Alfa Anderson
{{Short description|American singer and educator (1946–2024)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Alfa Anderson
| image = Alfa_Anderson_-_2015.png
| caption = Anderson in 2015
| birth_date = {{birth date|1946|9|7}}
| birth_place = Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|12|17|1946|9|7}}
| death_place =
| education = Paine College
| alma_mater = Teachers College, Columbia University
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Singer
- Educator
}}
| spouse = Eluriel "Tinkr" Barfield
}}
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.
Early life and education
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),{{cite web |last1=Wikane |first1=Christian John |title=At Last, She Is Free: An Interview with Alfa Anderson |url=https://www.popmatters.com/176317-at-last-she-is-free-an-interview-with-alfa-anderson-2495710232.html |website=Popmatters Magazine|date=November 14, 2013 |accessdate=November 11, 2018}}{{cite book |last1=Arena, Henry |first1=James |title=First Legends of Disco: 40 Stars Discuss Their Careers in Classic Dance Music |date=January 8, 2014 |publisher=AuthorHouse |isbn=978-1491848296 |page=2}} 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.
Career
= Early career =
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.{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=John S. |title=Adderley's 'Big Man' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/07/04/archives/adderleys-big-man-in-concert-version.html |accessdate=November 11, 2018 |newspaper=New York Times |date=July 4, 1976}}
Her second professional appearance was at Lincoln Center, where she performed in "Children of the Fire" (1974), written by "Hannibal" Marvin Peterson.
Anderson worked as a lecturer at Hunter College in New York City while singing on weekends with Kenny and Everett Brawner, founders of the band, "Raw Sugar". This led to work with other bands, such as Lou Courtney and Buffalo Smoke, where she met Ednah Holt, and later Fonzi Thornton and Michelle Cobbs. Holt introduced Anderson to Luther Vandross, who at the time sang backup for various groups.{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Clem |title=Disco Stars Follow Greater Calling"Religion is Manmade;Spirituality is Divine |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/boroughs/disco-stars-follow-greater-calling-religion-manmade-spirituality-divine-article-1.654697 |accessdate=November 16, 2018 |work=New York Daily News |date=January 30, 2004}}
Anderson recorded background vocals for Nat Adderley, Roy Buchanan, Dionne Warwick, Odyssey and many others. Her voice appears on the soundtrack to The Wiz (produced by Quincy Jones, 1978) and Atlantic Records' Live at Montreux (produced by Arif Mardin and Herbie Mann in 1978).{{cite web |title=Alfa Anderson Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/alfa-anderson-mn0000001254/credits |website=AllMusic.com |accessdate=November 16, 2018}}{{cite web |title=Bio |url=https://www.officialalfaanderson.com/bio |website=Alfa Anderson Official Website |accessdate=November 11, 2018}}
= Chic years =
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.{{cite book |last1=Rodgers |first1=Nile |title=Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco and Destiny |date=October 18, 2011 |publisher=Spiegel & Grau |isbn=978-0385529655 |page=133 |edition=1st}} 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,{{cite web |title=List of Soul Train Guest Appearances |url=http://www.tv.com/shows/soul-train/cast/guest-stars/16 |website=TV.com |publisher=CBS Entertainment Interactive Inc. |accessdate=November 16, 2018}} The Midnight Special,{{cite web |title=List of Midnight Special Guest Stars |url=http://www.tv.com/shows/the-midnight-special/cast/guest-stars/5 |website=TV.com |publisher=CBS Entertainment Interactive Inc |accessdate=November 16, 2018}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Huey |first1=Steve |title=Chic Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chic-mn0000092942/biography |website=Allmusic.com |accessdate=November 11, 2018}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Offner |first1=Daniel |title=Interview: Alfa Anderson Makes Triumphant Return With Debut Solo Album |url=https://salutemag.com/2017/07/16/interview-alfa-anderson/ |website=Salute Magazine |publisher=The Vision Media Group |accessdate=November 11, 2018}}
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.{{cite web |title=Former Chic Member Alfa Anderson Celebrates the Life of Music Legend Luther Vandross with New Single to be Released on the Late Icon's Birthday |url=http://www.nationalblackguide.com/former-chic-member-alfa-anderson-celebrates-life-music-legend-luther-vandross-new-single-released-late-icons-birthday/ |website=National Black Guide |accessdate=November 11, 2018}}
= Return to education =
Anderson earned a second master's degree in educational leadership from Bank Street College in New York, New York. In the 1990s, she became a principal at El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice High School in Brooklyn, New York.
