Today we’d like to introduce you to VonFrederick aka Cordoba Khan.
Cordoba Khan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Born in Houston Tx Frederick Gipson, I’m an Independent Recording Artist VonFrederick aka Cordoba Khan, Cordoba derives from a car by Chrysler I then later looked it up and found it to be a beautiful city in southern Spain. Khan derives from the greatly admired Chaka Khan. VonFrederick derives from my love of Linguistics. I have always loved music all of my life. Singing in the church choir growing up and even as an adult. In high school my favorite elective was ( Music History & Literature) I formed an R&B band right out of Highschool “ Cordoba Khan and Velvet Touch “ As it was that the R&B group Rufus and Chaka khan made such an amazing impression and impact on me. I was about fourteen years old when one day, I and some neighborhood friends were playing a softball game of ( Pinky ) =briefly meaning bat and catch the ball. Well, it was my turn at bat but, I couldn’t concentrate because of music that a neighbor was playing loud on his stereo from the house on the corner. It was summertime and school was out , the neighbor had his windows open and the music was radiating in air. The voice that accompanied the music was that of Chaka khan, I tried my best to hit the ball inspite of the mesmerizing and welcomed distraction Rufus and Chaka khan. Finally, I was under the Pide-pippers influence of the Album “ Rufus featuring Chaka khan “ sounding out through the airwaves of the neighborhood stripping me of my concentration to bat the incoming ball. I relinquished the bat and went to the neighbor who was playing this music and voice that I’d never heard before. I knocked on the door and he answer hey Bima ! my nickname. Hey Bubba! his nickname. Who is that singing on that music ??? He replies Oh that’s Rufus. I responded, that’s a weird name for a lady but, Ok! He then said wait a minute, I’ll be right back, he goes to get the album in its cover and brings it outside and gives it to me. I look at it front and back, I see that it’s Rufus featuring Chaka khan and I have the album in my hand yet I still hear it playing from the stereo inside the house. I express how much I like the sound of this Rufus featuring Chaka khan but, how is it still playing when I’m holding it in my hand. He said that he had two copies of it given to his Dad from a radio station and that I could have the one in hands.
Wow !!! I thanked him and IMMEDIATELY went home 🏠 and played it Over and Over again. To fast forward the story when I got to junior high I started to give thought to making singing as a career and trying to put together a band. I didn’t have a stage name for me, or a name for a band so one day some friends and I were walking to the nearby store and our neighborhood was relatively new and unfinished in development we then noticed an abandoned car probably stolen. It was a Chrysler Cordoba, Hmmm 🤔!! I thought to myself. I need a stage name, I was Definitely going to adopt Khan in some kind of way because of the Iconic Impression of the voice of Chaka Khan of course. So when I heard in my head the words 💡🤔 Cordoba and Khan pronounced together, I Heard My Destiny. So then I IMMEDIATELY went back home and got a flathead screwdriver, went back to the abandoned car and prayed off all the Cordoba Emblems. As for the smallest of the Emblems, I put it on a silver chain and wore it around my neck for the remainder of Junior High and all of Senior High. Sure !! I took on some ridicule but I was Passionate about my be CORDOBA KHAN, it was so self-promoted that most of my teachers, when time for role call no longer called for Frederick Gipson but, Cordoba Khan.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has been both smooth and rough, as an independent artist, the financial burden is all on the Artist The forming and maintaining a band and then coming to the transition of a solo Artist. I would have to say that the cost of doing business has been the greatest struggle. Studio cost, Production Cost in general/ Marketing, Maintaining a 9-5 to support your dreams and goals.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a singer-songwriter/ also a radio show host for MJWJ Talk Radio. I specialize in singing and am known for my radio voice emcee voice for hosting stage plays. Acting 🎭 is under my belt as well. I’m most proud of my Live Stage Performance in, particularly the winning of the Sam Houston 1987 “ SAMMY “ Award from The Peoples Workshop For The Visual And Performing Arts. My 3 piece band won the award for “ Best R&B Band beating out fourteen competing bands, we all had a fifteen-minute live audience stage time limit and four-panel judge. Cordoba Khan and Velvet Touch got the job done in 14 min & 45 sec . It was so Awesome to see all the hard work of rehearsal for seven straight days 4 hours a day in increments of 3 songs at 15 min repetitive …. A POWERFUL PRODUCTION PAYOFF.
What sets you apart from others?
It is the made-up mind, dedication, and confidence in me specializing me…to be the best me…that I can be.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Simply put, I Love Engaging with people. I’m a people person. I love excellence. I totally believe in giving them something to remember. 🎼🎶✔️💯❤️❤️🎵
Pricing:
- Show Host / Emcee $125 minimum + pending details
- Studio Background Vocals/ $100 per song
- Live Performance $200 minimum
Contact Info:
- Website: vonfredericksings.com
- Instagram: VonFrederick CK
- Facebook: VonFrederick CK
- Youtube: VonFrederick CK
Image Credits
CK Productions
