Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. (born September 19, 1952) is an American musician, record producer and composer. The co-founder of
Chic
Chic (; ), meaning "stylish" or "smart", is an element of fashion. It was originally a French word. Pronounced Chick.
Etymology
'' Chic'' is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s. Early references in English diction ...
, Rodgers has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 500 million albums and 75 million singles worldwide.
He is a
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a three-time
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...
–winner, and the chairman of the
Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) is an American institution founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, music publisher/songwriter Abe Olman, and publisher/executive Howie Richmond to honor those whose work, represent, and maintain, the her ...
.
Known for his "
chucking" guitar style, ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'' wrote in 2014 that "the full scope of Nile Rodgers' career is still hard to fathom".
Formed as the Big Apple Band in 1972 with bassist
Bernard Edwards,
Chic released their
self-titled debut album in 1977, including the hit singles "
Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)
"Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" is a song by American band Chic, released as their debut single. It was a hit in the United States, reaching number six on both the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. In additi ...
" and "
Everybody Dance". The 1978 album ''
C'est Chic'' produced the hits "
I Want Your Love" and "
Le Freak
"Le Freak" is a 1978 funk / disco song by American R&B band Chic. It was the band's third single and first ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and R&B number-one hit song. Along with the tracks " I Want Your Love" and "Chic Cheer", "Le Freak" scored number ...
", with the latter selling more than seven million singles worldwide. The song "
Good Times" from the 1979 album ''
Risqué'' was a number one single on the pop and soul charts, and became one of the most-sampled songs of all time, "ushering in" hip-hop via
the Sugarhill Gang
The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip hop trio. Their 1979 hit "Rapper's Delight" was the first rap single to become a top 40 hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100; reaching a peak position of number 36 on January 12, 1980. This was the trio's onl ...
's "
Rapper's Delight
"Rapper's Delight" is a 1979 hip-hop track by the Sugarhill Gang, produced by Sylvia Robinson. Although it was shortly preceded by the Fatback Band's "King Tim III (Personality Jock)", "Rapper's Delight" is credited for introducing hip-hop mus ...
", inspiring
Queen
Queen or QUEEN may refer to:
Monarchy
* Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom
** List of queens regnant
* Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king
* Queen dowager, the widow of a king
* Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...
's "
Another One Bites the Dust", and anchoring the
Daft Punk hit "
Around the World".
With Edwards, Rodgers wrote and produced music for other artists, including the songs "
He's the Greatest Dancer
"He's the Greatest Dancer" is a 1979 song by the American vocal group Sister Sledge. Released on February 3, 1979, the song was written and composed by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, and recorded for the group's successful 1979 album '' We ...
" and "
We Are Family" for
Sister Sledge and "
I'm Coming Out" and "
Upside Down" for
Diana Ross. After Chic's breakup in 1983, Rodgers produced several major albums and singles for other artists, including
David Bowie
David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
's ''
Let's Dance'', "
Original Sin" by
INXS,
Duran Duran's "
The Reflex
"The Reflex" is the eleventh single by English new wave band Duran Duran, released in 1984. The song was heavily remixed for single release and was the third and last to be taken from their third studio album '' Seven and the Ragged Tiger'' ...
" and "
Notorious", and
Madonna's "
Like a Virgin".
He later worked with artists including
The B-52s
The B-52's, also styled as The B-52s, are an American new wave band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1976. The original lineup consisted of Fred Schneider (vocals, percussion), Kate Pierson (vocals, keyboards, synth bass), Cindy Wilson (vocals, p ...
,
Jeff Beck,
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English singer and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the lead vocalist and one of the founder members of the rock band the Rolling Stones. His ongoing songwriting partnershi ...
,
Grace Jones,
The Vaughan Brothers,
Bryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry CBE (born 26 September 1945) is an English singer and songwriter. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established a distinctive image and sartorial style: according to ''The Independent'', Ferry an ...
,
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice of ...
,
Lady Gaga
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta ( ; born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenag ...
, and Daft Punk, winning three Grammy Awards in 2014 for his work on their album ''
Random Access Memories
''Random Access Memories'' is the fourth studio album by the French electronic duo Daft Punk, released on 17 May 2013 through Columbia Records. The album pays tribute to late 1970s and early 1980s American music, particularly from Los Angeles. ...
''.
In 2018, Rodgers co-founded
Hipgnosis Songs Fund
Hipgnosis Songs Fund is a British Guernsey-registered music IP investment and song management company founded by Merck Mercuriadis and Nile Rodgers in 2018. Focused on songs and associated musical intellectual property rights, it was founded ...
, a publicly traded music
intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, cop ...
investment company.
Early life
Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. was born on September 19, 1952 in the
Lower East Side,
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
to Beverly Goodman. She gave birth to Rodgers when she was 14. His biological father, Nile Rodgers Sr. – a traveling
percussionist
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Ex ...
who specialized in
Afro-Cuban
Afro-Cubans or Black Cubans are Cubans of West African ancestry. The term ''Afro-Cuban'' can also refer to historical or cultural elements in Cuba thought to emanate from this community and the combining of native African and other cultural el ...
beats – was rarely present as Rodgers grew up; although influential in his life, Rodgers saw his father only a "handful" of times prior to his death in 1970.
In 1959, Goodman married Bobby Glanzrock, whom Rodgers described in his 2011 autobiography as a "
beatnik PhD, whose observations had angles that would make
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of musi ...
contemplate his cool."
