Chaka Khan, also popularly known as the Queen of Funk, is an American recording artist. In her career, which has spanned more than five decades, she has won a total of ten Grammys. She has also been named the 65th most successful dance artist of all time by Billboard magazine. Born in Chicago, Illinois, she was introduced to jazz by her grandmother at an early age. Early in her career, she performed with various bands. Later she joined a group named Rufus. At the age of twenty, she released her first album along with the group. The group won their first Grammy award a year later. A few years later she made her debut as a solo artist, and released her first self-titled album. She then released several other albums over the years, including 'Echoes of an Era', 'The Woman I Am' and 'Funk This'. Other than her contributions to music, she has also gained reputation for her charitable activities. She established the Chaka Khan Foundation to help children from poor families, as well as those suffering from autism. Khan is also an occasional actress. She played the role of Sister Carrie in the musical 'Mama, I Want to Sing.'