Chaka Khan appeared at the Calvin Simmons Theatre at Oakland’s Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, where her song “Like Sugar” played as attendees in fly attire stood and danced. On stage, she wore an all-black outfit with golden rings and performed alongside her trademark auburn hair. The evening combined a fireside conversation and live music, covering her career influences, her time with Rufus, raising children while traveling, and her experience owning land in Georgia. She also spoke about her time in the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in Chicago and her friendship with Fred Hampton. She took audience questions, including inviting an aspiring singer to perform, and sang “Destiny,” “Alfie,” “I Love You Porgy,” and “Love Me Still.”
"Khan opened up about her time as a member of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in Chicago, where she was a friend of the late Chairman Fred Hampton. And she took questions from the crowd; at one point she got an aspiring singer to perform on the spot. During the event, Khan also sang, performing the songs “Destiny,” “Alfie,” “I Love You Porgy,” and “Love Me Still” to thunderous applause."
"The crowd had just taken in a fireside chat that covered a range of topics from Khan's career: Sarah Vaughan's influence; her experience with the group Rufus; raising children while traveling and performing; and the feeling of owning 80 acres of land in Georgia. On stage, wearing an all-black ensemble complete with golden rings on her fingers, her trademark auburn-colored hair flowing beyond her shoulders, 10-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist Chaka Khan danced as well."
"The flowing performance and intimate conversation was a product of the renowned artist's relationship to the host, filmmaker and longtime friend of Chaka Khan, D. Channsin “Chann” Berry. “We're spiritually aligned,” Berry tells me while discussing their friendship. “And have been for many, many, many years.”"
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