Richard Pryor
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor Sr. (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He reached a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style, and is widely regarded as on ...
,
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk (, October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including " 'Round Midnight", ...
, and
Lenny Bruce often visited their home in
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village ( , , ) is a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City, bounded by 14th Street to the north, Broadway to the east, Houston Street to the south, and the Hudson River to the west. Greenwich Village ...
. Glanzrock and Goodman were addicted to
heroin, and Rodgers began using drugs at 13.
Before learning to play the guitar at 16, Rodgers played the
flute and the
clarinet. As a teenager, he played guitar with African, Persian, Latin, jazz and
Boogaloo bands. He became a subsection leader of the
Lower Manhattan branch of the New York
Black Panther Party as a teenager.
His cousin, trumpeter Robert "Spike" Mickens was a member of hitmakers
Kool and the Gang
Kool & the Gang is an American R&B/soul/funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West. T ...
from 1964 to 1986.
Career
1970s: Formation of Chic, "Le Freak", Sister Sledge
Rodgers met bassist
Bernard Edwards in 1970 while working as a touring musician for the ''
Sesame Street
''Sesame Street'' is an American educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Workshop until June 2000) ...
'' stage show. Together they formed The Big Apple Band, and worked as back-up musicians for the vocal group
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
("
I'm Doin' Fine Now"). New York City's one hit allowed them to tour extensively, opening for
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 (sometimes stylized as the Jackson 5ive, also known as the Jacksons) are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was founded in 1964 in Gary, Indiana, and for most o ...
on the American leg of their first world tour in 1973.
The band dissolved after their second album failed to yield a hit, but Nile and Bernard joined forces with drummer
Tony Thompson, and worked and recorded as a funk rock band called The Boys, which played numerous gigs up and down the East Coast. Although there was label interest, record companies passed on the band after discovering its members were black, believing that black rock artists would be too hard to promote.
As the Big Apple Band, Rodgers and Edwards worked with
Ashford & Simpson
Ashford & Simpson were an American husband-and-wife songwriting-production team and recording duo of Nickolas Ashford (May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011) and Valerie Simpson (born August 26, 1946).
Ashford was born in Fairfield, South Carolina, ...
,
Luther Vandross, and many others. Since another New York artist,
Walter Murphy
Walter Anthony Murphy Jr. (born December 19, 1952) is an American composer, keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for the instrumental " A Fifth of Beethoven", a disco adaptation of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony which top ...
, had a band called The Big Apple Band, Rodgers and Edwards were forced to change their band's name to avoid confusion. Thus, in 1977 the band was renamed as
Chic
Chic (; ), meaning "stylish" or "smart", is an element of fashion. It was originally a French word. Pronounced Chick.
Etymology
'' Chic'' is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s. Early references in English diction ...
.
Inspired by
Roxy Music
Roxy Music are an English rock band formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry—who became the band's lead vocalist and principal songwriter—and bassist Graham Simpson. The other longtime members are Phil Manzanera (guitar), Andy Mackay (saxophone ...
, Chic developed a sound that was a fusion of jazz, soul, and funk grooves with melodies and lyrics with a European influence. Between gigs, they recorded the song "Dance, Dance, Dance", with then-boss
Luther Vandross on vocals.
Originally released by
Buddah Records
Buddah Records (later known as Buddha Records) was an American record label founded in 1967 in New York City. The label was born out of Kama Sutra Records, an MGM Records-distributed label, which remained a key imprint following Buddah's foun ...
, it was a hit when it was re-released by Atlantic in the summer of 1977. Atlantic picked up an album option with Rodgers and Edwards, who quickly wrote more songs, and Chic's self-titled debut was released in November.
The band scored numerous top ten hits and helped propel
disco to new levels of popularity, with "
Le Freak
"Le Freak" is a 1978 funk / disco song by American R&B band Chic. It was the band's third single and first ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and R&B number-one hit song. Along with the tracks " I Want Your Love" and "Chic Cheer", "Le Freak" scored number ...
", "
I Want Your Love", "
Everybody Dance",
"
Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)
"Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" is a song by American band Chic, released as their debut single. It was a hit in the United States, reaching number six on both the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. In additi ...
",
"
My Forbidden Lover
"My Forbidden Lover" is the second single from Chic's 1979 album '' Risqué''. From the funk/soul genre, and in the style of disco, the song was written and produced by Chic's two frontmen, Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers.
The song's backing ...
", and "
Good Times" becoming club/pop/R&B standards.
"Le Freak" was
Atlantic Records' only triple platinum selling single at the time,
and "Good Times" shot to No. 1 in August 1979 in spite of that year's "
Disco Sucks
Disco Demolition Night was a Major League Baseball (MLB) promotion on Thursday, July 12, 1979, at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois, that ended in a riot. At the climax of the event, a crate filled with disco records was blown up on the fiel ...
" movement protesting that style of music.
The success of Chic's first singles led Atlantic to offer Rodgers and Edwards the opportunity to produce any act on its roster. They chose
Sister Sledge, whose 1979 album, ''
We Are Family'',
peaked at No. 3 and remained on the charts well into 1980. The first two singles, "
He's the Greatest Dancer
"He's the Greatest Dancer" is a 1979 song by the American vocal group Sister Sledge. Released on February 3, 1979, the song was written and composed by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, and recorded for the group's successful 1979 album '' We ...
