers definitely has a special place among music legends. At the same time composer, guitarist or producer, he is above all a talented magician, who transforms everything he touches into a gold record. He has therefore deservedly earned his place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Always on the lookout for new collaborations, he works with the K-pop girl group Lesserafim on the lead track of their debut album, "Unforgiven," which features Rodgers' signature funk guitar beats. In 2024, he created a surprise by joining the band on stage at the Coachella festival.

At 72 years old today, Rodgers has written some of the most beautiful pages in the history of music.

(CMa/ML - Photo : © Music Belgium Photos)

Photo : Nile Rodgers lors d'un concert à l'OLT Rivierenhof de Deurne pr§ès d'Anvers (Belgique) le 8 août 2023 (© Music Belgium Photos)