Chic singer Alfa Anderson has died, aged 78

nme.com:

Chic‘s biggest hits, has died aged 78.Her bandmate Nile Rodgers confirmed the news on Tuesday (December 17) via Instagram. No cause of death has been given.Alongside a montage of photos of him, Anderson and the rest of the band, soundtracked by ‘At Last I Am Free’ – one of Anderson’s solo tracks their 1978 album ‘C’est Chic’ – Rogers wrote: “Thank you for everything”.

Above the montage, it reads: “RIP Alfa Anderson. CHIC organization. Forever loved.”Anderson was born in Augusta, Georgia, on September 7, 1946.

It’s been reported that she composed her first song at the age of three, before singing in school choirs and, in 1976, debuting as a backup singer for Cannonball Adderley, at Carnegie Hall.Though initially she was studying to become a teacher, Anderson began recording background vocals for the likes of Dionne Warwick and Roy Buchanan, as well as on the Quincy Jones–produced 1978 soundtrack for The Wiz.A post shared by Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers)During her time working on the film’s soundtrack in 1977, she met Luther Vandross, who encouraged her to audition for Chic.At the time the band were recording their debut self-titled album, which Anderson wound up singing backing vocals on.Following the departure of Norma Jean Wright in 1978, she went on to become the group’s lead vocalist.

She then began to feature prominently on Chic’s music, including their biggest albums: 1978’s ‘C’est Chic’ and ‘1979’s Risqué’.