" and the title cut "
We Are Family" both reached No. 1 on the R&B chart, and No. 6 and No. 2, respectively on the Pop chart.
In April 2018, "We Are Family" was selected to be preserved in the Library of Congress.
1980s: Diana Ross, David Bowie, INXS, Madonna, Duran Duran
The
1979 disco backlash derailed Chic, and Edwards retreated from work,
while Rodgers' drug use accelerated.
Rodgers and Edwards delivered their final Atlantic album under contract, ''
Believer'', in 1982.
They completed one of their last projects together in 1980, writing and producing the album ''
Diana'' for
Diana Ross, which yielded the hits "
Upside Down"
and "
I'm Coming Out".
They produced
Deborah Harry
Deborah Ann Harry (born Angela Trimble; July 1, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter and actress, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Blondie. Four of her songs with the band reached on the US charts between 1979 and 1981.
Born in ...
's 1981 solo album ''
Koo Koo
''KooKoo'' is the debut solo album by American singer Debbie Harry, released on July 27, 1981, by Chrysalis Records. Produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic, the album was recorded whilst Harry took a break from her band Blondie ...
'', and produced the hit "Spacer" for the French disco act
Sheila and B. Devotion.
During the same time period, Chic's song "
Good Times" was sampled on
The Sugarhill Gang
The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip hop trio. Their 1979 hit "Rapper's Delight" was the first rap single to become a top 40 hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100; reaching a peak position of number 36 on January 12, 1980. This was the trio's onl ...
's "
Rapper's Delight
"Rapper's Delight" is a 1979 hip-hop track by the Sugarhill Gang, produced by Sylvia Robinson. Although it was shortly preceded by the Fatback Band's "King Tim III (Personality Jock)", "Rapper's Delight" is credited for introducing hip-hop mus ...
", the first multiple-platinum hip hop single. The song continued to influence the sounds of others, including
Queen
Queen or QUEEN may refer to:
Monarchy
* Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom
** List of queens regnant
* Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king
* Queen dowager, the widow of a king
* Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...
, (with the 1980 hit "Another One Bites the Dust") and
Blondie, who had a #1 hit with "Rapture".
Following Chic's breakup, Rodgers released his first solo album, ''
Adventures in the Land of the Good Groove''.
With Chic no longer occupying most of his time, Rodgers was free to focus on working with other artists. He produced David Bowie's biggest selling album ''
Let's Dance'', which yielded the hit singles "Let's Dance", "China Girl", and "Modern Love". He produced the single "Original Sin" by INXS, and in 1984, he produced
Madonna's album ''
Like a Virgin'', which scored three hit singles including its title track, "
Material Girl
"Material Girl" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her second studio album, '' Like a Virgin'' (1984). It was released on November 30, 1984, by the Sire label as the second single from ''Like a Virgin''. It also appears slightly ...
", and "Dress You Up".
He worked extensively with
Duran Duran, remixing their biggest-selling single, "The Reflex", producing "Wild Boys" on their 1984 live album, ''
Arena
An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators ...
'', and co-producing the album ''
Notorious''.
In 1985, Rodgers produced albums for
Sheena Easton
Sheena Shirley Easton (; born 27 April 1959) is a Scottish singer and actress. Easton came into the public eye in an episode of the first British musical reality television programme '' The Big Time: Pop Singer'', which recorded her attempts to ...
,
Jeff Beck,
Thompson Twins
Thompson Twins were a British pop band formed in 1977 in Sheffield. Initially a new wave group, they switched to a more mainstream pop sound and achieved considerable popularity during the mid-1980s, scoring a string of hits in the United Kin ...
,
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English singer and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the lead vocalist and one of the founder members of the rock band the Rolling Stones. His ongoing songwriting partnershi ...
, and others,
and performed at
Live Aid with Madonna and the Thompson Twins. He was named the #1 Singles Producer in the World by ''
Billboard'' at the end of the year.
To complete the decade, he produced albums for
Grace Jones,
Al Jarreau (''
L is for Lover
''L Is for Lover'' is the eighth studio album by American R&B singer Al Jarreau, released on September 8, 1986 by Warner Bros. Records. It peaked at No. 30 on the '' Billboard'' Top Soul Albums chart, No. 9 on the Traditional Jazz Albums chart, ...
''),
Earth Wind and Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire (EW&F or EWF) is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, big band, Latin, and Afro pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million reco ...
's vocalist
Philip Bailey
Philip James Bailey (born May 8, 1951) is an American R&B, soul, gospel and funk singer, songwriter and percussionist, best known as an early member and one of the two lead singers (along with group founder Maurice White) of the band Earth, ...
, and performed on "
Higher Love
"Higher Love" is a 1986 song by English singer Steve Winwood. It was the first single released from his fourth solo LP, ''Back in the High Life'' (1986). It was written by Winwood and Will Jennings and produced by Russ Titelman and Winwood. The ...
" with
Steve Winwood, as well as on records for
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper Thornton (born June 22, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and activist. Her career has spanned over 40 years. Her album ''She's So Unusual'' (1983) was the first debut album by a female artist to achi ...
, and others.
In 1989, he co-produced the B-52's multi-platinum album ''
Cosmic Thing
''Cosmic Thing'' is the fifth studio album by American new wave band the B-52's, released in 1989. It contains the singles " Love Shack" and " Roam". The success of the album served as a comeback after the death of guitarist Ricky Wilson in 19 ...
