October 11, 2012 - Update by: @NileRodgers
On my birthday a couple weeks ago I got the most amazing surprise. A whole slew of my friends got together and recorded something I'll never forget - a two hour plus video birthday card. I'd promised to post the whole thing but I got sick, then had to go away. I'm still sick but I'm back home. Here's The Entire Birthday Video.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | FULL VIDEO

On my sixtieth birthday I was on a plane heading over to London, England. I was going to attend an old friend's wedding. Nobody could reach me in the air on my milestone birthday, so some of my closest friends embarked upon an epic undertaking.

They sent Happy Birthday from around the world. This was not just from pop stars, but friends from all areas of my life - even twitter and facebook.

Film clips are still coming in and my crew has put together a feature length video. This blog typically talks about my daily adventures since being attacked by aggressive cancer about a year and a half ago - however, the love and positivity in my life flows in both directions and I'd like to share some of it.

Hopefully, I won't have any health issues that override this series of snippets. I'll run as many as I can because they're heartwarming, funny, and entertaining. I'm truly thankful to all my friends and their pets. I'm Still Freaking Out.

 

Bryan Ferry

Steve Vai

Daft Punk

John Taylor (Duran Duran)

Dimitri from Paris

The B-52's

Paul Simon

Quincy Jones

Steven Van Zandt

XL Video

Narada Michael Walden

Chris Cornell

Q-Tip

Brett Ratner

Adam Lambert

Sinbad

Jerry Greenberg

Slash

Chris Matthews

Jody Watley

Steve Winwood

Me & Mom

Simon Le Bon

Alison Moyet

Taylor Dayne

Montel Williams

Johnny Marr

Sting

André Leon Talley

Deepak Chopra

 

Here I am in front of Electric Lady Studios and you can see Paul McClean and Rich Hilton's reflections in the glass

CHIC's first single was called "Dance, Dance, Dance" - it was recorded at Electric Lady Studios on West 8th Street in Greenwich Village. This is the studio that was built by Jimi Hendrix. It was in the heart of the neighborhood I was raised in. When I was a kid Electric Lady was a nightclub called Generation.

When I was sixteen-years old I'd go to Generation even though the legal drinking age then was eighteen. Because of the military draft system America had during the Vietnam War, our primary form of identification was a draft card. This was a simple document that was easily forged in any high school print shop so all my friends had them. Many eighteen-year olds looked like sixteen-year olds and vice versa, so I was never asked to leave any club. Though I was skinny and looked very young, I had a draft card.

After Generation became Electric Lady, I worked with scores of artists there: INXS, Hall & Oates, CHIC, Macy Gray, D'Angelo, Femi Kuti, Roy Hargrove, Daft Punk and more than I can count without looking up a music reference guide.

I was going to do a long blog today about all the people, places and things that I've done since becoming a professional musician because I've been walking all over New York with Paul McClean from BBC Radio. But while I was writing this, I realized today is my Birthday.

I started this blog talking about being sixteen-years old, and today I'm sixty-years old. Given what I've been through in my life, honestly, I'm just Happy to be Alive on My Birthday.

 

Our first single "Dance, Dance, Dance" was cut at Electric Lady Studios

This cheap paper stock document that was smaller than a credit card "when folded" was called a draft card and it was easy to forge

Practicing a Fela song with Questlove, D'Angelo, and Femi Kuti in Electric Lady's lounge

I took a picture with Paul then I took him inside Electric Lady Studios

I told Paul a ton of great Electric Lady recording stories

There was somebody recording in Electric Lady in total secrecy while we where there - I have a pretty good idea who it is

I realized it was my birthday so I looked up other birthday photos - Last year I got my first Ice-Cream Birthday Cake

CHIC reunion on my birthday with Paul Schaffer, Luci Martin, me Alfa Anderson, Bernard Edwards and Fonzi Thornton

Lionel Richie, Esai Morales, Nile, Russell Wong, Dustin Nguyen and girls affectionately called Niley's Angels outside my birthday day party in LA

Okay I admit it, I went out for a really fast drive today because I'm just Happy to be Alive on my Birthday

 

Heading to where The Roxy Club used to be - The spot where I met Madonna

The weather is perfect for Walking on Planet C with BBC Radio's Paul McClean, cloudless skies and sub-tropical warmth. Normally, I'd randomly walk with no particular destination in mind - but we were tracing some specific steps from my biography Le Freak. I've had such a crazy life, it's a miracle I'm alive.

