Melissa Gorman

"Ain't Nobody" almost never happened. Rufus initially rejected the song because its unusual drum machine pattern and minimalist arrangement sounded too different from the band's previous material. Keyboardist David "Hawk" Wolinski insisted on keeping it, believing it had the potential to become something special. According to Wolinski, producer Quincy Jones later wanted Michael Jackson to record the song for Thriller but he refused because he believed it belonged to Chaka Khan and Rufus. Released in 1983 as one of the studio recordings on the live album Stompin' at the Savoy, "Ain't Nobody" became Rufus and Chaka Khan's final hit together. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart, No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart. It also won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1984. Its innovative blend of funk, R&B and electronic production helped transform it into a timeless classic that continues to be sampled and covered decades after its release.