Me in my apartment in the 80's, where I developed most of my ideas

I was offline most of the day yesterday because I was engrossed in a voluminous amount of unreleased tapes from the 80's. I have nine boxes filled with Nile Rodgers Production's tapes.

Typically, when I was working on my various solo projects, many songs would have the same name but were different songs. I'd start with an idea, give the song a working title, and by the end of the process it could be a very different song musically.

On some of the songs, I'd get Bernard Edwards to play. The great thing about finding all this music is the sheer amount of recording I did. I'd basically go to the studio everyday.

Over the next few months I'm going to finish a few of these projects and release them, because some of these songs are Absurdly Funky.

Alphabet City (1984) Trailer :: Uploaded by jeremizle

Me and Paula Abdul in the studio with my engineer Gary Tole

Yesterday I got a visit from two friends I'd not seen in almost twenty years. They were Oliver Leiber, son of the famed composer Jerry Leiber (of the mega songwriting team Leiber and Stoller), and filmmaker Anouk Nora. Oliver, whom I've know most of my life, burst on the scene with two Paula Abdul #1 songs "Forever Your Girl" and "Opposites Attract."

I worked with Paula on the film Coming to America. I scored the film and she choreographed the African tribal dance scene.

Oliver's brother is Jed Leiber, who co-wrote with me and Jeff Beck the score to a film called Blue Chips, starring Nick Nolte and Shaquille O'Neal.

Anouk and I used to be very tight when her family owned the premier resort in St. Martin called La Samanna. She was partnered with filmmaker Marcus Nispel back in the day. We did Olé Olé "Soldados del Amor ft. Marta Sanchez." Wow. Time Flies!

Paula Abdul "Opposites Attract"

"Coming to America" African tribal dance - scored by me, choreographed by Paula Abdul

Music co-written by me, Jed Lieber and Jeff Beck from the movie Blue Chips

Olé Olé "Soldados de Amor feat. Martha Sanchez" - You can hear my guitar come in at 3:30.

Folami, me and Kim

I was sent a copy of me, Folami, and Kim performing "Good Times" last night. We were playing with a symphony orchestra as part of a tour called Night of the Proms. It was recorded in Dortmund, Germany.

It's amazing how close you become when you play music together, because it's a cooperative effort. Classical players interpreting CHIC's music is really interesting. It demonstrates something I've always believed: Music is a universal language that we all intrinsically understand.

It warms my heart to see people who've never seen the inside of the hardcore underground clubs that pumped our music back in the day, On Stage Dancing With Us.

CHIC and Night of the Proms "GOOD TIMES" LIVE in Dortmund, Germany

Me and Daft Punk at my NYC Apartment

I had to grab an early morning train because I wanted to spend as much time with Daft Punk as possible. We had to make up for years of lost time and missed meetings in the past. During the meeting, Thomas said, "Nile, everything has worked out perfectly to bring us to this moment."

We had a great day. They were at my New York apartment most of the day. Things went so well we didn't want the day to end but I had to do a string of interviews for my upcoming CHIC gigs in Australia. After doing my interviews I listened to My Favorite Daft Punk Records.

Daft Punk "Da Funk"

TRON: Legacy "The Grid" - Absolutely brilliant!

Daft Punk

Today I'm going to spend some time with Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo better known as Daft Punk. We've briefly met before when they were doing some sort of listening party in NYC back in the 90's. The scene was chaotic and we didn't really have a chance to have an artistic connection, except they did tell me that they were sorry about my former partner Bernard Edward's death. And they dug CHIC. The feeling is mutual.

I dig Daft Punk. When I first heard "Da Funk" I thought it was one of the grooviest records I'd heard in a long time. The song "One More Time" came out when I was on a trip to Paris and I visited Virgin records.

I almost hooked up with the guys then but I don't remember what went wrong. "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" I simply thought was one of the coolest records of the year when I heard it.

After all these years of almost hooking up, finally Daft Punk Is Hanging at My House.

Daft Punk "Da Funk"

TRON: Legacy "The Grid" - Absolutely brilliant!

Texas Children's Cancer Center Banner

Early morning sun rained down on my face as I left the Four Seasons Hotel in Houston, Texas. The CHIC org were on our way to the Texas Children's Cancer Center to do a little jam session.

We were in town to play a charity concert that was organized by Sue and Lester Smith. They raised a record breaking $32,260,000. The money is important because it allows us to change lives, not only the children's but the caretakers, staff, volunteers and everyone who participates in the process.

The whole experience made a life changing impression on me. Even though I'm back in Connecticut today, I thank Sue, Lester and everyone at the Children's Hospital and know I'm Thinking Of You.

The CHIC Organization "Thinking Of You" LIVE

Patients and the staff of the Texas Children's Hospital Cancer Center

Yesterday I spent the day with with the patients and staff of the Texas Children's Hospital Cancer Center. It is an amazing place. I was beyond impressed with the balance of technology, recreation, inspiration, art, music, spirituality, and humanity.

I normally talk a lot but as they say, "a picture's worth a thousand words" - these pictures are worth a fortune. Here's how I spent my day With Some Real People.

CHIC "Real People"

A little over a year ago I was hospitalized with aggressive prostate cancer

A little over a year ago I was hospitalized with aggressive prostate cancer. Since then, music has been an integral part of my recovery program. I sing and play everyday no matter where I am in the world.

Yesterday, I spoke to a good friend in show business who's suffering from stage 4 prostate cancer. Right after his treatments, he goes back on the road.

Today I'm at the Texas Children's Hospital Cancer Center singing songs during the day and later tonight, I'm doing a charity concert. Music is the thing that keeps me going. I'm happy to come here and perform for these kids.

Currently, I'm having a tough time physically but I know this will recharge me spiritually. There is nothing like the bravery of kids to makes me realize that I Can Be Brave Too!

"We Are Family: A Musical Message for All!" by the We Are Family Foundation

1983 Photo with David Bowie, Coco Schwab, me and Rick James (by Lynn Goldsmith)

I have a great life, not only because I get to work with special people but because I'm still breathing. As hard as I used to drug and party, that's a miracle. Many wonderful artists have left my world too quickly. Most of these people were complicated, but all of them were gifted.

One of those people was Rick James. Rick was one of the few dudes who could keep up with me. We partied many nights but we only made music together live. Once, we played at Giant Stadium in front of seventy-thousand people. We jammed hard on some funk and brought the crowd to a frenzy. He was complicated but was always cool with me.

Rick's birthday came and went with little fanfare because it was the same day that Don Cornelius died. Here is a very rare 1983 photo just sent to me by photographer Lynn Goldsmith. Since we're in dinner jackets it must be some award ceremony. It features David Bowie, Coco Schwab, and me hanging with Rick James. Belated Happy Birthday to The King of Punk Funk.

"Give It To Me Baby" by Rick James, The King of Punk Funk

Don Cornelius (September 27, 1936 – February 1, 2012)

The cultural impact that Don Cornelius' Soul Train had on people was enormous. It gave them a peek into the lives of R&B musicians and their art-form which was broadly categorized as soul.

Don's vision was nothing less than extraordinary. Soul Train allowed CHIC to have access to the American national TV audience, allowing us into anybody's home, in any neighborhood, and on any street in the country.

At first it was no secret that he wasn't a huge fan of our music because we'd been labeled as disco, but over time we gained his respect. We appeared on Soul Train quite a bit and in the end Don said we were Part of the Soul Train Family.

CHIC - 'Le Freak' by gralu1
At first it was no secret that he wasn't a huge fan of our music, but in the end we were Part of the Soul Train Family