Chi-town’s own Rufus and the incredible Chaka Khan have a story that needs to be made into film for sure! From wikipedia:
Heading into 1975, the group headlined their first major tour, with Khan attracting attention in concert reviews for her pwerhourse vocals and sexy attire — so much so that when it came to do photo sets, Khan was often the only artist chosen to be featured on covers, mainly on magazines such as Jet, which Khan would be heavily featured on throughout her long career. Also due to her off-stage antics that added to her on-stage persona, the media billed Khan as “the wild child”. Due to Khan’s vocal power and sex appeal, she was often compared to Tina Turner, with some rock and soul press labeling her a “pint-sized Tina”, and also to Aretha Franklin (her friends called her “little Aretha”). Attention to Khan began to make things difficult for some of the group’s members as they felt Khan’s presence had overshadowed the entire band’s output. The group’s fourth release, and the third major release where Khan was dominant lead singer, Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, was released in 1975. The major hit off the album was a Khan and Tony Maiden composition titled “Sweet Thing” which reached the top five of the charts and became their fourth record to reach gold.
Sweet Thing
Despite the album’s success as well as a second successful major tour that followed, it still didn’t stop growing tensions within the group, particularly between Khan and longtime Rufus drummer Andre Fischer. During recording sessions of Ask Rufus, Khan had married Richard Holland (she had divorced her first husband Hassan Khan in 1974 prior to the birth of their child Milini), and the presence of Holland only made things worse between Khan and Fischer. During one session of Ask Rufus, Fischer engaged in a fight with Holland, who received help from a counter-attacking Khan. Ask Rufus would be released in 1977 and include the hits “At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)“, “Hollywood” and “Everlasting Love”, the latter two songs becoming popular among Khan fans. Following a tour to promote Ask Rufus, Fischer finally left the group. He was followed out of the group by Nate Morgan. They were replaced by Richard “Moon” Calhoun and Dave “Hawk” Wolinski, respectively. The new lineup recorded the popular album, Street Player, which featured the popular Khan-composed ballad, “Stay”. After first putting it off as a rumor, Khan confirmed to media reports that she was going solo, signing a deal with Warner Bros. Records.
Tell Me Something Good
The decision strained relations between Khan and the other Rufus members. Khan released her self-titled debut later in 1978. The album sold more than Street Player, going platinum, thanks to the international Ashford & Simpson-composed single, “I’m Every Woman“. Khan continued to promote the album into 1979.
Once You Get Started
Though Khan would later say that she was ready to leave Rufus upon the time she released Chaka in 1978, she discovered that she had two more albums left in her ABC/MCA contract with the band and agreed to fulfill her obligations. Following Masterjam, one of the contractual albums, and another Khan-less album, Party ‘Til You’re Broke, which bombed, the factions of Rufus and Khan reunited for their last MCA album, Camouflage in 1981. The feelings of long overdrawn bad tensions were felt during album sessions. This resulted in situations where Khan would either record her vocals alone to a click track prior to he band’s instrumentation being added later, or vice-versa.
Stay
Rufus band members sensed that their tenure was over and agreed to split on the terms they release one last live album to commemorate the occasion. The band asked Khan to contribute to their final concert performance which would be filmed by Warner Bros., and she obliged, reuniting with the group for what was to be later released as a documentary film titled Stompin’ At the Savoy. For some reason, Warner Bros. refused to release the film at that time and released only the live album instead. However the concert has since been released to home-video with remastered picture and remixed 5.1 Dolby Surround sound.
Hollywood