July 2024 | Nile (Gregory) Rodgers Jr.
BY-------Graham Sclater
Nile (Gregory) Rodgers Jr. is synonymous with hit records and has played on, contributed to, and
produced or co-written more than 500 million albums and 75million singles across the world.
Nile Rodgers was born in New York in 1952 and his father, Nile Rodgers Snr, was a professional
percussionist who specialised in Afro-Cuban beats and although he didn’t see much of him, he was
certainly a huge influence.
When he was a teenager Nile’s first instruments were the flute and clarinet before progressing to guitar
playing an eclectic range of music which certainly set him up for his future success. It was helped by
Nile’s' cousin, trumpeter Robert "Spike" Mickens, who was a member of Kool and The Gang.
Rodgers formed a long-term relationship with bass player Bernard Edwards in 1970 while working as
part of the touring band for the Sesame Street stage show. Rodgers and Edwards subsequently joined
forces with drummer Tony Thompson and formed The Boys, playing gigs up and down the East Coast.
He was first recognised as the co-founder of Chic with bass player Bernard Edwards, and drummer Tony Thompson, which in 1972 was initially named The Big Apple Band. During that time, they worked with Ashford & Simpson and Luther Vandross. However, they were forced to change the name of their band with the same name.
What initially was a real issue turned out to be a blessing in disguise and as a result, and inspired by Roxy Music, they formed Chic and what followed was their first self-titled album which spawned three worldwide hits and was followed by their second album in 1978 titled “C’est Chic” which include I Want Your Love, which sold seven million copies worldwide. That was followed with a third album in 1979 and included yet another hit worldwide hit, Good Times, Rodgers and his close musical friend Bernard Edwards collaborated as producers and co-writers on hits for Sister Sledge. Following the break-up of Chic, Rodgers worked on David Bowie’s classic dance album, Let’s Dance, albums with INXS, tracks with Duran Duran, and Madonna.
Rodgers and Edwards completed one of their last projects together in 1980, writing and producing the album for Diana Ross producing two huge hits for her: Upside Down and I’m Coming Out. With radio stations having turned their back on Disco, in 1982 they delivered their last album to Atlantic. Edwards took a well-earned rest away from music and sadly Rodgers’s drug use took its toll. Now out of contract with Atlantic, Rodgers turned things around and was soon in demand. His instantly identifiable guitar work and input into the sessions made him sought after by a who’s who of music, including: Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck, Grace Jones, Daft Punk, Lady Gaga, Bryan Ferry and in 2023, Beyoncé. Rodgers had an eye for business and in 2018 he co-founded Hipgnosis Songs Fund, a company publicly trading music intellectual property.
Rodgers and Edwards reformed Chic in 1992 and recorded new material for an album for the Japanese market entitled Chic-ism. In April 1996 Edwards died following a concert on April 17, 1996. Rodgers later said that he "cried like a baby and suffered intensely.” He eventually realised the best tribute to Edwards would be to carry on.
Rodgers returned to Japan a year later, to pay homage to Edwards, and in 1999, released Live at the Budokan, a live and unedited recording of Edwards' final performance. Rodgers then continued playing live concerts as well as composing music for films and working briefly alongside Bob Dylan.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Songwriters Hall of Fame and a lifetime award for his distinct guitar style. It was no mean feat for Rodgers to be placed 7th of the 250 greatest guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone.
Nile Rodgers is now regularly seen on UK television and playing live at festivals around the country.
Catch him this summer.
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