Two of her songs were covered by more widely known artists.
During her brief period of popularity, she recorded two of her bigger hits, Kiki and Youre All I See. Many people are surprised to learn that Betty Clooney is the aunt of Hollywood star, George Clooney. WebYolanda Adams (born 1961): Gospel Ivie Anderson (19041949): jazz Marian Anderson (18971993): opera Louis Armstrong (19011971): jazz Martina Arroyo (born 1936): opera Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar (born 1992): hip hop Jhen Aiko: R&B, neo soul Ashanti: R&B, hip hop, soul Amerie (born 1980): R&B, pop, hip hop, soul funk, go-go B [ edit] The King of Soul, Otis Redding, earned his nickname with his distinctive and powerful vocal style.
But, while these were turbulent times for Black communities, they also inspired great music. 20 Best Female Singers of the 1950s Peggy Lee (May 26, 1920 January 21, 2002) Connie Francis (December 12, 1938 Today) Judy Garland (June 10, 1922 June 22, 1969) Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 June 29, 2002) Doris Day (Apri 3, 1922 May 13, 2019) Dinah Shore (February 29, 2016 February 24, 1994) She collaborated with fellow jazz greats and friends, Dizzy Gillespe, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington.
Have a listen to each of them, and enjoy! Debra Lois). With a career spanning over 40 years, she was one of the most prolific female singers of the 50s. 
Hits like Georgia on my Mind are still world-famous to this day. Some of her most famous hits include Dream a Little Dream of Me, Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall, and It Dont Mean a Thing (If It Aint Got That Swing).
It debuted at number one and had the highest sales for a debut album by any woman in the first week. The singer-songwriter and composer released 160 recordings under Columbia, sold millions of record, performed on Broadway, and made her first and only silver screen appearance in the 1929 film, St. Louis Blues. Nina recorded an astounding 40 albums over 16 years, starting in 1958.
Nat King Cole. Rocks Off Mag is not held accountable for any answers you may receive. These soul, gospel, and R&B artists performed for sold-out crowds at the most prestigious arenas and sold records all around the world. In 1920, she solidified her place in blues by becoming the first African American singer to record in the genre. She passed away on December 28, 2016, just one day after her daughter, Carrie Fisher, died. We hope youve enjoyed our list of the top 20 female singers of the 50s. Most people recognize Rosemary Clooney for her leading role in the film White Christmas, opposite Bing Crosby. She performed primarily as a jazz artist, incorporating blues, R&B, and pop styles into her music. Barbara Lewis. Donna went on to sell over 100 million albums, making her one of the most successful artists ever. 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. This led to a music Betty Everett. I'm Rock Bot! The 1950s were a time of ups and downs in the world. Use your Rocks Off Mag account to vote in our "G.O.A.T. 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 WebThe 1960s and 70s saw an incredible explosion of talent in black female singers. To date, shes sold over 90 million albums and was named the top R&B artist of the 2000s. Vaughan has a storied reputation amongst contemporaries in the instrumental jazz world, alongside ample press recognition in publications like Metronome Magazine and Downbeat. Laura has over 12 years experience teaching both classical and jazz saxophone and clarinet. The influence of these remarkable women on the music industry still continues today, and their legacy will last for generations to come. Etta James was the Jane of all trades with her ability to easily switch styles on the microphone.
Domino is largely regarded as having shaped modern rock music. Long before Aretha, Tina, Whitney, Janet, Brandy, Monica, and Beyonce, agroup of pioneering jazz and blues vocalists fashioned the blueprintfor the record-breaking feats enjoyed by some of musics biggestnames. She fused these styles to create the genre we now think of as soul music, along with her contemporaries Ray Charles and James Brown. 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.
Before she was a hitmaker, Dinah was singing in clubs at 15. As a jazz singer, she was incredibly busy and recorded 17 albums over nine years. In 1959, her song What a Diffrence a Day Made reached number four on the US pop charts. With her distinctive and powerful voice, she remains one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 75 million records sold. One of the greatest voices of her century is how the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame referred to Etta. The influence of these remarkable women on the music industry still continues today, and their legacy will last for generations to come. Born as Catherine Laverne Starks, Kay Starr was an American pop and jazz singer. Globally, the second World War had ended, and in the United States, many people associate this decade with both the start of the Cold War and the unifying of the Civil Rights movement. Fitzgerald achieved fame at an early age.
Belafonte remains among the most well-known Jamaican-American pop stars to this day, popularizing Caribbean music internationally during the 1950s. One-third of the Grammy-winning trio TLC, T-Boz balanced out their sound with her contralto voice, the lowest vocal range for a female. Whether itsmusic, movies, television shows or comedy, there are thosethat represent us well andmake us proud. The Queen of Soul had such a long and legendary career its easy to overlook her early success in the 50s. Berry continued to perform regularly up until his death in 2017, including his old hits like Johnnie B. Goode and Rock and Roll Music.. Some of the best were Lulu, Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, Marianne Faithful, Sandie Shaw, and Cilla Black,.
