Nile Rodgers | Song by Song

2023-11-17T21:34:25.272Z

Nile Rodgers' Hitmaker Stratocaster is a true vintage rarity. Featuring a 1960 alder body – smaller and more contoured than the average Strat and refinished in Olympic White by Nile himself, a ’59 maple neck and an uncommon hardtail bridge – this unique instrument became an essential ingredient in Nile’s extraordinary rhythm tones. Watch as Nile plays through some of his top hits and dives into the story behind his iconic guitar.

Nile Rodgers & CHIC: Tiny Desk Concert

2023-11-09T00:27:14.638Z

Before Nile Rodgers & CHIC set the Tiny Desk off, the icon established a sort of mission statement for the group's sound: "If we can funk in this, you know we can funk." They surely can. In stints since 1972, CHIC has assured its position as funk ambassadors — a position its members clearly relish — and no space is resistant to their grooves. When Rodgers asks singer Kimberly Davis to show the audience "how we do it in the CHIC organization," she launches into high-powered vocals that vaporize every note. And when he asks drummer Ralph Rolle to lead them to "maximum funkocity," Rolle ignites call-and-response with an electrified crowd. As the ringleader of the CHIC experience, Rodgers crams a lifetime's worth of nightlife into every strum of his guitar.

Rodgers' career is epic in both scope and impact. The 1979 CHIC album Risqué was a disco milestone that became a hip-hop cornerstone. Standing at inflection points for two different genres is enough to make a career, but Rodgers was far from done. An incomparable songwriter and session musician, his call sheet as a producer is emblematic of his immense range: David Bowie, Diana Ross, Madonna and Mick Jagger, just to name a few. His work is embedded in the very fabric of popular music, and he continues to add to his resume decades after first making changes to the sonic landscape. In 2014, Rodgers won the Grammy for record of the year with Daft Punk. This year, he amassed more honors for his work on Beyoncé's RENAISSANCE.

His wondrous set spans his massive catalog — songs he wrote for CHIC, songs he wrote with collaborators, songs he wrote for other stars and a surprise song he wrote for a classic movie. Throughout, Rodgers is the pulse for an ever-amplifying funk. The band's performance of "I'm Coming Out" builds to a rip-roaring sax solo. A rollicking performance of "We Are Family" breaks down in the middle before erupting to a triumphant finish. And atop the rippling bassline of "Good Times," Rodgers breaks into an impromptu version of "Rapper's Delight," which samples the song. It all leads to the maximum funkocity of Bowie's "Let's Dance," a tribute to the genre's reach and power.

SET LIST
"Le Freak"
"I'm Coming Out"
"We Are Family"
"Get Lucky"
"Good Times"
"Let's Dance"

Adekunle Gold - Falling Up Feat. Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers (Official Visualizer)

2023-09-28T00:35:15.394Z

Stream/Download "Tequila Ever After"

Nile Rodgers: The Hitmaker (BBC Documentary)

2019-01-28T17:59:56.596Z

Check Nile out, he is such an incredible radiant person .. . Time stands still when you watch and listen to his story..( love you too Bernard,r.i.p.) .

Laura Mvula - Overcome (Official Video) ft. Nile Rodgers

2016-02-03T22:27:53.653Z

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All Videos Tagged Nile (True Skool Network) - True Skool Network

Nile Rodgers | Song by Song

Nile Rodgers & CHIC: Tiny Desk Concert

Adekunle Gold - Falling Up Feat. Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers (Official Visualizer)

Nile Rodgers: The Hitmaker (BBC Documentary)

Laura Mvula - Overcome (Official Video) ft. Nile Rodgers