Chic

When it comes to making the world dance, few acts have been as successful as Chic. The brainchild of New York City session musicians, guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards, this inspirational disco outfit’s history is traceable back to their early days as The Big Apple Band in the early 70s, before they became serious chart contenders after recruiting drummer Tony Thompson in 1977.

Rebranded as Chic, the group rapidly broke through with their US Top 10 debut single, Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah): a track which also showcased the talents of vocalist Norma Jean Wright and the soon-to-be lauded recording engineer Bob Clearmountain. Chic’s sleek, sophisticated blend of funk, pop and soul meant they were perfectly placed to light up the disco dancefloors and, while their career-defining hits Le Freak, I Want Your Love and Good Times soundtracked nightclubs the world over during the late 70s, their landmark albums C’est Chic and Risqué also went multi-platinum.

The group split during the early 80s, but the best Chic songs left an indelible influence on pop music. The heavily sampled Good Times inspired nascent hip-hip stars, among them Grandmaster Flash and The Sugarhill Gang, while Nile Rodgers went on to produce a host of hit albums for other artists, including Diana Ross’ Diana and David Bowie’s immaculate Let’s Dance, before helming the reformed Chic’s high-profile comeback, 2018’s It’s About Time, a record that confirmed Chic’s timeless legacy as the world’s greatest party starters.