Alfa Anderson (Le Freak) is dead: the queen of disco was 78 years old

Famous for having been one of the singers of the group Chic in the 1970s, and for having lent her voice to the hit “Le Freak”, Alfa Anderson died at age 78 years.

Alfa Anderson – People à 'We Are Family' benefit at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on April 29, 2016

IN BRIEF

• Alfa Anderson, American singer and member of the group Chic, has died at the age of 78.
• The disco group's co-founder Nile Rodgers has paid tribute to Alfa Anderson on Instagram.
• Discover the musical legacy of Alfa Anderson, an iconic disco voice who made music history.

The disco world is mourning one of its representatives. American singer Alfa Anderson, known for being member of the group Chic in the 1970s, and the voice of the hit Le Freak, has died at the age of 78,, according to American media reports. The cause of her death is not yet known.

On his Instagram account on Tuesday, December 17, Nile Rodgers, the co-founder of the disco group with Bernard Edward, paid tribute to Alfa Anderson. “Thank you for everything“, he simply wrote in the caption of a video where we can hear the singer's voice on another hit of the group, At Last I Am Free. “We will always love you”, can also be read on the images.

Alfa Anderson, a rich career with the greatest

Alfa Anderson had joined Chic since the group's beginnings. She notably lent her voice to their early hits, such as Good Times, Everybody Dance or I Want Your Love. Of the titles that have become cult and sampled by famous artists like Sugarhill Gang, Will Smith, Grandmaster Flash, Michael Jackson or even Kylie Minogue.

Born in 1946 in Georgia, Alfa Anderson began her career with jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. She went on to sing backing vocals for salsa producer Ray Barretto, R&B group Odyssey, and rock guitarist Roy Buchanan. In 1978, she also collaborated with music producer Quincy Jones on the soundtrack to the film The Wiz, starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. After Chic disbanded in 1983, Alfa Anderson continued her solo career, collaborating with artists such as Vandross, Gregory Hines, Teddy Pendergrass and Bryan Ferry. She also sang with Mick Jagger and released a solo album in 2017 called Music from my heart.