The original female vocalist for legendary Disco/pop act Chic, who appeared on the group’s classic tracks ‘Le Freak’, ‘Good Times’, ‘Everybody Dance’ and ‘I Want Your Love,’ Alfa Anderson has passed away on December. She was 78-years old.
About his band member’s death, Chic co-founder Nile Rodgers took to Instagram with a montage of photos and Anderson’s version of ‘At Last I Am Free,’ writing:
“Thank you for everything.” “RIP Alfa Anderson. CHIC organization. Forever loved [prayer and heart emojis].(sic)”
Debuting at Carnegie Hall in 1976, Alfa got her start in a featured role in jazz musician Cannonball Adderley’s Big Man.
During the 1970s, Anderson recorded backing vocals for the likes of Nat Adderley, Ray Barretto, Odyssey, and Roy Buchanan, and was on the soundtrack to ‘The Wiz’, produced by Quincy Jones. But her life changed when superstar singer/songwriter Luther Vandross invited her to a vocal session for the newly-formed Chic, featuring Tony Thompson on drums and Norma Jean Wright on vocals.
While Alfa started as a backing vocalist on Chic’s early single ‘Everybody Dance,’ after touring with the band she was promoted to lead vocalist and shared the role with Luci Martin from the late 1970s into the early 1980s.
Anderson also sang on Nile Rodgers-produced recordings for Diana Ross and Sister Sledge, and later toured with Luther Vandross, Sir Mick Jagger, Gregory Hines and Teddy Pendergrass.
In her latter years, Alfa Anderson released her first solo album, ‘Music From My Heart’ in 2017, and debuted the record at a packed-out concert in New York.
At press time, no further details about Ms Anderson’s passing were made available,
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Alex Marshall