Alfa Anderson, esteemed vocalist of the iconic disco band Chic, known for hits such as “Good Times” and “Le Freak,” has died at the age of 78. Nile Rodgers, the founder of Chic, announced her death on December 17, 2024, on social media. Rodgers shared old photos of the group, writing a heartfelt message “RIP Alfa Anderson. CHIC Organization” and expressed that she was “forever loved.”
The details regarding the cause of Anderson’s death were not revealed.
Anderson, born on September 7, 1946, in Augusta, Georgia, started writing songs when she was just three years old. She pursued her education at Paine College and Columbia University while fostering her passion for music through choir performances. Her professional breakthrough occurred in 1976 when she performed as a backup singer for Cannonball Adderley at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Her journey to disco fame took off when Luther Vandross encouraged her to try out for the newly established group Chic in 1977. After joining the group as a backup singer, she moved up to the role of lead vocalist alongside Luci Martin in 1978, following the exit of Norma Jean Wright. As part of Chic, Anderson’s voice was key to the group’s unique sound, featuring prominently on their seminal albums “C’est Chic” and “Risqué.”
Anderson’s contributions to Chic’s major hits included “Le Freak,” “Good Times,” and “My Forbidden Lover.” After Chic disbanded in 1983, she joined Vandross for an international tour, including a notable performance at Wembley Stadium in London. She also collaborated with numerous renowned artists, such as Bryan Adams, Mick Jagger, Teddy Pendergrass, and Jennifer Holliday.
Prior to her tenure with Chic, Anderson had provided background vocals for numerous artists, including Dionne Warwick and Roy Buchanan. She also contributed to the Quincy Jones-produced soundtrack for “The Wiz” in 1978.
In the late 1990s, Anderson and her husband Tinkr Barfield founded Voices of Shalom, a collective that created inspiring original music with spiritual themes. They released two albums, “Messages” in 1999 and “Daily Bread” in 2002, as well as a single called “What A Spirit” in 2005. Concurrently, Alfa’s vocals helped bring Chic’s music to younger generations through films such as “Shrek 2,” “Toy Story 3,” “Up in the Air,” “Roll Bounce,” and Spike Lee’s “Summer of Sam.”
Alfa Anderson’s career spanned both music and education. After Chic disbanded in 1983, she earned a second master’s degree in educational leadership from Bank Street College in New York and became the principal of El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice High School in Brooklyn.
In 2017, Anderson released her solo album, “Music from My Heart,” which showcased her enduring talent and love for music.
Anderson received numerous accolades for her contributions as both a solo artist and a founding member of Chic. In 2018, the year following the release of her album “Music from My Heart,” Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. honored her with a proclamation naming May 5 as “Alfa Anderson Day” in Augusta, Georgia, and gave her the keys to the city. Later that year, she was inducted into the 2018 Legends of Vinyl Hall of Fame. She was also acknowledged by the G.E.M.A. Foundation with the Golden Mic Award in 2014, and a citation from the City of Philadelphia for her numerous musical accomplishments. Following her induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015, Chic’s iconic song “Le Freak,” with Anderson as the lead vocalist, was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2018.
