Artist Roster |
Nile Rodgers & Chic
Official Website : | www.nilerodgers.com |
MySpace: | www.myspace.com/nilerodgers |
Territory of Representation
Non-exclusive representation in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia
In a nutshell
There is nothing you can say about Nile Rodgers that hasn't already been heard by billions of people, via millions of radio airwaves, in thousands of cities, in hundreds of countries. The career of Nile Rodgers is one of the most enduring and prolific in music. Nile 's signature is scrawled across an amazing array of music - from Madonna to Diana Ross, from David Bowie to Eric Clapton.
Biography
Nile first picked up a guitar while still in school and there was no stopping
the evident talent that quickly emerged. At the age of 19, Nile not only
worked for Sesame Street, but was performing nightly as part of the house
band for the world renowned Apollo Theatre in Harlem, playing with luminaries
such as Aretha Franklin, Parliament/Funkadelic, Ben E. King and The Cadillacs.
Pretty amazing for a skinny kid with glasses from New York City, but he wanted
more. Nile Rodgers wanted a band of his own.
Once the decision was made, Nile searched for a partner in crime. He
soon found him in local boy Bernard Edwards, whose perfectly meticulous bass
seamlessly complemented Nile's precise guitar. The two were confident enough
of their synergy to introduce the world to CHIC in 1977.
"
Dance, Dance, Dance", the first single off Chic's eponymous début,
hit the Top 10 and they never looked back. 1978 yielded their second hit, "Everybody
Dance", while a third single, "Le Freak", hit No. 1 and became
Warner Brothers' biggest selling single of all time. The dynamic duo of Edwards
and Rodgers finished off the year by releasing their second album, "C'est
Chic", which went directly into the Top 5.
The year 1979 brought the singles "I Want Your Love", "Good
Times", and a third CHIC album, "Risqué". While they
still kept their day job as the front men of CHIC, Nile and Bernard were
not content to simply propel their own band to the top. They produced and
composed the album "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge and did the
same on "Diana" the best selling album by Diana Ross, featuring
her smash singles, "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out".
And if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then surely the Sugarhill
Gang's appropriation of the bass line from "Good Times" as the
bass line for 1980’s seminal rap song "Rapper's Delight" is
an outstanding tribute.
Though the ‘70s embraced the R&B funk of CHIC, it was the ‘80s
that secured Nile 's place in music history. While forever bonded, Nile branched
away from Bernard in the early ‘80s to collaborate with David Bowie.
Their partnership may have raised more than a few eyebrows, but it offered
music lovers "Let's Dance", the biggest selling record in Bowie's
career, and the hits "China Girl", "Modern Love", and "Let's
Dance".
With the success of "Let's Dance", Nile proved an R&B guy could
produce pop and rock. He followed it up by working with a girl from Michigan
named Madonna, on a little record called "Like A Virgin" which
went on to sell 14 million copies in the United States alone. Nile then produced
Duran Duran's "The Reflex" single, which stayed at No. 1 for 15
weeks.
After more production collaborations on Duran's "Wild Boys" single
and the "Notorious" album, Nile went on to work with a staggering
array of musicians - ranging from Mick Jagger on his "She's The Boss" record,
INXS' groundbreaking "Original Sin" single, The Thompson Twins' "Here's
To Future Days", Grace Jones' "Inside Story", the B-52's "Cosmic
Thing", Eric Clapton's Jimi Hendrix tribute album, "Stone Free",
Paula Abdul, and the unforgettable "Beavis and Butthead Experience".
Perhaps there is not a more fitting tribute than the one Nile received
in Japan in 1996. Selected among his peers as Billboard magazine's Top Producer
in the World, he was honored as JT Super Producer. Nile was invited to Japan
to perform a retrospective of his career, and was joined by Bernard Edwards,
Sister Sledge, Steve Winwood, Simon LeBon and Slash, as they performed the
hits that Nile took part in creating. To complement the event, a TV and radio
documentary, CD, and DVD were released.
