Alfa Anderson, Chic Lead Vocalist, Dead At 78

Alfa Anderson, lead singer of the pioneering disco band Chic, has died at the age of 78. Niles Rodgers, the group’s founder, shared the news on social media last week (Dec. 17).

“Thank you for everything,” he wrote in his endearing Instagram post’s caption. The upload features multiple images of the two and their fellow group members. “RIP Alfa Anderson Chic Organization Forever loved,” read the overlay text written on the uploaded post.

The sad news was confirmed to The New York Times by Anderson’s publicist, Tonya Hawley, who did not provide an exact date or reveal the cause of death.

According to the biography on her official website, Anderson was born in Augusta, Ga. before moving to New York and maneuvering through different creative roles in the music industry. NME notes that it has been reported that she composed her first song at the age of three, before singing in school choirs.

Her first professional break came in 1976 when she landed a feature role in Jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley’s Big Man, which debuted at Carnegie Hall. She continued to perform and record background vocals for the likes of Nat Adderley, Ray Barretto, Odyssey, Major Harris, and Roy Buchanan.

In 1977, Vandross introduced Anderson to Rodgers and his writing partner Bernard Edwards, who were forming the then-new group, Chic, with Tony Thompson on drums and Norma Jean Wright on lead vocals. She initially sang background on one of Chic’s first singles for Atlantic Records, “Everybody Dance,” which brought Chic to the top of the dance charts for seven consecutive weeks in 1977. 

Anderson was promoted to lead vocalist after joining Chic on tour, sharing the role with Luci Martin from 1978-1983.  The group went on to record the 1978 album C’est CHIC, which boasted Anderson’s two solo numbers, “At Last I Am Free” and the gold-selling single “I Want Your Love.” Additionally, the album featured Rodgers and Edwards’ ode to Studio 54 “Le Freak,” the group’s most popular single.

After Chic ended, Anderson continued her singing career with a variety of solo artists, including Vandross,  Bryan Adams, Gregory Hines, Mick Jagger, Teddy Pendergrass, Jennifer Holliday, Billy Squier, Sheena Easton, Jody Watley, Bryan Ferry, and Jonathan Butler.  Anderson and her husband Tinkr Barfield formed and produced Voices of Shalom, a group that explored spiritual themes through uplifting original compositions and released two albums.

In 2015, Chic’s “Le Freak” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and in 2018, the song featuring Anderson on lead was added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry. Anderson eventually released a full-length solo LP, Music from My Heart in 2017.

Beyond her decorated music career, Anderson graduated from Lucy C. Laney High School, where she played saxophone, flute, and piccolo, before earning a degree from Paine College, an HBCU in her hometown.

She moved to New York and earned a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Teachers College and eventually went back to school to get a second master’s degree, in educational leadership, from Bank Street College of Education in New York and working as the principal of El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice High School in Brooklyn.

“During her tenure, Alfa inspired and transformed the lives of our young people and community with her profound grace, wisdom, artistry, and indomitable spirit,” shared the high school in a statement. “We thank you, dear Alfa and may you continue to dance with the angels with eternal peace and power!”

VIBE sends our condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Alfa Anderson.