Nile Gregory Rodgers (born September 19, 1952 in New York City) is a musici… Read Full Bio ↴Nile Gregory Rodgers (born September 19, 1952 in New York City) is a musician, composer, arranger, guitarist and music producer, and co-founding member of the seminal multi-platinum hit R&B band Chic, with influential bassist, the late Bernard Edwards.

Rodgers began his career as a session guitarist in New York, playing with the Sesame Street band in his teens, and then working in the house band at Harlem's renowned Apollo Theater, backing artists like Aretha Franklin, Ben E. King, Nancy Wilson, and Parliament Funkadelic.

He met bassist Bernard Edwards in 1970. They formed a rock band called The Boys (later known as the Big Apple Band) and played numerous gigs around New York City, but despite interest in their demos, they could not get a record contract when the music companies discovered they were black; the discrimination of the day said black artists couldn't play "rock".

These experiences, in addition to activist tenor of the times, led to Rodgers' active involvement in the Black Panther Party in New York City. The 1999 documentary film Public Enemy contains history and interviews with Rodgers about these times. Not the type to give up on their musical dreams, in 1977 Rodgers and Edwards joined forces with drummer Tony Thompson to form the funk/R&B/disco band Chic, and went on to score numerous top ten hits and helped propel disco to new levels of popularity. Their songs "Everybody Dance", "Le Freak" and "Good Times" remain among the most sampled songs of the late 1970s/early 1980s R&B era.

"Good Times" signals the start of the take-off of hip hop music as its sample immensely contributed to the success of Sugarhill Gang's Rapper's Delight, the first rap hit ever. Chic dissolved in 1983. As Chic's tight sound and yet rich composition became increasingly popular and sought-after, Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers began doing record production, sometimes together, sometimes apart. Rodgers and Bernard Edwards produced, wrote, and performed with the band Sister Sledge.

In 1980 they produced the album diana for Diana Ross, yielding the smash hits Upside Down and I'm Coming Out (which remains Ross' best selling album).

In 1981, Deborah Harry worked with both Rodgers and Edwards on the album Koo Koo.

In 1983, they produced David Bowie's album Let's Dance (to date Bowie's biggest-selling album) with several hit singles, and in 1984 produced Madonna's blockbuster album Like a Virgin, Madonna's breakthrough album, spawning her two signature hits ("Material Girl" and the title track). Rodgers helped develop Madonna's career significantly. Duran Duran worked extensively with Rodgers after he produced the hit single, "The Reflex", in 1983 and followed up with "The Wild Boys" for inclusion on their 1984 live album Arena. Rodgers also produced Sheena Easton's 1985 album "Do You".

In 1986, he produced the entirety of Duran Duran's Notorious album, which yielded a #2 title track hit. During a live set, Simon Le Bon introduced Rodgers, saying "Well, this band went through a difficult time (during Notorious). The band might not have made it if it weren't for this gentleman..." He contributed to numerous other projects and appearances with members of the band throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and in 2002-2003 helped to produce Astronaut, the new album by the original five members of the band.

Also in 1987 Rodgers produced the Grace Jones album Inside Story for Manhattan records.

He formed the short-lived experimental band Outloud in 1987 with acclaimed French session musician/producer/keyboardist, Philippe Saisse; they released a single album, Out Loud, on Warner Bros. Records. Saisse has often played with Rodgers during in the Chic tours.

After a 1992 birthday party where Rodgers, Edwards, Paul Shaffer and Anton Fig played old Chic hits to rapturous response, Rodgers and Edwards organized the reunion of the old band. They recorded new material and played live all over the world, to great audience and greater critical acclaim. In 1996, Rodgers was honored as the Top Producer In the World in Billboard Magazine, and was named a JT Super Producer. That year he performed with Bernard Edwards, Sister Sledge, Steve Winwood, Simon Le Bon and Slash in a series of commemorative concerts in Japan which provided a career retrospective. Unfortunately his longtime musical partner and close friend Bernard Edwards died of pneumonia during the trip, a blow that Rodgers took very hard.

In 1998, Rodgers founded Sumthing Else Music Works music label and Sumthing Distribution, the largest African-American owned independent music label distribution company in America. Sumthing currently focuses on distributing a fast-growing new genre: video game soundtracks. Soundtrack titles include Halo, Halo 2 and the upcoming Halo 3 soundtrack. It has been underminded that he produced a legendary album called A Great Long While By Jamband great's known as Strangefolk where he put his pop and rock know how and incorporated a great Jamband album.