Later work
Anderson continued to record and perform. She released the single "Former First Lady of Chic" in 2013 and the album Music from My Heart in 2017.{{cite web |title=Alfa Anderson |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/302654-Alfa-Anderson |website=Discogs |accessdate=November 12, 2018}}
Anderson toured internationally with a trio she formed with former Chic members Norma Jean Wright and Luci Martin.{{cite web |title=Alfa, Luci, and Norma Jean |url=http://www.formerlyofchic.com/ |website=Formerly of Chic |accessdate=November 11, 2018}} In 2016, the group sang with Aristofreeks and guest vocalist Kathy Sledge on the song "Get on Up", which reached #2 on Billboard's Club Chart.{{cite web |last1=Brungardt |first1=Leah |title=Kathy Sledge Discusses Her Favorite Memories With Sister Sledge, Her Newest Solo Music, Biggest Inspirations and More! |url=https://music.allaccess.com/kathy-sledge-discusses-her-favorite-memories-with-sister-sledge-her-newest-solo-music-biggest-inspirations-and-more/ |website=All Access Music |date=April 21, 2016 |accessdate=November 12, 2018}}
Nile Rodgers recreated Chic with new vocalists in 1992. Anderson and Luci Martin appear on the Chic track "I'll Be There" (2015).{{cite web |last1=Amorosi |first1=A.D. |title=Nile Rodgers on Leaving Warner Music for Universal After 40 Years, New Chic Album 'It's About Time' |url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/nile-rodgers-interview-warner-music-universal-chic-album-1202959480/ |website=Variety |date=September 27, 2018 |accessdate=November 12, 2018}} The song reached number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart.{{cite magazine |title=Billboard Charts Dance Club Songs 2015 Archive |magazine=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/archive/charts/2015/dance-club-play-songs |accessdate=November 11, 2018}}
Personal life and death
Alfa Anderson was married to producer, composer, and bass player Eluriel "Tinkr" Barfield, whom she met while touring with Vandross. In addition to Vandross, Barfield has recorded or performed with Lou Rawls, The B-52's, Jaheim, Roberta Flack, The Roches, Marvin Sease, Doc Powell, Martha Wash, Debbie Gibson, Jennifer Holliday, Ashford and Simpson, as well as many other celebrated artists.{{cite web |title=Bio |url=https://officialtinkr.com/pages/bio |website=Tinkr Barfield Official Website |accessdate=November 11, 2018}}{{cite web |title=Eluriel Tinker Barfield |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/eluriel-tinker-barfield-mn0001720097/credits |website=AllMusic |accessdate=November 11, 2018}}
Anderson and Barfield formed a group named Voices of Shalom, dedicated to exploring spiritual themes through original compositions. They released two albums: Messages (1999) and Daily Bread (2005). A single, released in 2005, called "What a Spirit", features Lisa Fischer and Keith Anthony Fluitt.
Anderson died on December 17, 2024, at the age of 78.{{cite web |title=Notable singer, R&B group Chic member Alfa Anderson has died |url=https://www.wjbf.com/news/u-s-world-news/notable-singer-rb-group-member-alfa-anderson-has-died/ |website=WJBF |access-date=December 19, 2024 |date=December 18, 2024}}{{cite news |title=Alfa Anderson, Chic Vocalist and Disco Icon, dies at age 77 |url=https://soultracks.com/alfa-anderson-chic-vocalist-and-disco-icon-dies-at-age-77/ |access-date=December 18, 2024 |publisher=Soul Tracks |date=December 18, 2024}}
Accolades
In 2014, Anderson received the Global Entertainment Media Arts (G.E.M.A.) Foundation's Golden Mic Award as well as a Citation from the City of Philadelphia for her contributions to music.{{cite web |title=The Global Entertainment Media Arts Upload A.pdf |url=https://www.thegemafoundation.org/.../The%20Global%20Entertainment%20Media%... |website=G.E.M.A. Foundation |accessdate=November 16, 2018}}
"Le Freak", featuring Anderson on the lead vocals, was inducted into the 2015 Grammy Hall of Fame.{{cite web |title=Grammy Hall of Fame List of Inductees |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/hall-of-fame |website=Grammy Hall of Fame |accessdate=November 16, 2018}} In 2018, the song was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress.{{cite web |title=Complete National Recording Registry Listings |url=https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/recording-registry/complete-national-recording-registry-listing/ |website=Library of Congress |publisher=United States Copyright Office |accessdate=November 16, 2018}}
In 2018, Mayor Hardie Davis Jr. of Augusta, Georgia gave Anderson the Keys to the City and declared May 5 as Alfa Anderson Day.{{cite web |title=Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. Twitter Feed |url=https://twitter.com/hardiedavis/status/998174065562177536 |website=Twitter |accessdate=November 16, 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.officialalfaanderson.com/ Alfa Anderson Official Website]
- {{discogs artist|Alfa Anderson}}
- {{imdb name|5686130}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Alfa}}
Category:American disco singers
Category:American rhythm and blues singers
Category:Educators from New York City
Category:Teachers College, Columbia University alumni
Category:Bank Street College of Education alumni