Former Kansas Gov. Colyer to sing backup vocals for Chaka Khan at MLK Day concert
Jeff Colyer’s resume includes governor of Kansas and plastic surgeon. Next week, he’ll be able to add Chaka Khan backup singer to the list.
The Johnson County Republican, who served as governor for one year, is in Washington this week to rehearse for a Martin Luther King Day event hosted by Georgetown University at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts..
Colyer, who was a fellow at Georgetown’s Institute of Politics and Public Service during the fall semester, is part of a student and faculty choir that will join Chaka Khan, sometimes called the “Queen of Funk,” on stage for a performance during the annual “Let Freedom Ring” concert.
“I get to be a backup singer for Chaka Khan. That’s pretty cool,” said Colyer, the choir’s second tenor.
Khan achieved success in the 1970s as a vocalist in the funk band Rufus and as a solo artist in the 1980s with her hit single “I Feel For You.”
The performance will include traditional African American spirituals, a piece composed by Khan and music from Rev. Nolan Williams, a Washington-based composer.
“It’s one of those bucket list (items),” Colyer said about performing at the Kennedy Center. “The really neat thing is there are twelve part harmonies.”
Colyer said he was a member of boys folk chorus during his high school years at St. Thomas More Prep in Hays. His high school chorus reunited for a performance at the Kansas Capitol during his final days as governor.
The Overland Park plastic surgeon was lieutenant governor in 2018 and rose to the top job after fellow Republican Sam Brownback resigned to take an ambassadorship.
He lost a historically close Republican primary for governor in 2018 to then-Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach by 343 votes after President Donald Trump endorsed Kobach the day before the election.
Kobach, now running for for U.S. Senate, lost the general election to Democrat Laura Kelly.
Colyer decided against a Senate run last year, but he’s not ruled out a future run for political office, including in 2022 when Kelly’s up for re-election as governor.
“I believe in service,” Colyer said. “That may put me on a ballot. It may not. We’ll see.”
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 1:40 PM.
