Music before money: Nile Rodgers makes just $15 busking in London

Musician Nile Rodgers earned $15 after busking in disguise on London’s Southbank. Commuters and tourists were treated to a live performance from the Chic star just hours after he played in front of thousands in Hyde Park for the British Summertime festival. Rodgers wore a hat, dark glasses and scarf to play his guitar and sing by the Thames with his instrument case open for donations. He posted photos of himself after the event, explaining: “Today I went busking on the #London Southbank. Didn’t draw much of a crowd until I stared playing dance music. Hmm?”

Though I had no voice from screaming during last night’s show, I started to draw a crowd when I sang ‘Aw Freak Out!’

Nile Rodgers

When asked by a fan on Twitter how many people immediately recognised him he replied: “Not many until I started playing @CHICorg songs. Then it was on!” Rodgers recalled to a fan how he’d started his career as a busker. Replying to a Tweet, he explained: “That’s how I started. I was homeless.”