Hi
I recently watched a documentary about the musician Nile Rogers. At this point some of you will be going, WHO? Exactly – I had no idea how this fellow was, and sort of half-heartedly got myself to watch the documentary, until I realised what a fool I was. Nile has had one for the most prolific careers in pop/rock history, but to be fair, a lot of it has been in the (semi) shadows. Yet the groups/recordings he has been involved in make a phenomenal list, at any one point in time he has been involved with Chic, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Duran Duran, Madonna, Sister Sledge and Daft Punk. Wow. And not just as someone who tweeks a few knobs on a mixing desk, but as a full writing partner.
Nile’s rise to prominence started with the soul-funk outfit Chic, which Nile had started with bass player Bernard Edwards. The band had numerous chart-topping hits with tunes such as Le Freak, and Good Times. Then followed the rather small matter of writing We Are Family for Sister Sledge, once again with writing partner Edwards. This was followed by the hit Upside Down for Diana Ross, which would be the last he produced and wrote with Edwards.
Not one to rest on his Laurels Nile then produced the album Let’s Dance for David Bowie – which went on to be Bowie’s biggest selling album of all time. Nile then went on to, somewhat incongruously, work with Duran Duran, producing, amongst others, their hit The Reflex.
But it does not stop there – this was followed by producing Madonna’s album Like A Virgin. And after that the roll-call of famous names continued, and most recently culaminated in Nile’s contribution ot Daft Punk’s most recent hit, Get Lucky.
So, if you plan on making a hit record, give Nile a call, chances are it will turn into a hit, as long as you can afford him!
