On the diva dial, this legendary songstress is turned all the way up, rivaling few when it comes to musical skill, and even fewer when it comes to personal style.
Born Yvette Marie Stevens on March 23, 1953, the singer would become Chaka Adunne Aduffe Hodarhi Karifi during a Yuroba naming ceremony she participated in as a teen, an experience she recounted in a recent interview with celebrity stylist Philip Bloch.
WATCH:
Chaka picked up the last name Khan after marrying Hassan Khan, a bandmate in the group Lyfe, one of the first groups she performed with on the Chicago music scene.
While Khan's catalog of music needs little introduction -- earning her ten Grammys and recognition as the "Queen of Funk" -- neither does her style. Khan's free-flowing locks and eclectic fashions are about as distinctive as her sound.
PHOTOS: A look at Chaka Khan's style throughout the years.
Launch Slideshow
HIDE THUMBNAILS
1 of 36
PLAY ALL
VOTE ON THIS SLIDE
ADVERTISEMENT
[{"entry_id":"3313707","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/21\/african-american-financial-experience-survey_n_3313707.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/284591\/slide_284591_2183608_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/284591\/slide_284591_2183608_small.jpg","title":"9 Ways Americans Haven't Recovered","slideshow_id":"284591","vertical":"black-voices"},{"entry_id":"3313143","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/21\/virginia-parents-walmart-biracial-daughters_n_3313143.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/12862\/slide_12862_174921_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/12862\/slide_12862_174921_small.jpg","title":"Instances of Accidental Racism","slideshow_id":"12862","vertical":"black-voices"},{"entry_id":"3322216","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/22\/naomi-campbell-birthday-supermodel-turns-43_n_3322216.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/227982\/slide_227982_1006677_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/227982\/slide_227982_1006677_small.jpg","title":"Naomi Campbell","slideshow_id":"227982","vertical":"black-voices"},{"entry_id":"3313704","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/21\/cora-emmanuel-and-marie-borges-cr-fashion-book-_n_3313704.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/281948\/slide_281948_2128167_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/281948\/slide_281948_2128167_small.jpg","title":"Top Black Models ","slideshow_id":"281948","vertical":"black-voices"},{"entry_id":"3320504","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/22\/cullen-jones-water-safety-advice-olympian-on-the-road_n_3320504.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/237322\/slide_237322_1196310_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/237322\/slide_237322_1196310_small.jpg","title":"Swimming Questions, Answered","slideshow_id":"237322","vertical":"black-voices"},{"entry_id":"3328354","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/23\/jada-pinkett-facebook-post-will-jaden_n_3328354.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/198585\/slide_198585_493415_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/198585\/slide_198585_493415_small.jpg","title":"Black Celebrity Families","slideshow_id":"198585","vertical":"black-voices"},{"entry_id":"3327968","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/23\/roger-mooking-man-fire-food-items-to-grill-memorial-day_n_3327968.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/299203\/slide_299203_2490326_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/299203\/slide_299203_2490326_small.jpg","title":"Roger Mooking's Memorial Day Grilling Recipes","slideshow_id":"299203","vertical":"black-voices"},{"entry_id":"3319892","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/22\/beyonce-rent-the-runway-boutique_n_3319892.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/298894\/slide_298894_2484611_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/298894\/slide_298894_2484611_small.jpg","title":"Beyonce's Style Evolution ","slideshow_id":"298894","vertical":"black-voices"},{"entry_id":"3322412","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/22\/trayvon-martin-drugs-george-zimmerman_n_3322412.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/283154\/slide_283154_2155020_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/283154\/slide_283154_2155020_small.jpg","title":"Major Events In The Trayvon Martin Case","slideshow_id":"283154","vertical":"black-voices"},{"entry_id":"3314860","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/21\/apollo-theater-spring-gala-2013-wayne-brady-host-chaka-khan-honored_n_3314860.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/233354\/slide_233354_1109078_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/233354\/slide_233354_1109078_small.jpg","title":"Chaka Khan Photos","slideshow_id":"233354","vertical":"black-voices"},{"entry_id":"3322431","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/22\/marriage-obesity-in-children-linked_n_3322431.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/292585\/slide_292585_2349958_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/292585\/slide_292585_2349958_small.jpg","title":"Facts About Childhood Obesity ","slideshow_id":"292585","vertical":"black-voices"},{"entry_id":"3313728","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/21\/wendy-williams-kim-kardashians-pregnancy_n_3313728.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/211721\/slide_211721_1555275_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/211721\/slide_211721_1555275_small.jpg","title":"Notable\/Quotables","slideshow_id":"211721","vertical":"black-voices"},{"entry_id":"3326010","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/23\/michael-jackson-civil_n_3326010.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/191396\/slide_191396_369846_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/191396\/slide_191396_369846_small.jpg","title":"Michael Jackson And His Children","slideshow_id":"191396","vertical":"black-voices"},{"entry_id":"3319267","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/22\/kordell-stewart-responds-locking-porsha-williams-out_n_3319267.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/196732\/slide_196732_2267727_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/196732\/slide_196732_2267727_small.jpg","title":"'Real Housewives' Divorces","slideshow_id":"196732","vertical":"black-voices"},{"entry_id":"3312676","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/21\/french-montana-excuse-my-french-debuts-with-enjoyable-album-_n_3312676.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/258146\/slide_258146_1664218_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/258146\/slide_258146_1664218_small.jpg","title":"Hip-Hop Fitness Heavyweights","slideshow_id":"258146","vertical":"black-voices"},{"entry_id":"3318974","entry_url":"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2013\/05\/22\/zakia-tasha-clark-pennsylvania-sisters-ejected-from-mall-over-cancer-hats_n_3318974.html","content_type":"image","image_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/255325\/slide_255325_1613225_small.jpg","thumbnail_url":"gadgets\/slideshows\/255325\/slide_255325_1613225_small.jpg","title":"Advocate For Breast Cancer Without 'Going Pink'","slideshow_id":"255325","vertical":"black-voices"}]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MRS. CHAKA KHAN, AND MANYMANY MORE TO COME MAY GOD BLESSU, AND KEEP U IN THE PALM OF HIS HANDS ALWAYS. YOUR FAN FROM THE BEGINNING! PEACE VICTORIA.AKA VTORI41@AOL.COM
Victoria_McCleary: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MRS. CHAKA KHAN, AND MANYMANY MORE TO COME
"Chaka Khan" "Chaka Khan" "Chaka Khan" "Chaka Khan" "Chaka Khan" "Chaka Khan".....
circa 1983...the place was........"The Paradise Garage" in my town NYC.....we were...."Tearin' It Up".......Happy Birthday "My Funny Valentine" lady....May God continue to bless you and I wish you many many more Borndays.........
This is one sista who has endured...She's not overated...or overexposed...still nice to look at and still relevant and still an all around nice person.
And thanks for standing your ground and speaking up about the Whitney and that crazy party.
Happy Stevie Wonder Birthday song to you Ms. Khan..Love you girl!!!!...look at me typing like she's gonna read it..lol
Chaka Khan has lasted through the ages. I love her eclectic style...her uniqueness...her smile and her music. I wish Whitney had made it this far. Happy Birthday, Chaka....and thanks for all the beautiful music...especially "I'm Every Woman."
AlaskanWannaB: Chaka Khan has lasted through the ages. I love her
Loading comments… 
The Huffington Post | By Jessica Cumberbatch Anderson Posted: 03/23/2012 11:59 am EDT Updated: 03/23/2012 12:38 pm EDT