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Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan Gets A Star

HOLLYWOOD (CBS) — Chaka Khan, known for her flamboyant soul and disco recordings that spanned a decade, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Thursday.

"This is a blessing," Khan said during the ceremony in front of the My Studio Nightclub on Hollywood Boulevard.

Khan's singing career has lasted nearly 50 years and garnered her 10 Grammy Awards.

It seems there isn't a soul or R&B artist alive that hasn't paid tribute to her songs at some point.

Duing the ceremony Stevie Wonder joined Khan in singing "Tell Me Something Good," which he wrote. It was Khan's first hit with the funk band Rufus and won the group a Grammy in 1975 as the best R&B vocal performance by a duo, group or chorus.

Khan led Wonder to the star and had the blind entertainer touch its letters and recording icon.

Born Yvette Marie Stevens on March 23, 1953, in Chicago, she was given the name Chaka Adunne Aduffe Hoodarhi Karifi by an African shaman. She became Chaka Khan in 1970, when she married Indian bassist Hassan Khan.

Khan began her singing career by forming the all-female vocal group the Crystalettes when she was 11 years old. She later sang for Shades of Black, Lyfe, the Babysitters before joining Rufus, the group that would first bring her fame.

Khan's solo debut album, "Chaka" was released in 1978 and featured the crossover disco hit, "I'm Every Woman," whose single topped the U.S. R&B charts.

Khan's other No. 1 singles are "What Cha' Gonna Do for Me," "I Feel For You," "This is My Night," "Ain't Nobody," "Love You All My Lifetime," "Never Miss the Water" and "Disrespectful."

Khan's most recent album, "Funk This," was released in 2007 and earned her a Grammy for best R&B album.

"Chaka's voice is what the saxophone is to Charlie Parker," recording industry executive Benny Medina told attendees at the ceremony. "Chaka Khan is the voice."

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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