''; it reached No. 4 on the ''
Billboard 200
The ''Billboard'' 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular music albums and EPs in the United States. It is published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine and is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of ar ...
'' album chart, and yielded the singles "Love Shack", and "Roam".
He produced ''
Workin' Overtime'',
Diana Ross' return to
Motown,
and the soundtracks for ''
Alphabet City
Alphabet City is a neighborhood located within the East Village in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Its name comes from Avenues A, B, C, and D, the only avenues in Manhattan to have single-letter names. It is bounded by Houston St ...
'', ''
Gremlins
''Gremlins'' is a 1984 American black comedy horror film directed by Joe Dante, written by Chris Columbus, and starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Polly Holliday, and Frances Lee McCain, with Howie Mandel providing the voice ...
'',
''
White Nights
White night, White Night, or White Nights may refer to:
* White night (astronomy), a night in which it never gets completely dark, at high latitudes outside the Arctic and Antarctic Circles
* White Night festivals, all-night arts festivals held ...
'',
and ''
The Fly''.
He later composed an orchestral soundtrack, his first, for the film ''
Coming to America
''Coming to America'' is a 1988 American romantic comedy film directed by John Landis and based on a story originally created by Eddie Murphy, who also stars in the lead role. The film also co-stars Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Shari Hea ...
''.
[.]
Rodgers formed the short-lived experimental band Outloud in 1987, with
David Letterman's guitarist, composer, and vocalist
Felicia Collins
Felicia Michele Collins (born April 10, 1964 in Jackson, Tennessee) is an American vocalist, guitarist and occasional percussionist. She is best known for her work on the CBS television program '' Late Show with David Letterman'', as part of the C ...
and French session musician, producer, composer, and keyboardist
Philippe Saisse
Philippe Saisse is a French jazz multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer, and arranger.
Career
He was born in Marseille and raised in Paris. After studying at the Conservatoire de Paris he won a scholarship to the Berklee College of Mu ...
; the trio released a single album, ''Out Loud'', on
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Records Inc. (formerly Warner Bros. Records Inc.) is an American record label. A subsidiary of the Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division of the ...
.
1990s: Production, reformed Chic and death of Edwards, Sumthing Else
In September 1990, shortly after the death of
Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Rodgers-produced
Vaughan Brothers album, ''Family Style'' was released. He also produced projects for
David Bowie
David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
,
Eric Clapton,
The B-52s
The B-52's, also styled as The B-52s, are an American new wave band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1976. The original lineup consisted of Fred Schneider (vocals, percussion), Kate Pierson (vocals, keyboards, synth bass), Cindy Wilson (vocals, p ...
,
David Lee Roth,
Ric Ocasek
Richard Theodore Otcasek (March 23, 1944 – September 15, 2019), known as Ric Ocasek, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He was the primary co-lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and frontman for the rock ...
,
The Stray Cats
Stray Cats are an American rockabilly band formed in 1979 by guitarist and vocalist Brian Setzer, double bassist Lee Rocker, and drummer Slim Jim Phantom in the Long Island town of Massapequa, New York. The group had numerous hit singles in th ...
and others early in the decade, and worked on the soundtracks for ''
Thelma and Louise
Thelma is a female given name. It was popularized by Victorian writer Marie Corelli who gave the name to the title character of her 1887 novel ''Thelma''. It may be related to a Greek word meaning "will, volition" see ''thelema''). Note that altho ...
'', ''
Cool World
''Cool World'' is a 1992 American live-action/animated black comedy fantasy film directed by Ralph Bakshi and written by Michael Grais and Mark Victor. Starring Kim Basinger, Gabriel Byrne and Brad Pitt, it tells the story of a cartoonist w ...
'',
and ''
The Beavis and Butt-head Experience
''The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience'' is a compilation album released in 1993 by Geffen Records and related to the animated television series ''Beavis and Butt-Head''. The name is a reference to Jimi Hendrix's original band, The Jimi Hendrix Exp ...
''.
Rodgers and Edwards reformed Chic in 1992 and recorded new material for the album ''
Chic-Ism''.
In 1996 they released a Japan-only album consisting of old Chic material rerecorded with guest vocalists, ''
Chic Freak and More Treats''. Edwards and Rodgers performed with
Sister Sledge,
Steve Winwood, and
Slash
Slash may refer to:
* Slash (punctuation), the "/" character
Arts and entertainment Fictional characters
* Slash (Marvel Comics)
* Slash (''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'')
Music
* Harry Slash & The Slashtones, an American rock band
* Nash ...
in a series of commemorative concerts in Japan.
Edwards died following a concert on April 17, 1996. Rodgers discovered his body. He later said that when Edwards died he "cried like a baby and suffered intensely but eventually realised the best tribute to him would be to carry on and be the best I could be."
A year later, Rodgers returned to Japan to pay homage to his fallen partner, and in 1999, Rodgers released ''
Live at the Budokan'', a live recording of Edwards' final performance. The album was not overdubbed or changed in order to keep the recording pure.
Rodgers started playing live concerts again while composing and producing music for film soundtracks: ''
Beverly Hills Cop III
''Beverly Hills Cop III'' is a 1994 American action comedy film starring Eddie Murphy and directed by John Landis, who had previously worked with Murphy on ''Trading Places'' and ''Coming to America''. It is the third film in the Beverly Hills C ...
