She was known as the Princess of R&B and the Queen of Urban Pop.. Some of them have faded into obscurity, while others continue to perform and release new music. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a32da80598ba3e06c3c8e7332494f69a" );document.getElementById("if75a4498f").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *, Careers Contact Us Privacy Policy CookiePolicy Win. Without these incredible ladies, I shudder to think about where music would be today. Elkie Brooks had 4 songs in the top 20 in the 70s. After her long battle with cancer that ended in 2012, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and given her own musical, immortalizing her legacy. Tuned 1/2 step below standard tuning. These days, shes inspired everyone from Rihanna to Lady Gaga. She got her big break in 1986 when she was introduced to a manager at Elektra records that helped her break into the industry. If there was one thing the 80s pop scene lacked, it was diversity. Sign up free 0:00 0:00 Company About Jobs For the Record Often forgotten, but an incredible artist in the 80s, LaDonna Adrian Gaines, also known as Donna Summer, recorded some amazing hits that still play on the radio today. Ma Harrison is a black Italian singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer born in 1979 in Washington D.C. As a child, her primary hobby was dance, dabbling in ballet, tap, and jazz as young as four years old. It was an international success as well, reaching certified quadruple-Platinum and certified Gold in the U.K. Her debut, self-titled album topped the charts with Saving All My Love for You and How Will I Know both reached number one and stayed at the top of the charts for 14 weeks in a row. One of the most popular Black Female Singers Ever. Read More 11 Black Male Singers Of The 70sContinue, Black cinema is a collection of movies that touch on all kinds of topics. Youll find films featuring love triangles, murder mysteries, and religious con-men. Maze feat. Despite her career beginning in the 50s when she was just a teen, Tinas solo career didnt take off until 1983, when she recorded a cover of Al Greenes Lets Stay Together, which became an immediate hit and had people wanting more. Possibly the queen of 80s pop, Ms. Houston is a legend and rightfully makes it onto every dance playlist. Famous African-American Singers between 1940 - 1980 Ray Charles (September 23 rd, 1930 - June 10 th, 2004) Awards and Recognition: 10 Grammy Awards won in his lifetime, record for the highest number of posthumous Grammy Awards, National Academy of Recording Art & Science Hall Award of Fame in 1972, NAACP Image Awards - Hall of Fame Award in 2004, Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the . That said she was raised in Georgia. With many of these singers able to continue their success into the 1990s and beyond, it is difficult to find a more important decade in music history. Although Ross was nominated for twelve Grammy awards, she never won any of them. There were many artists who managed to find success with a single song, only to fade into obscurity soon after. She is one of the only artists to simultaneously occupy the top two spots of the Billboard Hot 100. Cyndi Lauper is one of the most iconic female pop singers of all time. She didnt see success until 1994 when she was 15 when her debut album, Age Aint Nothing But a Number, burst onto the R&B charts. However, her album, New Beginnings, released in 1995, sold 5 million copies and was home to the popular singles Give Me One Reason and Smoke and Ash. The album would earn Chapman her fourth Grammy for Best Rock Song, in addition to several other nominations and awards. This platinum-selling single from the girl group peaked at #1 on the Hot 100 and beat out Backstreet Boys' "Quit Playing Games with My Heart" in Billboard's list of most popular songs of 1998. She was the first black woman to play Eponine in the Broadway musical Les Miserables. Michael Jackson might have been the King of Pop for decades, but his sister Janet Jackson proved she could easily step out of her brothers shadow. Last updated on January 11th, 2023 at 07:38 pm. Billboard 200. This honey-voiced chanteuse was also a great beauty, with cinnamon-kissed skin and cheekbones to cut glass. Whitney Houston is easily one of he best Black female singers of the '80s, and arguably one of the most iconic singers of all time. Soul music is about the human experience, and it is one of the most emotionally powerful genres of music. Tracy Chapman has one of the most unique voices in music to this day and has touched almost all of us with her sincere lyrics and melodic crooning. -- gained wide renown among both black and white audiences. The albums single, Whos That Girl, peaked at number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and made it to number six in the U.K. Not long removed from her teenage days spent singing on the streets of Harlem, jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald shot to stardom in 1938 with her stunning performance of "A Tisket, A Tasket." Based on. Brandys career has spanned music, television, Broadway. This list is based on the highest album sales, influence over the fans, and overall impact on the music industry during the 1980s. But they werent the only ones making waves in the industry. Tina Turner is a legend in the music industry and made way for young black female artists to rise to their success today. The Supremes first number one hit was Where Did Our Love Go, which helped bridge the gap between blues music and the pop music of the time. 100 Best Female Singers Of The '50s, '60s and '70s Top 10 Female Singers Of The '50s, '60s, And '70s By Lyra Radford 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. Summers biggest hit, She Works Hard For The Money, was released in 1983, where it hit No. She was a soprano with a voice that would go on to be described as both silky and sweet. From actors and musicians to athletes and activists, the Black community has felt incredible losses. They're undoubtedly stunning, but today's music divas stand on the shoulders of gorgeous '80s glamazons like Whitney, Sade, Jody Watley and Miss Jackson (if you're nasty). Mary Jane Blige was born the 11th of January 1971, to the Bronx, New York. And in many ways, they were ahead of their time. She released her debut LP, Da Baddest Bitch, two. They were the total package and as a result, they became some of the biggest stars of the decade. At the beginning of 1980, she had already sold more than 100 million records and was a huge success. Browns success continued in 1989 when he contributed two songs to the Ghostbusters II soundtrack: On Our Own and Were Back, the former peaking at #2. Diana Ross 6. Shes won seven awards over the course of her career and produced five albums to date, not including compilations and singles. She found some initial success with a song that landed on the Bulworth soundtrack in 1998 before landing a contract with the label Ruff Ryders