Vaughan remained active on the performing and recording circuit until the 1989 when she began to experience health problems and was subsequently diagnosed with lung cancer. This led to a music Betty Everett. 5. Cooke was a vocal Civil Rights activist, and extremely successful financially. Belafonte spent ample time in Jamaica with relatives throughout his childhood. The first singer on our list is Aretha Franklin. There were several female British singers that appeared in the 60s and 70s. Impressed by Washingtons talents, club owner Joe Sherman hired her to play the bars upstairs room, while Holiday performed downstairs. There are many famous black families in the entertainment industry. Listen to more of Peggy Lee on Amazon here!
Summing Up Our List Of Famous Black 1950s Singers, 15 Of The Best Songs About Kids Growing Up, 10 Easy Jazz Saxophone Songs For Anyone To Learn, 15 Amazing Gift Ideas That Cello Players Will Love, 31 Of The Best Songs About Change: Transformation Playlist. 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. 
Not to mention, the Songbird Supreme aka Queen of Christmas has had the most number-one singles by any soloist, female writer, or female producer. She also recorded hit duets with Perry Como and Eddy Arnold. Before she was a hitmaker, Dinah was singing in clubs at 15. 
She also shattered gender and racial barriers, most notably becoming the first black female singer to win a Grammy at the inaugural awards ceremony in 1958. Black Taurus celebrities share traits like ambition, determination, and a desire to work hard for the finer things in life.
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. In no particular order, lets take a look at 8 famous black families worth keeping your eye on. That made her have a sound all on her own that has so far sold 70 million albums. 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. His early musical inclinations included popular music as well as religious music. Next: Our list of greatest black country singers and vocalists ever. 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. Dinah Shore was one of the first true solo female singers of the 40s and 50s. Everybody Knows The Words, But What Is Hotel California About? Smiths music touched on social issues like poverty, intra-racial conflict, female sexuality, and bisexuality. Little Richard grew up in Macon Georga, and his father was a church deacon who sold illegal moonshine on the side. Another soul hit was 634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.), which became #1 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm and Blues Singles, and his remake of Mustang Sally remains an iconic version of the song. Her success opened the door for other black female blues singers to be sought after by record labels. 4. She started off singing gospel and playing piano in By the time she was a teenager, she was sneaking into New Jersey nightclubs to sing on stage. Alicia Keys made her first composition when she was 12 years old. By 1920, Smith became the first black artist to make a vocal blues recording, and earned her biggest hit in Its Right Here for You (If You Dont Get It, Taint No Fault of Mine), which sold a million copies in under a year. Aretha Franklin - Respect (Official Lyric Video), Whitney Houston - Queen Of The Night (Official HD Video), Mary J. Blige - Family Affair (Official Music Video), Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly With His Song (Official Audio), Patti LaBelle - On My Own ft. MICHAEL MCDONALD, Bessie Smith - Down Hearted Blues (Audio), Toni Braxton - He Wasn't Man Enough (Video Version), Alicia Keys - Fallin' (Official HD Video), Minnie Riperton - Lovin' You (Official Video), Erykah Badu - Next Lifetime (Official Music Video), Nina Simone - Just Like a Woman (Official Audio), Rihanna - We Found Love ft. Calvin Harris, Chaka Khan - I'm Every Woman (Official Music Video), Dionne Warwick - That's What Friends Are For, 15 Best Black Country Singers Of All Time, 25 Best Black Sabbath Songs Of All Time, Ranked, The top black male singers in history (black male vocalists), The greatest female singers in history (our list of top woman vocalists), Greatest and most iconic singers in history (best singers ever), Greatest songs of all time (iconic, most remembered songs ever), Top female empowerment songs of all time (women power tracks), Our list of greatest black country singers and vocalists ever, Our ultimate list of the best R&B artists ever, one of the women who defined the last century, Top R&B songs of all time (our list of choices), Greatest karaoke songs for women to sing (try these out, girls), Our picks for the absolute greatest black musicians ever, first person to win the Record of the Year Grammy twice in a row, The greatest hip hop songs in history (our list), signed by the major label Columbia Records. B.B. During her tenure with Columbia, Vaughan released hits like That Lucky Old Sun, Make Believe (You Are Glad When Youre Sorry), Im Crazy to Love You, and I Cried for You. In 1954, Treadwell negotiated a contract with Vaughn and Mercury Records where she scored her first hit with the label, a song called Make Yourself Uncomfortable. That fall, Vaughn performed at Carnegie Hall with the Count Basie Orchestra. She is one of the only artists to simultaneously occupy the top two spots of the Billboard Hot 100. Unfortunately, she often makes headlines for the wrong reasons. Little Richard. Her life was accidentally cut short but music continues to inspire. 