I became self aware around the age of five and my earliest memories are of life in lower Manhattan. My parents were both heroin addicts and life was very Nomadic. For a while we lived at 780 Greenwich Street. I remember legendary jazz musician Thelonious Monk coming over to buy one of my mother's then fashionable fur coats.

I've lived in Greenwich Village, Chinatown, The Lower East Side, and when I turned sixteen I even lived in the subway. I've been a member of The Cub Scouts, The Boy Scouts, The Boys Club of America, and I was the sub-section leader of the Lower-Manhattan section of the Black Panther Party's Harlem branch. Our headquarters was our section leader's parents fashionable townhouse on West Twenty-First Street.

The next door neighbors were famed actor Anthony Perkins of the Hitchcock film Psycho, and his wife-to-be Berry Berenson. Later in life she'd become my photographer and friend. She died tragically in the first plane that was crashed into The World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Within a few blocks of that 21st Street townhouse I'd eventually meet David Bowie and Madonna for the first time - Bowie at the Continental nightclub on 25th Street, and Madonna at The Roxy club on 18th Street. We'd Make Music History Together. (Walking to be continued)

 

When I was in second grade I lived at 780 Greenwich Street. The marble in the entrance looks the same as when the building was originally built. We were some of the first tennants

Me & Mom - She was 14 and I was a few months old - I became self aware around the age of 5

Thelonious Monk on the cover of Time Magazine

As we were walking we met this lovely woman Alexa, who said The Lower Eastside Girls Club is still there

Our Lower-Manhattan section of the Black Panther Party Harlem branch was a 21st street townhouse

Berry Berenson and Tony Perkins back in the day

Nile Rodgers photo by Berry Berenson

David Bowie performing "Modern Love" produced by Nile Rodgers

Madonna's Like A Virgin album is her biggest seller

 

Over the last couple days I've been Walking on Planet C with Paul McClean of BBC Radio

Over the last couple days, I've been Walking on Planet C with Paul McClean of BBC Radio, and my Jack-of-all-trades assistant Rich Hilton. Planet C is a term I've coined for life once cancer strikes. Walking is the main part of my therapy that I can control. It helps with my overall fitness and it's the peaceful time of the day that I have to myself. On my walks I never carry a music player because music is always inside my head - that music is always inspired by the sights and sounds I encounter on my walks.

In twenty-one months, this is only the second time I've walked with anyone else. Paul McClean has read my book Le Freak and interviewed me in Belfast. He wanted to see scenes from my freaky past life and it's ongoing chapters. I told him before we started our walk, "I promise you will not be able to keep up with all of the sights and sounds - because I have a Rock-n-Roll story about every street in New York City."

We started on 125 Street - at the Apollo Theater. In the 70's as a member of the house band, I'd backed an endless list of heavyweights: Parliament Funkadelic, Betty Wright, Aretha Franklin, and Screaming Jay Hawkins to name just a few. Then we walked east when I suddenly remembered seeing Jimi Hendrix perform for the last time just ahead on Randall's Island. As we approached President Clinton's offices on the corner of 125th St. & 7th Avenue, we'd been told we'd just missed Paul Simon by about an hour. Paul and I have been friends for years and have worked together a number of times.

We rounded the corner and made our way down 7th Avenue to the site of the old Black Panther Party Harlem branch office. Along the way I was greeted by a police officer by name and we shook hands and talked about music. Back in the 60's when I was a Black Panther I'd also been "greeted" by police officers called the Tactical Police Force or TPF. They've since been disbanded and The Black Panther office is now a beauty shop. (To be continued: Walking on Planet C With the BBC.)