'', ''
Blue Chips
''Blue Chips'' is a 1994 American sports drama film, directed by William Friedkin, written by Ron Shelton and starring Nick Nolte as a college coach trying to recruit a winning team. His players were portrayed by actors as well as real-life bask ...
'',
''
The Flintstones
''The Flintstones'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The series takes place in a romanticized Stone Age setting and follows the activities of the titular family, the Flintstones, and their next-door neighb ...
''
and ''
Feeling Minnesota'', working with
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
, among others.
In 1997,
Notorious BIG
Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), better known by his stage names the Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, or simply Biggie, was an American rapper. Rooted in East Coast hip hop and particularly gangsta ...
released "
Mo Money Mo Problems
"Mo Money Mo Problems" is a song by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released through Bad Boy Records and Arista Records, which impacted US mainstream radio stations on July 15, 1997, as the second single from his second and final stud ...
" sampling Rodgers and Edwards' song "
I'm Coming Out" from Diana Ross's platinum album,
''Diana''. "Mo Money, Mo Problems" topped the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 for two weeks
and was nominated for the 1998
Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
The Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group was awarded between 1991 and 2011, alongside the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. Previously a single award was presented for Best Rap Performance.
The award was discontinu ...
.
In 1998, Rodgers founded Sumthing Else Music Works record label and
Sumthing Distribution
Sumthing Distribution was an American based company started by Nile Rodgers that distributes recording artist and independent record labels. It was the largest African-American owned distribution company in America.
It was announced on January 3, ...
, an independent music label distributor. Sumthing focused on distributing video game soundtracks, and released the world's first 5.1 surround DVD game-soundtrack album. Its titles include the ''
Halo
Halo, halos or haloes usually refer to:
* Halo (optical phenomenon)
* Halo (religious iconography), a ring of light around the image of a head
HALO, halo, halos or haloes may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Video games
* ''Halo'' (franch ...
'', ''
Resident Evil
''Resident Evil'', known in Japan as is a Japanese horror game series and media franchise created by Capcom. It consists of survival horror, third-person shooter and first-person shooter games, with players typically surviving in environments ...
'', ''
Gears of War'' and ''
Borderlands A borderland or borderlands are the geographical space or zone around a territorial border.
Borderland or borderlands may refer to:
Places
* Borderland, West Virginia, an unincorporated community in Mingo County, West Virginia
* Borderland (ele ...
'' series.
2000s: Film and video game soundtracks, We Are Family Foundation
In the early 2000s, Rodgers worked extensively on film and video game soundtracks, including ''
Halo 2
''Halo 2'' is a 2004 first-person shooter game developed by Bungie and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox console. ''Halo 2'' is the second installment in the ''Halo'' franchise and the sequel to 2001's critically acclaimed '' ...
'', ''
Rush Hour 2
''Rush Hour 2'' is a 2001 American buddy action comedy film directed by Brett Ratner and written by Jeff Nathanson, based on the characters created by Ross LaManna. A sequel to '' Rush Hour'', it is the second installment in the ''Rush Hour'' ...
'',
''
Snow Dogs
''Snow Dogs'' is a 2002 American adventure comedy film directed by Brian Levant, and produced by Jordan Kerner. The film stars Cuba Gooding Jr., with a supporting cast of James Coburn (in one of his final roles), Joanna Bacalso, Sisqó, Nichell ...
'',
and ''
Semi-Pro
''Semi-Pro'' is a 2008 American sports comedy film. The film was directed by Kent Alterman in his directorial debut, written by Scot Armstrong, and produced by Jimmy Miller. It stars Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, André Benjamin and Maura Tier ...
'' starring
Will Ferrell
John William Ferrell (; born July 16, 1967) is an American actor, comedian, and producer. He first established himself in the mid-1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show '' Saturday Night Live'', where he performed from 1995 to 2 ...
, who co-wrote the title song "
Love Me Sexy" with Rodgers.
In 2002, Rodgers returned to work again with the original five members of Duran Duran when he co-produced ''
Astronaut''.
The album rose to No. 3 in the UK.
Following the
September 11 attacks
The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commer ...
, to start the healing process, Rodgers brought together more than 200 musicians and celebrities to record "We Are Family". It was recorded in New York at Avatar Studios (previously The Power Station, where the original recording of "We Are Family" took place in 1978), and in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
at the
Record Plant. The accompanying music video was directed by
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee (born March 20, 1957) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, has produced more than 35 films since 1983. He made his directorial debut ...
. An 80-minute documentary, ''The Making and Meaning of We Are Family'', directed by
Danny Schechter
Daniel Isaac "Danny" Schechter (June 27, 1942 – March 19, 2015) was an American television producer, independent filmmaker, blogger, and media critic. He wrote and spoke about many issues including apartheid, civil rights, economics, foreign p ...
, premiered at the
Sundance Film Festival in 2002. In a collaboration between
Disney
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
,
Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its networks division's Kids and Family Group. It ...
and
PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
, more than 100 children's television characters participated in a "We Are Family" children's music video, and on March 11, 2002, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and PBS aired the video to promote tolerance and diversity on the 6-month anniversary of 9/11. In July 2002, Rodgers co-founded the
We Are Family Foundation
The We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001 by musician Nile Rodgers in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Its mission is creating and supporting programs that inspire and educa ...
with his
life partner, Nancy Hunt. A non-profit organization that promotes "cultural diversity while nurturing and mentoring the vision, talents, and ideas of young people who are positively changing the world," it is dedicated to the vision of a global family.