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. She recorded her most coveted hit God Bless the Child (written by Holiday and Arthur Herzog in 1939) in 1941, andearned pop success with the 1942 song Travlin Light which she recorded with Capitol Records, under the name Lady Day due to her contract with Columbia. Its also what helped sell 65 million albums. In that short time, she managed to record some of the biggest hits of the 1950s and 60s. Beginning her career as a singer for funk band Rufus, Chaka Khan has evolved on her own as the Queen of Funk. He was signed at the incredibly young age of 11 in the early 1960s, and by the end of the decade, Wonder had already written and released multiple number one and top 100 hits. The singer was 33 years old when he was shot at a Los Angeles hotel. In 1965, the release of Papas Got A Brand New Bag launched Brown to international stardom. Guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer Chuck Berry earned the name the Father of Rock and Roll through his musical innovations. While she found modest success singing with bands throughout the 1940s, she came into superstardom starting in 1953. Vibe is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Listen to more of Connie Francis on Amazon here! She was later placed in a segregated girls orphanage in the Bronx after skipping school and allegedly working as a lookout for a numbers runner. As well as musical contributions, Berry also popularized dancing and showmanship that hadnt been seen on stages before. She was influenced by instrumentalist contemporaries like Lester Young and brought this type of melodic phrasing to the jazz vocal world. This song was the theme song from a movie by the same name, starring Connie Francis. Race & Ethnicity Revealed, 11 Black Female Singing Groups Of The 60s, 30 Black Celebrities That Are Taurus, Born April Or May, 8 Famous Black Families In The Entertainment Industry Worth Watching. Some of her other hits included I Wanna Be Loved, Aint Misbehavin, and Cold, Cold Heart. Some of the most well-known and best-loved artists of the 60s were African-American singers. 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. Dinah Washington. Theres only one other woman to chart more than her, and she was Aretha Franklin. The self-proclaimed Queen of the Blues, Washington performed mostly jazz songs. While she is most famous for her starring role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland was a very popular female singer of the 50s. Billie Holiday - I've Got It Bad And That Ain't Good from Songs & Conversations. The Empress of Soul started her career in the 60s as part of The Pips. She died four years later from a heart attack. There were several female British singers that appeared in the 60s and 70s. One of the best-selling artists of all time, James Brown was a driving force behind the development of the soul movement of the 1960s and 1970s, thus earning him many nicknames, including the Godfather of Soul, Soul Brother No. Her music spanned jazz, blues, classical, R&B, and pop. As the Head Editor and Writer at Music Grotto, Liam helps write and edit content produced from professional music/media journalists and other contributing writers. She began her music career as a teenager performing in minstrel shows and signed a contract with Paramount Records in 1932, where she would record more than 100 songs over a five-year span. Together, the group sold over 65 million albums. Ella Fitzgerald.
In 1958, she released her final album, Lady in Stain, before dying a year later from cirrhosis at the age of 44. She was 39. Singer and pianist Dinah Washington was noted as the most famous black female recording artist of the 1950s. From Aretha Franklin to Diana Ross to Gladys Knight, the musical landscape was forever changed. Some famous Black female singers sing the blues while other top Black woman artists are pop superstars. She also starred in movies and created both songs and poetry to be performed by other artists. Listen to more of Kay Starr on Amazon here!
He loves researching, writing and editing music content for Music Grotto. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'1T_sS-uDTydDoD6T3pCg5g',sig:'s2Se3r7Ve9AhNh3nMB6muFUtWtTCvqTDmBw4vL0Dtlo=',w:'481px',h:'594px',items:'74299644',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); A native of Newark, N.J., Sarah Vaughan is credited as one of the first jazz vocalists to introduce bebop into her singing. She won the top prize of $10,and opened for Ella Fitzgerald in 1942, and later toured with jazz pianist and band leader, Earl Hines. Daughter of one of the most popular singers of his time, Natalie Cole had one of her biggest hits by singing a duet with her late father, Nat King Cole. Dichotomies like this were a theme throughout Richards life. Grace Jones Calloway had a longtime association with the Cotton Club in New Yorks Harlem neighborhood. Thomas Afro-American Hospital, where she died. Fats Domino. Nina Simone. Her style overlapped several genres, most of which being R&B with blues.
He also performed with a highly influential jazz trio at the same time. She now resides in California where she works as a session and live performer. While not one of the best-known female singers of the 50s, Jaye P. Morgan did have a period of success. Cole developed a long relationship with Capitol Records and with arranger Nelson Riddle. Dionne Warwick. As an accomplished and technical musician in her own right, she often appeared amongst jazz instrumentalists of her time, like Buddy Rich.
