Warner Bros. Records (WBR) has sealed a global recording contract with Rodgers and CHIC. The label will also add Land of The Good Groove, Rodgers’ private label, as an imprint. Music exec Michael Ostin will manage distribution and label services for artists signed by Rodgers. Rodgers and Ostin will work together as creative supervisors. Warner Brothers will release the latest CHIC album in June of this year.
On February 3rd CHIC’s disco hit single “Le Freak” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and Nile Rodgers will receive the President’s Merit Award during the Recording Academy’s 8th Annual Grammy Week Celebration for the Producers & Engineers Wing of NARAS. In celebration of the award, Rodgers posted a photo from last year’s awards ceremony with his trophies for his contributions to Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories on which he also worked with current pop wunderkind, Pharrell.
The original CHIC formed in 1976 and wrote, recorded and played until 1983. During it’s run not only did they release the legendary, “Le Freak” but also had smash hits with “I Want Your Love,” “Everybody Dance,” and “Good Times”, songs still firmly stuck in the heads and ears of all disco and dance music aficionados. Rodgers also began collaborating early in his career and added his moniker and style to Sister Sledge’s Hall Of Fame single, “We Are Family” and album of the same name. After CHIC disbanded, Rodgers continued his career as a writer, composer, musician and producer working with people who would become icons in the industry.
David Bowie, Duran Duran, Madonna, Mick Jagger, Cyndi Lauper, the B-52’s, and Al Jarreau, are just a few of the names on Nile Rodgers’ resume. He has added his unique funk sound, sensibility and production savvy to dozens of today’s major artists work. He has also had a hand in multiple movie scores. In 1988 Rodgers composed his first orchestral score for the film Coming To America.
Even a diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer four years ago did not stop this tireless artist. Rodgers, the human equivalent of the Energizer Bunny, worked touring and recording schedules around his treatments and recovery rounds and recently was given a clean bill of health. During his battle, Rodgers maintained a blog titled “Planet C” sharing his experiences with the disease.
A native New Yorker, Rodgers has never really left his roots. With studios in Manhattan and at his home in Southern Connecticut, it’s not unusual to see him with the rest of the area commuters on a Metro North train heading to or from the city. His connection to this area was rattled to the ground along with everyone else’s on 9/11/01. Like many though, Rodgers turned this horror into something very positive. Tapping back into his collaborative hit, “We Are Family”, Rodgers created the We Are Family Foundation to provide mentors and financial support for young people who were trying to help the world. Projects like “Alex’s Lemonade Stand”, “Mattie’s Poetry Slam” and TEDxTeen all get a leg-up from WAFF. Having spoken to Rodgers directly two years ago at the organization’s annual gala, he truly cares about the youth and young adults of the world but especially kids in the greater New York City area.
To learn more about Nile visit his official website.
