Send us a tip using our anonymous form. The women featured here are standouts in a number of genres. The women featured here are standouts in a number of genres. 101 Female Rock 'n Roll Girls of the '50s - Compilation His first successful album Calypso became the first recording by a single artist to sell over 1 million copies. Holiday left a remarkable legacy, but her career was punctuated by bouts of drug use and problems with addiction. His single Georgia On My Mind garnered him four Grammys! Dionne Warwick was born into a musical family and grew up singing with her family group, The Drinkards. To date, shes sold over 90 million albums and was named the top R&B artist of the 2000s. Rocks Off Mag is not held accountable for any answers you may receive. Originally the group was formed with Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart, and Georgia Dobbins, who was later replaced by Wanda Young. Next up we have the Prince of Soul Marvin Gaye, who also earned the nickname the Prince of Motown by pioneering the Motown movement during the 1960s. WebLiving up to her moniker Empress of Soul, Gladys Knight was another prolific Black singer from the 60s leader in the soul music scene, headlining her group The Pips to release hit singles including Midnight Train to Georgia, and Thats What Friends Are For, two instantly recognizable songs even to today. She hit the jackpot with her award-winning solo album. Between her first and second albums, she sold over six million copies. Im Dan and I run this website. She originally sang with her band, The Sunnysiders, who had a big hit called Hey, Mr. Banjo.. Interestingly, her actual birthdate is not known, all we know is that she was indeed born in 1938. Selling 100 million albums has solidified her place at the top. Don't worry! Guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer Chuck Berry earned the name the Father of Rock and Roll through his musical innovations. Some of her most notable songs include Runnin Out of Fools, Cry Like a Baby, and Wont Be Long. Richard Wayne Penniman, who adopted the stage name Little Richard, was an early pioneer of the style that would become rock and roll. I'm Rock Bot! Given all of the great vocal music that infused this decade, it was not an easy feat to compile this list.
Domino was shy and modest. By the mid 1980, Fitzgeralds health began to decline due to a long battle with diabetes. Next: Greatest and most iconic singers in history (best singers ever). Sarah Vaughan is a vocalist who managed to achieve this over her 45-year career. Graces genres are new wave, art pop, R&B, and reggae. His early musical inclinations included popular music as well as religious music.

While not one of the best-known female singers of the 50s, Jaye P. Morgan did have a period of success. In 1984, she became the first R&B singer to have a hit featuring a rapper. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. Many of these techniques echoed his voice and allowed him to manipulate the fixed pitches of the guitar more expressively. These black artists not only dominated the airwaves during the 1960s and paved the way for generations of singers, but many also contributed to a critical social movement that redefined society. WebTOP 100 FEMALE SOLO SINGERS OF THE '50S AND '60S Patti Page - All My Love, The Tennessee Waltz, Mockin' Bird Hill, I Went to Your Wedding, The Doggie in the Window, Cross Over the Bridge, Allegheny Moon, Old Cape Cod; Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte Cab Calloway was a jazz musician, singer, and band leader, in a time when this was akin to being a modern rockstar. Listen to more of Rosemary Clooney on Amazon here! Over her career, she sold more than 100 million records worldwide and has received six Grammys, making her one of the best-selling and most-awarded artists in music history. While in retirement, Smith appeared in a handful of films, the last of which was Because I Love You in 1943. 6 Black Female Singers Of The 50s. Diana Ross. Her first live album from 1997 went double platinum. Two of her songs were covered by more widely known artists. This led to a music Betty Everett. She earned an early release in 1948 for good behavior. She was actually born in England but became very popular in both the UK and the US. But her life was beset by legal troubles, relationship woes, and drug abuse. WebThe 1960s and 70s saw an incredible explosion of talent in black female singers. In that short time, she managed to record some of the biggest hits of the 1950s and 60s. He works closely with journalists and other staff to format and publish music content for the Music Grotto website. Have a listen to each of them, and enjoy! Lets get started. Here we have another legendary blues musician, Muddy Waters, who was equally at home singing or playing guitar. Brown developed the style that would become his own throughout the 1950s and penned numerous Billboard hits during this time. She had her first gold record in 1959 with the song Broken Hearted Melody, a song she frequently referred to as corny. In total, she won an NEA Jazz Masters Award and four Grammys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. Nat King Cole had a storied career performing more than 100 hits in the pop world. Having the ability to hit up to the 7th-octave range is part of what helped catapult Mariah Carey to the global spotlight during the 90s.