2010s: Autobiography, Daft Punk, Songwriters Hall of Fame, ''It's About Time''
In 2010,
Rhino Records
A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species ...
released a four-CD
box set, ''Nile Rodgers Presents The Chic Organization, Volume 1: Savoir Faire'', which for the first time collected tracks from all of the acts produced by The Chic Organization up to their original break-up in 1983. Rodgers provided sleevenotes for the set, which was also reissued in 2013. Rodgers' critically acclaimed autobiography, ''Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny'' was published by
Spiegel & Grau, a
Random House
Random House is an American book publisher and the largest general-interest paperback publisher in the world. The company has several independently managed subsidiaries around the world. It is part of Penguin Random House, which is owned by Germ ...
imprint, in late 2011. It was named one of the top 10 of the 25 Greatest Rock Memoirs of All Time by ''Rolling Stone''.
In February 2012, Rodgers announced that he was collaborating with electronic band
Daft Punk for their latest album, "teasing out their R&B influences". The record, ''
Random Access Memories
''Random Access Memories'' is the fourth studio album by the French electronic duo Daft Punk, released on 17 May 2013 through Columbia Records. The album pays tribute to late 1970s and early 1980s American music, particularly from Los Angeles. ...
'' was released in 2013. Rodgers co-wrote and played guitar on three tracks: "
Give Life Back to Music", "
Lose Yourself to Dance
"Lose Yourself to Dance" is a song by French electronic music duo Daft Punk featuring vocals from American musician Pharrell Williams. Like their previous collaboration with fellow American musician Nile Rodgers, " Get Lucky", the song was writte ...
", and "
Get Lucky". In April, "Get Lucky" entered the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
at No. 3, only 24 hours after its release, and two weeks later rose to No. 1. In an interview with
Official Charts Company
The Official Charts (legal name: The Official UK Charts Company Limited) is a British inter-professional organization that compiles various "official" record charts in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France.
In the United Kingdom, its charts in ...
, Rodgers said, "I've had big records and Number 1s; I have had records that were Number 1 in the United States but nowhere else ... I've had records which have done well
n the UK but not in the States. But to have this ubiquitous record, that is a hit everywhere ... It's amazing to me! I'm out on the road and I can hear it wherever I go. I'm flabbergasted!" "Get Lucky" became one of the UK's biggest-selling singles of all time.
Rhino Records
A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species ...
released ''Nile Rodgers Presents The Chic Organization
Up All Night (The Greatest Hits)'', a compilation album featuring songs written, played or produced by Rodgers and Bernard Edwards for Chic and various artists, including Diana Ross, Sister Sledge, Carly Simon, Debbie Harry, Johnny Mathis, Sheila & B. Devotion and Norma Jean Wright. ''Up All Night'' reached No. 2 on the UK Compilation Album Chart for the week ending July 13, 2013. In October 2013, Rhino released ''Nile Rodgers Presents The Chic Organization Up All Night (The Greatest Hits Disco Edition)'', which included a medley taken from Chic ft. Nile Rodgers' live performance at the 2013
Glastonbury Festival.
Rodgers and Bernard Edwards were nominated to the
Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) is an American institution founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, music publisher/songwriter Abe Olman, and publisher/executive Howie Richmond to honor those whose work, represent, and maintain, the her ...
in October 2013. In January 2014, Rodgers performed
"Get Lucky" with
Daft Punk on the Grammy Awards, along with
Pharrell Williams and
Stevie Wonder, with a medley including elements of Chic's "
Le Freak
"Le Freak" is a 1978 funk / disco song by American R&B band Chic. It was the band's third single and first ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and R&B number-one hit song. Along with the tracks " I Want Your Love" and "Chic Cheer", "Le Freak" scored number ...
" and Wonder's "
Another Star". Rodgers won three Grammy Awards for his work with Daft Punk and ''
Random Access Memories
''Random Access Memories'' is the fourth studio album by the French electronic duo Daft Punk, released on 17 May 2013 through Columbia Records. The album pays tribute to late 1970s and early 1980s American music, particularly from Los Angeles. ...
'', including Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Record of the Year and Album of the Year. In March, ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'' named Nile Rodgers one of the 50 Most Important People in EDM, stating, "The full scope of Nile Rodgers' career is still hard to fathom, and it's not just ongoing, it's in overdrive." In December, NARAS announced that "Le Freak" would be inducted into The Grammy Hall of Fame.
Rodgers' solo single "Do What You Wanna Do (
IMS Anthem)" was released on August 10, 2014 to benefit the We Are Family Foundation. A year later, in March 2015, Rodgers released
Chic
Chic (; ), meaning "stylish" or "smart", is an element of fashion. It was originally a French word. Pronounced Chick.
Etymology
'' Chic'' is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s. Early references in English diction ...
's first single in more than 23 years, "
I'll Be There", with a live streamed concert from The Roundhouse in London. The song, created by Rodgers from original Chic outtake tapes from the 70s, with
Bernard Edwards,
Tony Thompson, and vocalists Alfa Anderson and Luci Martin. The song went to #1 on
Billboard's Dance Music Chart, June 20, 2015. In August, Rodgers launched FOLD Festival (FreakOut! Let's Dance), A multi-day event with a diverse line-up of artists including
Beck,
Duran Duran,
Chaka Khan,
Keith Urban
Keith Lionel Urban (born 26 October 1967) is an Australian-American musician, singer, guitarist and songwriter known for his work in country music. Recognized with four Grammy Awards, Urban also received fifteen Academy of Country Music Award ...
