By Cynthia Charlene Greason
FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
Alfa Anderson (September 7, 1946 – December 17, 2024) was an American singer and educator, best known as one of the lead vocalists of the 1970s band Chic.
Anderson was born in Augusta, Georgia, on September 7, 1946. Her parents named her “Alfa” (from “alpha” the first letter of the Greek alphabet, with the “ph” changed to an “f” in honor of her father’s name, Alfonso), because she was their first born child. Musically inclined from a young age, Anderson composed her first song at age three.
Although Anderson showed early talent for music, she pursued a traditional education path. She attended Paine College, followed by Teachers College, Columbia University, where she earned a master’s degree in English. She sang in the college choirs of both Paine and Columbia.
In 1976, Anderson made her professional debut in Cannonball Adderley‘s “Big Man — The Legend of John-Henry” sponsored by the Newport Jazz Festival at Carnegie Hall. Her second professional appearance was at Lincoln Center, where she performed in “Children of the Fire” (1974), written by “Hannibal” Marvin Peterson.
In 1977, Vandross encouraged Anderson to audition as a background vocalist for Chic, a new band created by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. Anderson’s and Vandross’s background vocals appear on the eponymous debut album Chic, which contained the number one hit “Dance, Dance, Dance” and the Billboard charted “Everybody Dance“.
Anderson became a lead singer when one of Chic’s original leads, Norma Jean Wright, left the group in 1978. Along with fellow lead Luci Martin, Chic would go on to produce many more charted hits, including the multi platinum “Le Freak” (1978) and “Good Times” (1979), as well as “My Forbidden Lover” (1979). Anderson is the lead vocalist for the top ten hit “I Want Your Love” (1978) and “At Last I Am Free” (1978).
At the height of Chic’s fame, Anderson regularly appeared on television shows such as Soul Train, The Midnight Special, and Top of the Pops. She also worked on the Chic-produced sessions of Sister Sledge‘s “We Are Family” (1979), Diana Ross‘s Diana (1980), and Johnny Mathis‘s I Love My Lady (1981).
In 1983, Rodgers and Edwards dissolved the original Chic band. During this time, Anderson began touring internationally with Luther Vandross and from 1982 until 1987, performing with him at venues such as Wembley Stadium in London.
Anderson continued to work with other notable artists, 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.