3. Laura has over 12 years experience teaching both classical and jazz saxophone and clarinet. We want to hear from you! 25. Need a hand with anything? Richard designed a unique signature that included elements of modern R&B, rock, and funk styles. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'bZjqOH-RRUdfUm_Mm7-TwA',sig:'_LeCztd_Hb7YM6uYPvHoZrB81S7razeiUQanvGqTqII=',w:'431px',h:'594px',items:'2669130',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Bessie Smith was the most popular and highest-paid singer of her day. These are the greatest Black female singers of all time, from Aretha and Whitney Houston to Mariah Carey and Sade, as ranked by music enthusiasts like you. Minnie Ripertons most memorable song is Lovin You because of the high notes she hits. 101 Female Rock 'n Roll Girls of the '50s - Compilation Billie Holiday - I've Got It Bad And That Ain't Good from Songs & Conversations. With her distinctive and powerful voice, she remains one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 75 million records sold. She was 39. It was her first album that was credited for bringing R&B and hip-hop to mainstream audiences. The singer and pianist acquired a love for music at a young age. In 2018, Simone was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and, three years after, in 2021, into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. She rose to fame in 1962 with her first single Dont Make Me Over and went on to huge success. Since setting out on her own after being part of the top-selling girls group Destinys Child, Time calls Beyonc one of the women who defined the last century. Anita Baker is the embodiment of smooth jazz and soul. Some of her biggest hits included, Ill Walk Alone and Blues in the Night.. Her style overlapped several genres, most of which being R&B with blues. Top 10 Female Singers Of The '50s, '60s, And '70s By Lyra Radford | January 30, 2018 Circa 1955: American singer and actor Rosemary Clooney (1928 - 2002) sings and dances in a ballroom or on a stage, accompanied by a pianist and a band. Etta James. Holiday also appeared in her first and only major motion picture, New Orleans, in 1946, starring opposite Louis ArmstrongandWoody Herman. She studied music at Hartt College of Music, where her initial work as a demo singer for Burt Bacharach led to her recording contract. The most popular black female singer of the 50s is Dinah Washington. She passed away in the midst of a comeback at age 48. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a7a35e647c0ad510840766d079a2f95a" );document.getElementById("if75a4498f").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *, Careers Contact Us Privacy Policy CookiePolicy Win. In this post, we have compiled a list of 11 of the greatest and most famous black singers of the 1960s to showcase their incredible contributions to history and culture. From Aretha Franklin to Diana Ross to Gladys Knight, the musical landscape was forever changed.
1. Dinah Washington. 26 on the Billboard charts in 1950. Nina Simone. His initial success came with the 1963 release of the single Pride And Joy.. The most popular black recording artist of the 1950s was Dinah Washington, who amassed more than two dozen R&B top 10 hits between 1948 and 1955. She went on to have a wildly successful career spanning half a century. She performed primarily as a jazz artist, incorporating blues, R&B, and pop styles into her music. In 1979, she received the Kennedy Center Honor. She performed primarily as a jazz artist, incorporating blues, R&B, and pop styles into her music. These performers are the most influential Black singers to have graced the stage during the 1950s. WebListen on Spotify: Follow our #WomenWhoRock playlist featuring classics from Etta James, The Supremes, The Shirelles, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin, The Shangri-Las & many more. Over the next decade Holiday recorded several more notables including,Lover Mana top 20 pop hit and top 5 hit on the R&B charts. As you probably guessed, her name was a play on the name of American banker J.P. Morgan. The Queen of the Whistle Register produced quite a bit of music before her untimely death from breast cancer at 31. Despite living through this trauma (and addiction), she became one of the best-selling singers of the 1960s. Fitzgerald achieved fame at an early age. Shes won ten Grammys and sold 70 million albums. Top 10 Female Singers Of The '50s, '60s, And '70s By Lyra Radford | January 30, 2018 Circa 1955: American singer and actor Rosemary Clooney (1928 - 2002) sings and dances in a ballroom or on a stage, accompanied by a pianist and a band. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'ZZY9W2uiT9xq0one7FtUpA',sig:'OqlzwZ2cns3uLQv5IZpNyfOrYXhj9CVgOcXIIyiBSxs=',w:'594px',h:'446px',items:'73909231',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Noted as the Mother of Blues, Gertrude Ma Rainey was reportedly born in Alabama in either 1882 or 1886. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'ulDUm0kcQiND3e5PcfMQ_w',sig:'4vh06-rt1JMFF4Cy52kCNpaabJ5WYPs0dL4m5uTwxeU=',w:'594px',h:'476px',items:'74300092',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); The most popular black recording artist of the 1950s was Dinah Washington, who amassed more than two dozen R&B top 10 hits between 1948 and 1955. At over 102 years old, Vera Lynn, born Vera Margaret Welch, is the oldest woman on our list of the greatest female singers of the 50s. Considered one of the most influential singers in the 20th century, Patsy Cline enjoyed just eight years as a signer before she died in a tragic plane crash in March of 1963. One of her more famous songs, Strange Fruit, was a rallying cry because of its dark imagery about the lynchings of Black Americans in the south. 5. Dubbed The First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald is considered one of historys greatest singers, winning accolades that included 14 Sarah Vaughan. What Is The Meaning Of Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelins Amazing 1971 Musical Epic? Titled the Female Entertainer of the Century, she has gone on to have a successful solo career, selling more than 100 million albums from 25 releases. After her diagnosis in 1976, she continued to record even though she had only six months to live. The First Lady of Song was born in 1917. Next: Our ultimate list of the best R&B artists ever. Check out our list of seven trailblazing blues and jazz singers below. His voice influenced many other artists during the 1960s and continues to be an inspiration for singers today.

Ella Fitzgerald is a name that is synonymous with vocal jazz. Hits like Georgia on my Mind are still world-famous to this day. From over-the-top comedies starring Richard Pryor and Keenan Ivory Wayans to serious dramas about slavery and gangs, no matter what youre in the mood to watch, youll find, Read More 80s Black Movies 18 Of The BestContinue, Your email address will not be published. After the group disbanded in 1977, Ross went on to have a successful solo career. She was still performing up until her death in 2019. Gaye began his career as part of the vocal quartet the Marquees, but he rose to solo fame in the early 1960s after the group disbanded. Brown began performing during the early 1950s, but it wasnt until a live performance at the Apollo Theatre in 1961 that he made a successful breakthrough. Some of the most well-known and best-loved artists of the 60s were African-American singers. Singer and pianist Dinah Washington was noted as the most famous black female recording artist of the 1950s. The first singer on our list is Aretha Franklin.