Alfa Anderson, the celebrated lead vocalist of the iconic disco group Chic, known for unforgettable hits like “Good Times” and “Le Freak,” has passed away at 78. Nile Rodgers, founder of Chic, announced her death, which occurred on December 17, 2024, on social media, posting vintage photos of the band and honoring her with the caption, “RIP Alfa Anderson. CHIC Organization,” adding she was “forever loved.”
The cause of her death has not yet been disclosed.
Anderson, born on September 7, 1946, in Augusta, Georgia, displayed musical talent from the age of three, when she started composing songs. She continued exploring her musical passion through choir performances while studying at Paine College and Columbia University. In 1976, her professional career took off when she performed as a backup singer for Cannonball Adderley at Carnegie Hall.
Anderson’s journey to disco fame began in 1977 when Luther Vandross motivated her to audition for the newly established band Chic. She initially joined as a backup singer but became the lead vocalist alongside Luci Martin in 1978 after Norma Jean Wright left the group. Anderson’s voice became a key feature of Chic’s sound and was featured prominently in the band’s landmark albums “C’est Chic” and “Risqué.”
She contributed to Chic’s major hits such as “Le Freak,” “Good Times,” and “My Forbidden Lover.” After Chic’s disbandment in 1983, Anderson toured internationally with Vandross, including a standout performance at London’s Wembley Stadium. She collaborated with an array of acclaimed artists, including Bryan Adams, Mick Jagger, Teddy Pendergrass, and Jennifer Holliday.
Before her tenure with Chic, Anderson had provided background vocals for a variety of 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 spouse Tinkr Barfield founded Voices of Shalom, a collective that produced inspirational original music with spiritual themes. The collective released two albums and a single, while Anderson’s vocals continued to influence younger generations through films such as “Shrek 2,” “Toy Story 3,” “Up in the Air,” “Roll Bounce,” and Spike Lee’s “Summer of Sam.”
Anderson’s diverse career spanned significant contributions to both music and education. After Chic split up in 1983, she obtained 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, Anderson released her solo album, “Music from My Heart,” demonstrating her enduring talent and love for music.
Anderson received recognition for her contributions as a solo artist and a founding member of Chic from several prestigious organizations in recent years. In 2018, a year after the release of her album “Music from My Heart,” Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. honored her with a proclamation declaring May 5, 2018, as “Alfa Anderson Day” in Augusta, Georgia, and presented her with the keys to the city. Later that year, she was inducted into the 2018 Legends of Vinyl Hall of Fame. She also received the Golden Mic Award from the G.E.M.A. Foundation in 2014 and was acknowledged by the City of Philadelphia for her numerous musical achievements. Following her induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015, Chic’s iconic record “Le Freak,” featuring Anderson as the lead vocalist, was included in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2018.