Shortly after producing Rai music superstar Cheb Mami's album "Dellali",
featuring Sting, Nile embarked upon the biggest project of his life. Nile
started the "We Are Family Project, A Celebration of Our Common Humanity" after
the events of September 11th. The project began with a re-recording of "We
Are Family" with over 200 celebrities and an accompanying music video
directed by Spike Lee ; an 80 minute documentary entitled "The Making
and Meaning of We Are Family" which débuted at the 2002 Sundance
Film Festival to a standing ovation; an unprecedented recording and music
video of over 100 famous children's characters singing "We Are Family" that
aired simultaneously on Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and PBS on March 11,
2002 ; a "National We Are Family Day" spearheaded for passage in
Congress by former Senator Robert Dole and Senator Orrin Hatch ; limited
edition prints of an interpretive artwork entitled "We Are Family" by
world renowned artist Francesco Clemente ; and a "We Are Family" exhibit
at the Children's Museum of Utah launched during the 2002 Salt Lake City
Olympics. The "We Are Family Foundation" was established in July
2002 to promote tolerance and multiculturalism education and to support victims
of intolerance, and has since extended its program with several high profile
projects.
Nile's talent radiates in many directions: he added his famous guitar
licks to Seal's version of "Fly Like An Eagle", scored films such
as "Coming to America","Earth Girls Are Easy" and "Beverly
Hills Cop III", and served as the Musical Director of the largest commercial
broadcast success in VH-1's history, VH-1's "Divas Live Tribute to Diana
Ross". Crowning his diverse accomplishments, Nile has been awarded Grammy’s
for Best Rock Instrumental for his collaboration with Jeff Beck on "Escape",
Best Contemporary Blues Recording and Best Rock Instrumental Performance
with the Vaughan Brothers. Nile has written, produced, or performed on songs
which have sold over a hundred million records.
In the fall of 2005, CHIC were inducted as artists into the Dance Music
Hall of Fame, as was their classic dance song “Good Times”. Nile
and Bernard were also singled out and inducted for their groundbreaking work
as producers.
The National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), of
which Nile has served as both Governor and Trustee, has given him both its
Lifetime Achievement Award, and the New York Chapter's Heroes Award, the
highest honour bestowed, honouring individuals whose creative talents and
accomplishments cross all musical boundaries. Over the years he has served
NARAS in various capacities with the P & E Wing, TV Committee, Grammy
in the Schools, and the Law Initiative.
History is still in the making. Nile laid down the funky guitar on
Joss Stone's single, "You Had Me", which débuted in the
top 10 in the UK, produced the most recent Soul Decision album, "Shady
Satin Drug” and co-produced Duran Duran's latest album, Astronaut with
all five original band members. Nile's production credits include "Everyday
People", Maroon 5's contribution to "Different Strokes from Different
Folks", the Sly and The Family Stone tribute and the B-52's single "Paperback
Writer". In addition, he is putting the finishing touches on the highly
anticipated new CHIC album—of which the single "Let's Bounce" débuted
in the hit film "Rush Hour 2".
As the music industry changes, Nile is on the cutting edge of new opportunities
for artists. He recently executive produced, produced and contributed to "Halo
2: Original Soundtrack, Vol. 1", the number one selling original video
game soundtrack of all time. Working with Breaking Benjamin, Hoobastank,
Incubus and legendary guitarist Steve Vai, Nile broke with the current soundtrack
trend of needle dropping and gave the artists an opportunity to write original
music inspired by the game.
Nile is the only African-American to own his own music distribution
company – "Sumthing Distribution". "Sumthing" is
a leader in the distribution of video game soundtracks including "Halo
2 Original Soundtrack Vol. 1", and the original, "Halo: Combat
Evolved". As the music industry changes, Nile is on the cutting edge
of new opportunities for artists.
Earlier this year Nile Rodgers was back in the spotlight as co-writer and producer of the song "Love Me Sexy," the first single from the soundtrack of the New Line Cinema comedy "Semi-Pro" starring Will Ferrell. On January 25th 2008 the video for "Love Me Sexy" was the #1 most watched video on YouTube!
There is a lot to say about a talent as vast and far reaching as Nile
Rodgers. He has been at the helm making music that has shaped three decades,
and he continues to exert his influence today. The music and genius of Nile
Rodgers truly speaks for itself - just turn on your radio and listen.
(source : www.nilerodgers.com)