,
Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe Robinson (; born December 1, 1985) is an American singer, rapper and actress. She is signed to Atlantic Records, as well as to her own imprint, the Wondaland Arts Society. Monáe has received eight Grammy Award nominations. Mon� ...
,
Ginger Minj
Joshua Allen Eads, stage name Ginger Minj (born September 11, 1984), an American drag queen, actor, singer-songwriter, and reality television personality. After achieving recognition for placing as the runner-up on the seventh season of the real ...
,
Chic
Chic (; ), meaning "stylish" or "smart", is an element of fashion. It was originally a French word. Pronounced Chick.
Etymology
'' Chic'' is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s. Early references in English diction ...
and many others.
Rodgers collaborated with
Lady Gaga
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta ( ; born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenag ...
to remake Chic's hit, "I Want Your Love" for
Tom Ford
Thomas Carlyle Ford (born August 27, 1961) is an American fashion designer and filmmaker. He launched his eponymous luxury brand in 2005, having previously served as the creative director at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. Ford wrote and direct ...
's Spring/Summer 2016 collection video in lieu of a fashion show.
Rodgers and
Bernard Edwards were inducted into the
Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) is an American institution founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, music publisher/songwriter Abe Olman, and publisher/executive Howie Richmond to honor those whose work, represent, and maintain, the her ...
on June 9, 2016. In 2017, after 11 nominations for Chic, Rodgers was inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence. "It's sort of bittersweet," says Rodgers. "I'm quite flattered that they believed that I was worthy, but my band Chic didn't win. They plucked me out of the band and said, 'You're better than Chic.' That's wacky to me ... I am flattered and I think it's cool, but I feel like somebody put me in the lifeboat and told my family they can't get in."
On the evening of June 2017 Rodgers and Chic returned to the
Glastonbury Festival, as headliners on the Pyramid Stage, for an audience of close to 100,000. In September of the same year, a version of George Michael's song "
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...
" was released, credited to "George Michael featuring Nile Rodgers." The track, released as a B-side by Michael's label in 1990, was reworked by Rodgers and featured him prominently on guitar. It was Michael's only posthumous release.
In June 2018, "Till the World Falls", the first single from Nile Rodgers & Chic's first album since 1992, ''
It's About Time'', was released. The song featured
Mura Masa
Alexander Crossan (born 5 April 1996), also known by the stage name Mura Masa, is a Guernsey-born electronic music producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Crossan is best known for his song " Lovesick", which reached number one on the ...
,
Cosha and
Vic Mensa
Vic (; es, Vic or Pancracio Celdrán (2004). Diccionario de topónimos españoles y sus gentilicios (5ª edición). Madrid: Espasa Calpe. p. 843. ISBN 978-84-670-3054-9. «Vic o Vich (viquense, vigitano, vigatán, ausense, ausetano, ausonense): ...
. The album was released in September 2018, and hit the Top 10 in the UK. It was the first Chic record to hit the Top 10 in 25 years. Two singles from the album were subsequently released: "Sober" featuring
Craig David
Craig Ashley David (born 5 May 1981) is a British singer and songwriter who rose to fame in 1999, featuring on the single " Re-Rewind" by Artful Dodger. David's debut studio album, ''Born to Do It'', was released in 2000, after which he has re ...
and
Stefflon Don, and "Do You Wanna Party" featuring
LunchMoney Lewis
Gamal Kosh Lewis (born January 11, 1988), better known as LunchMoney Lewis, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his 2015 single " Bills", which topped the charts in Australia and peaked within t ...
. In December 2018, Nile Rodgers & Chic began their first UK arena tour. They were nominated for a
Brit Award
The BRIT Awards (often simply called the BRITs) are the British Phonographic Industry's annual popular music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain", or "Britannia" (in the early days the awards were sponsored ...
in the "Best International Group Category", in January 2019.
In November 2018, to mark the 40th anniversary of "Le Freak", Rhino/Atlantic released ''The Chic Organisation 1977-79'', a 6-CD box set containing Chic's first three albums, Sister Sledge's ''We Are Family'' and a collection of rarities, including a facsimile of Chic's first single – a 12″ promo for "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yosah, Yosah)" released by Buddah Records in 1977.
In January 2019, Rodgers offered 600 free tickets to furloughed US Federal workers during the US Government Shutdown to the Nile Rodgers & Chic concert at the MGM National Harbor in Washington, DC.
Nile Rodgers played Cardiff Castle Wales on July 12, 2019, and on February 17, 2020, he participated in Eric Clapton's tribute concert for Ginger Baker.
2020s: Keith Urban, Hipgnosis, Beyoncé
On November 13, 2020, Rodgers was featured on "
Stop Crying Your Heart Out" as part of the BBC Radio 2's Allstars'
Children in Need charity single. The single debuted at number 7 on the Official UK Singles Chart and number 1 on both the Official UK Singles Sales Chart and the Official UK Singles Download Chart.
Among other artists, in 2021, Rodgers worked with
Jack Savoretti and Keith Urban. "Who's Hurting Who ft. Nile Rodgers", the first single from Savoretti's ''Europiana'' album was released in May. In April 2021 he teamed with Urban and
Breland on the music video for "The Cage", a track from Urban's 2020 album ''
The Speed of Now Part 1.''
