Alfa Anderson, lead vocalist with Chic, has died aged 78.

Bandmate Nile Rodgers confirmed news of her death via Instagram on 17th December, sharing a photo montage and writing: “RIP Alfa Anderson. Forever loved. Thank you for everything.”

The late singer, who gave her voice to some of the group’s best-loved hits, including ‘I Want Your Love’, ‘Good Times’, ‘My Forbidden Lover’, and ‘Le Freak’, was born in Augusta, Georgia, on 7th September 1946.

She started out working as a backing vocalist, making her performance debut for Cannonball Adderley in 1976 at Carnegie Hall and later recording background vocals for Dionne Warwick and others. In 1978, a fortuitous meeting with Luther Vandross while working on the Quincy Jones-produced soundtrack for The Wiz motivated her to try out for Chic.

That same year, she took over as lead vocalist for the group’s 1978 debut album ‘C’est Chic’ and subsequent 1979 effort, ‘Risqué’.

After Chic disbanded in 1983, Anderson contributed vocals to Chic-produced albums such as Sister Sledge‘s ‘We Are Family’, and ‘Diana’, by Diana Ross. She also toured with Vandross in the ’80s.

She later became the principal at Brooklyn’s El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice and in 2015, reunited with Chic to record some of the lead vocals on ‘I’ll Be There’, the group’s first single in nearly 25 years.