She signed with Brunswick Records in 1935 and was hired and later fired as in Count Basies band in 1938. 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. Fitzgerald, who became known as the First Lady of Song, was popular as the centerpiece of her own concerts. 
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According to many, Ray Charles was one of the most iconic singers and pianists of all time. King innovated several guitar techniques that are now synonymous with contemporary blues, including vibrato and string bending.
Her astounding career was tragically cut short due to a car accident at age 43. Listen to more of Patti Page on Amazon here! In total, she sold 30 million albums throughout a career that spanned decades.
When younger artists began taking over the rock and pop scenes, Cole leaned harder toward his jazz roots rather than falling out of the spotlight. Some of the best were Lulu, Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, Marianne Faithful, Sandie Shaw, and Cilla Black,. Playing off the low vocal range of groupmate T-Boz, Chilli had a higher range that added real depth to their music. She performed primarily as a jazz artist, incorporating blues, R&B, and pop styles into her music. Billie Holiday. Dubbed The First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald is considered one of historys greatest singers, winning accolades that included 14 Sarah Vaughan. By the age of 17, she was well on her way to superstardom, performing in bands before eventually embarking on a successful solo career. Check out some of the top online music lessons here! Dinah Washington was the most popular black female singer of the 50s. Register here, by continuing you accept our 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. While she would go on to star in a handful of films, she never felt comfortable in front of the camera. 15 and No. A bit of an old soul who enjoys a good hit of nostalgia! Some of her most well-known hits include God Bless the Child, Lover Man, Strange Fruit, and No More. The Godmother of Soul broke off and has enjoyed solo success since the mid-70s. She started off singing gospel and playing piano in Next: The greatest female singers in history (our list of top woman vocalists).
The most popular black female singer of the 50s is Dinah Washington. She rose to fame in 1962 with her first single Dont Make Me Over and went on to huge success. Given all of the great vocal music that infused this decade, it was not an easy feat to compile this list. Etta James. While most people are more familiar with her sister, Rosemary, Betty Clooney did enjoy a brief career in music during the 1950s. 20 Best Female Singers of the 1950s Peggy Lee (May 26, 1920 January 21, 2002) Connie Francis (December 12, 1938 Today) Judy Garland (June 10, 1922 June 22, 1969) Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 June 29, 2002) Doris Day (Apri 3, 1922 May 13, 2019) Dinah Shore (February 29, 2016 February 24, 1994) Grace Jones While most of these black female singers of the 50s are no longer with, their music lives on, and you can still enjoy their hits today. Related: We wrote a post about the best black singers of all time here. Holiday died on July 17, 1959 of pulmonary edemaandheart failure. Any purchase that a visitor makes for a product mentioned or directed to by Music Grotto, may result in us receiving a commission.As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Naturally, Fitzgerald and Holiday were pitted as rivals, but the two became friends instead. Dionne Warwick.
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With a focus on the 60s, 70s, and 80s, we aim to grow into the modern age as we grow ourselves. 1. Born in 1923, she got her start singing gospel music for the St. Lukes Baptist Church in Chicago.
Her songs during the 60s, like Mississippi Goddamn and Old Jim Crow, addressed racial inequality directly in a way that many artists in the US at the time did not. King was known for his innovative and influential blues guitar playing, but like many blues artists, he was also an excellent singer.
Lady Day was born Eleanora Fagan in Philadelphia in 1915. Born Frances Ethel Gumm in 1922, she changed her name to Judy Garland as a young girl. By the mid 1980, Fitzgeralds health began to decline due to a long battle with diabetes. Female Singers of the 50s: Top 20 Greatest Artists We Love. Vaughan divorced Atkins in 1961 and began dating Marshall Fisher, her partner until 1971. Singer and pianist Dinah Washington was noted as the most famous black female recording artist of the 1950s. Besides numerous awards during his lifetime, Gaye has also multiple posthumous accolades, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Listen to more of Jaye P Morgan on Amazon here! Dionne Warwick did the unthinkable in the 60sshe became the first Black female pop star, make purely smooth traditional pop music unlike many of her counterparts like Franklin. Holiday pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to Alderson Federal Prison Camp in West Virginia. She performed primarily as a jazz artist, incorporating blues, R&B, and pop styles into her music. Waters style gained him numerous accolades as an artist, but his songs were also commercial enough to be featured in a handful of movies and TV shows.
He works closely with journalists and other staff to format and publish music content for the Music Grotto website. He rose to fame in the mid-1960s with In The Midnight Hour, which peaked at #1 in the R&B chart and sold over a million copies. Her mother, unfortunitly, passed away suddenly in a car accident when she was only 15. Some of her songs, such as Crazy and I Fall to Pieces became massive hits of the century. Her grave remained unmarked until 1970 when Janis Joplin and Juanita Green, a woman who worked for Smith as a child, paid to have her tombstone engraved. Listen to more of Georgia Gibbs on Amazon here!
