In celebrating Black History Month, there are so many groundbreaking black musicians and singers who shaped our culture. Whether it was through their stunning renditions, guitar solos, smooth vocals, or musical classics, these names live on in music history. Here’s my list of the most influential black artists.
Born and raised right here in the state of New Jersey is six-time Grammy award winner, Whitney Houston. Known for her hits “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and “Higher Love,” Houston’s breathtaking vocals have stolen millions of hearts. Her voice remains timeless in its emotion and star quality. Her rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” at the Super Bowl XXV was the best anthem performance by far (sorry, Fergie). There truly will never be another female vocalist with the passion and power of Houston. She was one of those artists who did it effortlessly, and it’s a shame she was taken from the world too soon. Her legacy lives on in today’s current music makers who look to her vocal style in hopes of achieving the same monster career.
We’ve all been struck by this smooth criminal, haven’t we? Michael Jackson, also known as the “King of Pop,” first came into the public’s view in his family band, The Jackson 5 in the 1960s. However, Jackson’s solo career is where he truly shined. No offense to the family band’s classic 1969 single, “I Want You Back,” but does it really top “Thriller”? His songs like “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and “The Way You Make Me Feel” are replayed constantly. There’s something so catchy about, “Just beat it (Beat it), beat it (Beat it)/No one wants to be defeated/Show them how funky and strong is your fight/It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right/Just beat it (Beat it), beat it (Beat it).” Jackson set numerous records in music history. He shares many of those with today’s artists like Drake, Taylor Swift, and Katy Perry. But, in my opinion, not even Taylor Swift can compare to Jackson’s stardom.
Taking us all the way back to the 1940s and ‘50s is the iconic old-school voices of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. There truly aren’t voices like these anymore. Fitzgerald revolutionized scat singing and took improvisation to a whole new level. She won a grand total of 13 Grammy awards and was the first woman to receive The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 1967. She definitely set the precedent for what makes a female jazz vocalist with her delicate but powerful sound.
Now Armstrong, in the same way, had an impact on the jazz community. Not only for his low and raspy voice but for his amazing trumpet playing. I will never forget watching “Hello Dolly!” and hearing Armstrong’s duet with Barbra Streisand. If you don’t know what I’m referencing then I highly suggest you watch the 1969 film. It’s likely you know his song, “What A Wonderful World” where he sings, “I see trees of green, red roses too/I see them bloom for me and you/And I think to myself/What A Wonderful World.” His artistry and power live on today even though he has long since passed on. My personal favorite from both Fitzgerald and Armstrong is their rendition of “Dream A Little Dream Of Me,” which has been in several movies and television shows.
The next two are complete and total energy powerhouses. Any guesses? These two divas demand R-E-S-P-E-C-T and don’t mind a little showstopping. It’s female vocalists, Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin. These soul voices sent shock waves throughout music history by giving us iconic pop culture moments. Such as Turner’s Creedence Clearwater Revival cover of “Proud Mary,” where she spun us round and round, with sparkles and all. Franklin also took us on a journey with her song “A Natural Woman,” where she sings, “Cause you make me feel/You make me feel/You make me feel like a natural woman.” These two pioneered the female voice as not only being strength but being a true woman, inside and out. If these two aren’t empowerment symbols then I don’t know who is.
Ending things off are two of my favorite artists, Prince and Stwevie Wonder. Not only have both of them shaped the soul, R&B, and pop genres, but they also gave way to self-expression and creativity. Prince’s ability to be bold in his songs “Kiss” and “Little Red Corvette” allowed other artists to experiment with song themes. Those who know of Prince’s style know that his self-expression knew no bounds; he wasn’t afraid to dress his heart out.
In a similar way, Wonder knows exactly who he is as an artist and isn’t afraid to experiment in his genre. His songs “Isn’t She Lovely” and “Superstition” took classic funk and R&B sounds and elevated them. There is not a time when those songs come on the radio that I don’t drop everything and turn the volume up.
These artists have shaped culture and music in so many ways. Sadly, most of these artists have passed on, leaving their legacies for the radio. But, for Black History Month, let’s pay homage to these massive icons.
