Alfa Anderson, the renowned vocalist of the legendary disco band Chic who helped create timeless hits like “Good Times” and “Le Freak,” has died at age 78. Her passing on December 17, 2024 was announced by Chic founder Nile Rodgers on social media, who shared vintage photos of the group with the message “RIP Alfa Anderson. CHIC Organization” and noted she was “forever loved.”
Her cause of death was not announced.
Born in Augusta, Georgia on September 7, 1946, Anderson began composing songs at age three. While pursuing her education at Paine College and Columbia University, she maintained her musical passion through choir performances. Her professional breakthrough came in 1976 when she debuted as a backup singer for Cannonball Adderley at Carnegie Hall.
Anderson’s path to disco stardom began when Luther Vandross encouraged her to audition for the newly formed group Chic in 1977. Initially joining as a backup singer, she ascended to lead vocalist alongside Luci Martin in 1978 following Norma Jean Wright’s departure. During her tenure with Chic, Anderson’s voice became integral to the band’s signature sound, featured prominently on their landmark albums “C’est Chic” and “Risqué.”
Her contributions to Chic’s biggest hits included “Le Freak,” “Good Times,” and “My Forbidden Lover.” After Chic’s dissolution in 1983, Anderson embarked on an international tour with Vandross, including a notable performance at London’s Wembley Stadium. Her collaborative reach extended to work with numerous acclaimed artists, including Bryan Adams, Mick Jagger, Teddy Pendergrass, and Jennifer Holliday.
Before joining Chic, Anderson had recorded background vocals for various 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 established Voices of Shalom, a collective that focused on spiritual themes through inspiring original music. They put out two albums, “Messages” in 1999 and “Daily Bread” in 2002, along with a single named “What A Spirit” in 2005, which included guest performances by Lisa Fischer and Keith Anthony Fluitt. At the same time, Alfa’s vocals helped introduce the music of Chic to younger audiences 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 multifaceted career encompassed significant contributions to 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 at El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice High School in Brooklyn.
In 2017, she released her solo album, “Music from My Heart,” showcasing her enduring talent and passion for music.
In recent years, Alfa gained recognition for her contributions as both a solo artist and a founding member of Chic from several distinguished organizations. A year after the release of her album “Music from My Heart,” Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. honored her with a proclamation designating May 5, 2018, as “Alfa Anderson Day” in Augusta, Georgia, and presented her with the keys to the city. Later that same year, she was honored with an induction into the 2018 Legends of Vinyl Hall of Fame. Additionally, she received the Golden Mic Award from the G.E.M.A. Foundation in 2014, along with a citation from the City of Philadelphia acknowledging her numerous musical achievements. Following her induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015, Chic’s iconic recording of “Le Freak,” featuring Alfa as the lead vocalist, was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2018.