The September 11, 2001 attacks prompted Rodgers to create the We Are Family Project to help begin the healing process. To begin, he organized a re-recording of the song he and his music partner Bernard Edwards wrote for Sister Sledge called "We Are Family" with more than 200 musicians, celebrities, and personalities. Director Spike Lee filmed the "We Are Family" music video and director Danny Schechter filmed a documentary depicting the recording sessions called The Making and Meaning of We Are Family. The film was chosen as a Sundance Film Festival Special Selection in 2002. Rodgers continued the healing process and produced another "We Are Family" recording and music video involving more than 100 beloved children's television characters. The children's music video airs as a public service announcement on Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and PBS stations to promote the message of a common humanity. In July 2002, Rodgers officially created the We Are Family Foundation to celebrate the vision of a global family by creating and supporting programs that inspire and educate people about mutual respect, understanding, and appreciation of cultural diversity.

Rodgers received a NY Chapter's Governor's Lifetime Achievement Award and a Heroes Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. On September 19, 2005, Nile Rodgers was honored at the Dance Music Hall of Fame ceremony in New York when he was inducted for his many outstanding achievements as a producer, along with former fellow band mate Bernard Edwards. CHIC has been nominated to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame three times - 2003, 2006 and 2007. In the summer of 2006 Rodgers served as musical director for the tribute concert to Ahmet Ertegün at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland. The concert included performances by Chic, Robert Plant, Steve Winwood, Stevie Nicks, Kid Rock and many other artists who were signed to Ertegün's Atlantic Records. In 2007, Rodgers made contributions to the upcoming Wu-Tang Clan album, 8 Diagrams. He also wrote the title song Love Me Sexy from the movie Semi-Pro, starring Will Ferrell.

Its All In Your Hands
Nile Rodgers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

All in your hands
I put it all in your hands
All in your hands
I put it all in your hands

A stranger in bed with me
The wolf inside me broke loose
Another strike out you see

I'd rather be here with you
For the thing that I feel
I need your livin' so much
Sometimes I just lose my will

All in your hands
I put it all in your hands
All in your hands
I put it all in your hands

In a world where there's lots of fiends
They all want to bust it out
So glad that you come between
You take away all the doubt
Impulsive arm round her neck
Amazing, I still feel bored
I just can't afford

All in your hands
I put it all in your hands
All in your hands
I put it all in your hands

All in your hands
I put it all in your hands
All in your hands
I put it all in your hands

(All in your hands, all in your hands)
All in your hands (all in your hands)
I put it all in your hands (all in your hands)
All in your hands (all in your hands)
I put it all in your hands (all in your hands)
Put it all in your hands (all in your hands)
I put it all in your hands (all in your hands)
All in your hands (all in your hands)
I put it all in your hands (all in your hands)
Your hands

(All in your hands, all in your hands)
(All in your hands, all in your hands)

(All in your hands, all in your hands)
(All in your hands, all in your hands)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "All in Your Hands" by Nile Rodgers convey a sense of vulnerability and reliance on someone else to guide and support the singer through difficult times. The repetition of "All in your hands, I put it all in your hands" emphasizes the surrender of control and trust placed in the hands of another individual. This act of giving up control and seeking solace in someone else suggests a deep emotional connection and a need for reassurance and stability.

The mention of a stranger in bed with the singer and the unleashing of the wolf inside them can be interpreted as a metaphor for inner turmoil and a struggle with one's own desires and impulses. The singer acknowledges past failures and admits a preference for being with the person they are addressing in the song. This longing for connection and understanding is further emphasized by the line "For the thing that I feel, I need your livin' so much," highlighting the importance of the other person's presence in the singer's life.

The lyrics also touch upon themes of external pressures and temptations, as referenced by the line "In a world where there's lots of fiends, they all want to bust it out." Despite the challenges and distractions surrounding the singer, they express gratitude for the person who stands by them and helps to dispel doubts and fears. The contrast between the chaos of the outside world and the comfort provided by the person the singer relies on showcases the strength of their bond and the refuge found in their presence.

Ultimately, "All in Your Hands" conveys a message of trust, intimacy, and dependence on a loved one to navigate through life's complexities. The repetition of the phrase "All in your hands" serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness between individuals and the power of mutual support. By surrendering control and placing their trust in someone else, the singer finds solace and reassurance, highlighting the importance of emotional connection and the resilience that comes from sharing burdens with another person.

Line by Line Meaning

All in your hands
I am entrusting everything to you and placing my faith in you

I put it all in your hands
I am giving you complete control and responsibility

A stranger in bed with me
I feel disconnected and unfamiliar with myself

The wolf inside me broke loose
My wild and untamed nature has been unleashed

Another strike out you see
Experiencing failure or disappointment

I'd rather be here with you
I prefer to be by your side

For the thing that I feel
The emotions I am experiencing

I need your livin' so much
I crave your presence and companionship

Sometimes I just lose my will
Occasionally, I lack the determination or strength to carry on

In a world where there's lots of fiends
In a society full of malicious or wicked individuals

They all want to bust it out
They all want to let loose or cause trouble