In the summer of 2021, Rodgers, with Constellation Immersive, launched DiscOasis, an ongoing 1970s-themed disco and roller skating pop-up party at the
South Coast Botanic Garden in
Rancho Palos Verdes
Rancho Palos Verdes (Spanish for "Green Sticks Ranch") is a coastal city located in Los Angeles County, California atop the bluffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, neighboring other cities in the Palos Verdes Hills, including Palos Verdes Est ...
. Developed in part to provide an outside experience during the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
, DJs select music from crates of records that Rodgers hand picked from his personal collection.
On 4 June 2022, Rodgers performed with
Duran Duran at the
Platinum Party at the Palace
The Platinum Party at the Palace was a British music concert, held outside Buckingham Palace on The Mall in London on 4 June 2022, in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. The concert began at 20:00 ( BST). Comedian Lee ...
. He co-wrote the track "Cuff It", which appeared on the
Beyoncé album, ''
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history
The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (800 BC to AD ...
'' released in July 2022. It debuted at #1 on the
Apple Music
Apple Music is a music, audio and video streaming service developed by Apple Inc. Users select music to stream to their device on-demand, or they can listen to existing playlists. The service also includes the Internet radio stations Apple M ...
charts.
In July 2022, Hipgnosis Songs Fund was valued at US $2.69 billion.
Rodgers performed ''
Modern Love'' and ''
Let's Dance'' with
Josh Homme,
Omar Hakim
Omar Hakim (born February 12, 1959) is an American jazz, jazz fusion and pop music drummer, producer, arranger and composer. He has worked with Weather Report, David Bowie, Foo Fighters, Sting, Madonna, Dire Straits, Bryan Ferry, Journey, Kate ...
and
Gaz Coombes
Gaz Coombes (born 8 March 1976) is an English musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the English alternative rock band Supergrass. He first entered the music scene aged 14 as the lead singer of the ...
at the
Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium on September 3, 2022.
Television and film
Since his 1978 debut with Chic on ''
American Bandstand'', Rodgers has performed on more than 150 television programs. He has been the subject of documentaries including the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
's ''Nile Rodgers: The Hitmaker'', ''Front and Center: Songwriters Hall of Fame: Nile Rodgers'' on PBS, Arte France's ''Nile Rodgers: Secrets of a Hitmaker'', and the short film ''Composing America: The Musical Talents of Nile Rodgers''. The BBC also broadcast ''Nile Rodgers: How To Make It in the Music Business'', a three-hour, three part special.
.
Rodgers has appeared in documentaries about David Bowie, Diana Ross, Elton John, Michael Jackson, Rick James, George Michael, Duran Duran, Daft Punk, Public Enemy, Madonna, Avicii, Studio 54, the Seventies, the Eighties, the Nineties, recorded music, girl groups, the disco era, disco, house music, funk, and soul music.
. Exceptionally light, it has a maple fingerboard and a worn white finish. Rodgers claims it has a unique sound. After Rodgers purchased the guitar, Edwards taught him how to play it in a
style, which he called "chucking". In his autobiography, Rodgers wrote: "He fingered the chords with his left hand, and his right hand would continuously play sixteen notes to the bar while accenting the main parts of the rhythm ... One lesson was all I needed. For the next few nights straight, while my roommate pursued all manner of trysts, I was having a love affair in the bathroom with my new ax. In just a few days, I'd emerge as a chucking funk guitarist who knew more jazz chord inversions than most of my R&B counterparts."
The Fender Custom Shop introduced a limited edition Nile Rodgers Hitmaker Stratocaster, a recreation of Rodgers' guitar, in January 2014.
.
In the early 1990s, Rodgers woke up in the hospital to learn that his heart had stopped eight times, and he was alive only due to the actions of the doctor who was filling out his death certificate. He stopped using drugs and alcohol in 1994 after a friend showed him a tape of a poor performance.
in October 2010. He documented his illness on a blog called ''Walking on Planet C''. He was given the all-clear in 2013. In 2017, a growth on his right kidney was diagnosed as two different cancers within one mass. The mass was surgically removed in November 2017. He said he expected a 100% recovery. At his performance at the Hollywood Bowl, on July 4, 2019, Rodgers announced that he was "100% cancer-free."
Rodgers lived in
until July 2021 when he moved to Miami, Florida, with his life partner, Nancy Hunt. Rodgers also owns an apartment in New York City.
(1994)
* "We Are Family", Nile Rodgers All Stars (We Are Family Foundation) (2001)
* ''
ft.
ft.
ft.
ft. Nile Rodgers &
ft. Nile Rodgers (2016)
* "Fantasy",
ft. Nile Rodgers (2017)
* "Le Canzoni alla Radio",
ft. Nile Rodgers (2017)
* "Till the World Falls", Nile Rodgers,
ft. Cosha &
, ft.
, ft.
(2018)
* "Emotional", Michelle Treacy (2019)
* "Summer Lover", Oliver Heldens ft. Devin & Nile Rodgers (2019)
* "Roses",
ft. Nile Rodgers (2020)
* "Cielo",
ft. Nile Rodgers (2020)
* "One More", ''
(2020)
* "Agua", Daddy Yankee ft. Rauw Alejandro & Nile Rodgers (2022)