 

He wanted to see scenes from my freaky past life and it's ongoing chapters

We started on 125 Street at the Apollo Theater

I gigged with Betty Wright at the Apollo

I gigged with Screaming Jay back in the day

I jammed with Funkadelic at the Apollo

Jimi Hendrix - When I saw him play Randall's Island it was just a few months before he died

President Bill Clinton in Harlem

Paul Simon & me performing at my Foundation's gala

Academy Award nominated director/author Jamal Joseph at 16 yrs old in front of The Black Panther Party office

I was greeted by a police officer in Harlem by name and we shook hands and talked about music

Greeted by police - I'm 16 yrs old and the 5th dude down - Metal framed glasses on my nose - Jamal was in jail - Panther 21

What was once the Black Panther Party office is now a beauty shop

 

I invited some friends to perform some Tight A$$ Dance Music with me

On July 13, 2012 I invited some friends to come to Montreux, Switzerland with me and play some Tight A$$ Dance Music.

 

Tight A$$ Photos by Alexandre Guidetti

Me in the Morning

The Hitmaker

Scarlett Etienne

Johnny Marr

Ultra Nate Dj'ing

CHIC's Don Harris and Bill Holloman

Alison Moyet

CHIC's Selan

La Roux's Elly Jackson

CHIC's Ralph Rolle

Mark Ronson

CHIC's Kimberly Davis

Folami

Taylor Dayne

People partying on stage to CHIC's Tight A$$ Dance Music

 

My friend, the extraordinary guitarist, Stevie Ray Vaughan

Back in the 70's and 80's there was a jet-setting world party going on. It was the era of mega-clubs, mega-optimism, and the soirees at Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion, were actually cutting-edge and fun. Those days are long gone, the innocent days before air marshals, shoe and underwear bombers and the TSA.

I've logged millions of miles since then and know airline personnel whom I consider to be friends for life. One such person is Captain Scott Roper, of Delta Airlines. He's a music lover and a guitar player. The day we met he knew I was the dude who'd produced David Bowie's Let's Dance and the Vaughan Brother's Family Style.

I've known Scott for many years now and he called me yesterday and said, "Hey Nile, I'd like to donate my Stevie Ray Vaughan Signature model guitar to the We Are Family Foundation. It's autographed by Buddy Guy who told me, The finish is nicer than the one I bought, so let me sign on a piece of clear tape.""

I was blown away and couldn't thank him enough. I could tell Scott loves this instrument and from the pictures it looks like some serious SRV #GuitarPorn.

 

Back in the 70's there was a jet-setting world party going on - Here's Hugh Hefner's jet called The Big Bunny

Captain Scott Roper, of Delta Airlines is a music lover and a guitar player

Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan in the background while we were recording Family Style

Recording Family Style with the Vaughan Bros

David Bowie, Stevie Ray Vaughan & me

Scott's SRV Signature Strat. It's autographed by Buddy Guy who told me, "The finish is nicer than the one I bought, so let me sign on a piece of clear tape."

I could tell Scott loves this instrument and from the pictures it looks like some serious SRV #GuitarPorn

Me playing factory Gold Plated Strat on The Vaughan Bros Family Style

Vaughan Brothers Tour Shirt

Part of the Vaughan Brothers guitar arsenal

More parts of the Vaughan Brothers' guitar arsenal

Dawn Ciolfi & Scott Roper at Delta JFK

Some of my platinum albums that Stevie Ray Vaughan played on - Let's Dance and Family Style

 

My autographed copy of John Taylor's bio "In The Pleasure Groove - Love, Death and Duran Duran"

There have been so many deaths of friends and acquaintances lately, which remind me just how precious the gift of life is. Some friends had passed away unexpectedly and others after long bouts with various illnesses. There's a saying that goes, "When one door closes another opens" – that's truly been my life's pattern.

I've gotten an unusually large amount of calls, emails, and visits from people I've not seen or heard from in a long time this week. Though I have high regard for them all, it's especially rewarding when I hear from someone that I've worked with. Working with artists locked away in a recording studio, sometimes for months, creates an almost military type of bond.

This evening I've spent the night catching up with one of my all time closest platoon-mates - John Taylor, from Duran Duran. We talked about everything and everyone. The first words out of his mouth were, "This is long overdue."

I hadn't seen JT for a couple of years and one of my longest recording relationships has been with Duran Duran. This week spanned the gamut of work relationship linkages - folks I've worked with on everything, from Madonna to Adam Lambert.

