The American Breed was an American rock band from Chicago in the 1960s. The band was originally called Gary & The Knight Lites before adopting the name The American Breed in 1967. The band had a number of charting songs in 1967–68, the best-known of which was "Bend Me, Shape Me". The band broke up in 1970, and members went on to form Rufus after the split.
The American Breed in 1968. L to R: Gary Loizzo, Lee Graziano, Chuck Colbert, Al Ciner
Rufus is an American funk band from Chicago, Illinois, best known for launching the career of lead singer Chaka Khan. They had several hits throughout their career, including "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing", "Do You Love What You Feel" and "Ain't Nobody". Rufus and Chaka Khan were one of the most popular and influential funk bands of the 1970s, with four consecutive number-one R&B albums, ten top 40 pop hits and five number-one R&B singles, among other accolades.
Chaka Khan in 1996
Drummer JR preparing for a Rufus concert in 1980