The sister of Chaka Khan, vocalist Yvonne Stephens forged a new identity by combining the Swahili word for "love of my people" ("Taka") with a last name derived from her ex-husband's occupation (demolitions expert). She worked alongside Khan locally in their hometown of Chicago until Chaka joined Rufus, and Taka moved to Los Angeles. Boom was a session vocalist in the early '70s, singing with the Gap Band and Carl Carlton, as well as being a member of George Clinton's Brides of Funkenstein. She served as lead vocalist for Undisputed Truth in 1975, then signed as a solo singer with Ariola. Her debut LP, Taka Boom, was released in 1979, and the single Night Dancing became her only RB Top 20 hit (at 20). She later switched to Mirage, and made the LP Climate for Love in 1985. Middle of the Night got some attention as a single, but the LP went nowhere. After moving to London in the mid-'90s, she did session work and consistent live appearances. ~ Ron Wynn, Rovi