 

John Taylor and me at Cafe Luxembourg, where he gave me a copy of his new biography

A page from John's new biography, In The Pleasure Groove. I'm the dude between Nick & Simon in the Michael Jackson-esque chainmail vest

The first words out of John's mouth were, "This is long overdue"

Simon, Nick and John of Duran Duran back in the original China Club

John Taylor and me back in the 80's doing the heavy hang

Me, Mick Jagger, & John Taylor at Limelight in the VIP room

John Taylor and me

Me and Madonna at Live Aid - I got a call from my old guitar tech who worked that show today

Today I recorded a track with Rich Hilton, who also recorded me playing "Shady" with Adam Lambert

 

Summer is officially over and now we Americans go back to work

Summer is officially over and now we Americans go back to work. I've worked harder this summer than any summer of my life - so the calendar has little meaning to me other than it being a measuring tool of events. My life is a journey through endless mazes, tunnels, windows, and doors with no knowledge of what's on the other side of any of them.

This past summer I've played countless shows and guitar on a number of records, composed dozens of songs, written scores of blog posts and spoken at a number of book and corporate events, penned a few articles for newspapers, and have snapped thousands of photographs. I've always worked hard but since being attacked by aggressive cancer almost two years ago, I've more than doubled my workload. I figure I'll just be too busy to answer the door When Death Comes Knocking.

 

I've worked harder this summer than any summer of my life!!

My life is a journey through endless mazes with no knowledge of what's on the other side

This past summer I've played countless shows

Kim & me on "He's The Greatest Dancer" at Ibiza 123

Me playing guitar on "Shady" with Adam Lambert

Me in one of Pablo Picasso's cape-maker's capes being shot by the legendary Bruce Weber at my apartment

Signing a staffers t-shirt at a book event (while it's still on her body)

I gave a speech at DraftFCB ad agency with another music man, Billy Man

I've penned a few articles for newspapers

My first meal after cancer surgery and since then, I've more than doubled my workload

I have snapped thousands of photographs this summer

 

Today I'd dreamt a wild mandrill was outside my window and I didn't know whether to run for my camera or run for my life

Today I awakened from a nightmare before I realized I was dreaming. I'd dreamt a wild mandrill was outside my window and I didn't know whether to run for my camera or run for my life. When I looked again, I saw there was no wild primate waiting to pounce on me.

My moment of peace was short lived when I looked at the clock and saw I'd overslept. I quickly got dressed because I had a meeting scheduled with an assistant dean from Drexel University.

Earlier this year I'd been given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from the institution. It was really a great honor which I'll always cherish. As I was getting the degree I couldn't help but think, "Not bad for a person who set the national truancy record for the entire parochial school system of the United States of America, at seven years old."

Drexel University is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is also the home of the famed Sigma Sound Studios tape library archive. They've successfully saved this precious resource that's played such an important role in R&B, Pop, and Dance Music, which to this day continues To Save My Life.

 

I quickly got dressed because I had a meeting

Driving to meet with assistant dean of Drexel University, Louisa Hanshew

Earlier this year I'd been given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree

It was really a great honor which I'll always cherish

Not bad for a person who set the national truancy record for the entire parochial school system of the United States of America, at seven years old.

Everyday, music continues To Save My Life

Drexel University is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is also the home of the famed Sigma Sound Studios tape library archive

 

A Le Freak book party in Belfast, Ireland with some new friends

It's been almost a year since my memoir Le Freak was released. The experience has given me more than I'd ever expected. I've come to know so many new people by sharing my story with the book's readers. And they've gotten to know what life was like in a time and a place that can never be documented enough as far as I'm concerned. The music, fashion, and idealism was wonderful in that time. I believe I have a lot of music, life, and love left in me, and I'll be idealistic until my last breath - I call it acceptance.

Yesterday, a lifelong friend and cancer survivor lost two of his close relatives. "The planet is going through some shit" he said. But, damn, I've developed such a Zen calm about things. Serene, Almost, but Not Indifference."

 

Kyle MacLachlan, Angela Yee, me and Gayle King at my 1st Le Freak Salon

Me at the Edinburgh International Book Festival where my book sold out

It's been almost a year since my memoir Le Freak was released

The experience has given me more than I'd ever expected

Do you have a copy of Le Freak yet?

An autographed copy of Le Freak for the book store

Serene, Almost, but Not Indifference