Alfa Anderson, an early lead vocalist for Chic who sang on hits including “Good Times” and “Le Freak,” died on Dec. 17 at age 78. Chic bandmate Nile Rodgers confirmed the news.
“Thank you for everything,” Rodgers wrote on Tuesday, Dec. 17 on Instagram, sharing a montage of photos of him and Anderson, and the band. Chic’s “At Last I Am Free,” one of Anderson’s solo features from 1978 sophomore album C’est Chic, soundtracks the tribute. “RIP Alfa Anderson. CHIC organization,” it reads over the montage. “Forever loved.” No further details about her death were given.
Anderson’s early work as a vocalist included a featured role in Cannonball Adderley’s Big Man (1976) which debuted at Carnegie Hall and she also starred in the Lincoln Center’s production of Children of the Fire, which was scored by trumpeter “Hannibal” Marvin Peterson, per her official bio. The Quincy Jones-produced soundtrack to 1978’s The Wiz also featured Anderson’s vocals.
Luther Vandross played a pivotal role in her joining Chic when he invited her to a vocal session with the group in 1977. It was early in the band’s formation, Rodgers and Bernard Edwards had recently assembled the group that included drummer Tony Thompson and lead vocalist Norma Jean Wright. Anderson sang backing vocals on their hit “Everybody Dance” and appeared on “Dance Dance Dance” from the band’s debut album.
Following her joining Chic on tour, Anderson became co-lead vocalist alongside Luci Martin after Wright’s departure, and served in that role from 1978 through 1983. Their second studio album, which featured two Anderson solos — the aforementioned “At Last I Am Free” and “I Want Your Love” — also featured their disco era-defining and megahit “Le Freak,” which features Anderson and Diva Gray both singing lead. The band followed with 1979’s Risque, which housed the Anderson-featuring hit, “Good Times” (the song is one of Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”).
In addition to her lead vocalist contributions to Chic’s records and live performances, she participated in Chic-produced sessions for other artists — she lent her vocals to Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” and Diana Ross’ Diana, among other projects.
After Chic disbanded in 1983, Anderson went on to work with a long list of artists through the Eighties and Nineties, including appearing on albums by Bryan Adams, Gregory Hines, Mick Jagger, Teddy Pendergrass, Jennifer Holliday, Billy Squier, Sheena Easton, Jody Watley, Bryan Ferry, and Jonathan Butler. She also reteamed with Vandross, joining his touring band from 1982 through 1987.
More recently, Anderson released her debut solo album, 2017’s Music From My Heart. She also reunited with Chic to serve as one of the lead vocalists on their first single in nearly a quarter century, 2015’s “I’ll Be There.”
In 2015, Chic’s “Le Freak” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and in 2018, the song featuring Anderson on lead was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. Rolling Stone also named it one of the “200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time.”
Reflecting on Chic’s enduring popularity following the release of Chic compilation Up All Night in 2013, Anderson told Pop Matters why Chic’s productions continue to resonate.
“They’re imbued with a spirit that is all-embracing and universal. Because there’s complexity in Chic’s music, it never goes out of date,” she said. “It still makes you get up and dance no matter where you are. It’s just classic. I’m humbled and honored to be a part of that history and that legacy.”