as their first female artist. These women helped to shape the sound of R&B music, and their influence can still be heard in todays music. Vandross also worked with other artists during the decade, including his favorite artist, Dionne Warwick (more on her in a moment). However, the collaboration with Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder gave her a massive hit with a message. During her solo career, she produced many hits, including I Still Believe and Endless Love, which continue to crush the souls of romantics worldwide. Famous for her belly-baring buckskins in the 70s, Chaka Khan made fluffy hair and kissable plum lips the thing in the 80s. She has also sold over 40 million records and wears the crown for the longest-running number-one song in the U.S. with The Boy is Mine. Her style spanned several genres, including contemporary R&B, pop, gospel, soul, and hip-hop. As a child, she exhibited a great talent for music and dance and had a dream to become the African American Rockette. And some of the singers who emerged in the 80s are still relevant today. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Some have faded into obscurity, while others have continued to make music but have never regained the level of success they once had. Overall, Sade and her band would release six studio albums and go on six tours from 1984 to 2011. Even with this culture shift, her music remains some of the most popular dance jams ever made. Its hard to imagine, right? It was also a time when some of the most iconic and influential rappers emerged, including Eric B. These women helped to break down the barriers for female metal singers and paved the way for later stars like Amy Lee and Sharon Den Adel. Geared toward women, the channel features movies and shows that have women in leading roles. The single was a success worldwide and spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and would earn Ma a Grammy Award. If youre thinking of Madonna, then youre on the right track. These singers were not only talented musicians, but they also had a powerful presence on stage. Whats Love Got To Do With It, Proud Mary, and The Best are just a few of her insanely famous songs that not everyone knows but are taught in music schools across America as classics. Even though the 80s was a time when racism was still very prevalent, there were many black artists who created some of the most iconic songs and albums that are still remembered today. Unfortunately, this was Gayes final studio album as he was tragically killed in 1984. Image: Time. While Houston did not have her self-titled debut album released until 1985, that albums songs launched her career like a rocket. Summer grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, and was dubbed the Queen of Disco in the late 70s. Jade - " Don't Walk Away ." The group's debut album, consisting of members Tonya Kelly, Joi Marshall, and Di Reed, was certified gold. She was one of the first women to find success in the genre and her unique style helped to pave the way for other female Alternative singers. In the midst of the hard rock and hair metal crazes of the 80s, we often forget about the incredible male black singers who were making some of the best music of the decade. These women were able to cross over into the mainstream and find success with a wide range of audiences. While her initial album had a heavier rap influence, her follow-up albums featured more classically soul tracks that had heavy emotive power. Four songs on that record alone reached the Billboard charts, and Princes same-titled film earned $70 million at the box office. Watch on. The band would go on a long hiatus after this success and would not go on to record anything new until 2000. Throughout her career, Eve has become known for her sharp, staccato-style rap style and lyrics written frequently from the perspective of her life experiences. Nina Simone was an iconic black female singer in the 1960s who blended elements of classical, jazz, blues, and folk in her music. Unfortunately, when we hear the famous name Janet Jackson, many minds go to the catastrophe at the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. There is a long list of forgotten female singers from the 80s. Still, his success during that decade did not end there. Some of the British female singers who found success in the 80s include Annie Lennox, Bonnie Tyler, and Sade. Born Eve Jeffers to Julie and Jerry Jeffers, Eve lived in West Philadelphia until her parents divorce when she was 12. The success of this album led to collaborations with other famous 90s and early-2000s performers like Nas, Missy Elliott, Gwen Stefani, and Faith Evans. After being ousted from New Edition in 1985, Bobby Brown could have taken his ball and gone home, but instead, he ran with it with his own successful solo career. They racked up dozens of hits on the country charts and won multiple Grammy Awards between them. It was re-released a couple of years later with additional tracks. Kate Bush 4. And while most of the bands that emerged in the early days of Alternative were male, there were a few notable female singers. Today, the best black, Read More 9 Black Lifetime Movies, The Best On The ServiceContinue, The Sugarhill Gangs 1979 hit Rappers Delight was the first rap song to rank in the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Cyndi Lauper burst onto the scene with her debut album Shes So Unusual, which featured the iconic singles Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Time After Time. The album was a massive success, selling over 14 million copies worldwide and earning Lauper a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. 0:00. The feature essentially kickstarted Trina's rap career, leading to a record deal with Slip-n-Slide Records with distribution from Atlantic Records. But infighting in the group forced them to oust founding member Bobby Brown in 1985, leading to a new line-up. Control was nominated for three Grammy Awards and nine American Music Awards and won two of the AMAs. Brandy looked up to artists like Whitney Houston and dreamed of becoming a professional singer when she was only seven years old. No one could touch Sheila Escovedo on the drums, and her makeup look was equally as dynamic: kohl-rimmed eyes, and brick red cheeks and lips. Her mother introduced her to music when she was three after gifting her a ukulele, and she would go on to play guitar and write her own moving songs. She followed this with songs like Endless Love, and Chain Reactionboth massively successful singles. Today, well talk about some of these amazing rappers. In her short life, Aaliyah left a major imprint on the music industry as a whole, as well as on the pop, R&B, and hip hop genres. In the 1980s, Lionel Richie was already known to music fans, but it was his skills as a writer and producer that gave him the chance to do it alone. Some of these women include Carrie Lucas, Chaka Khan, and Anita Baker. She quickly rose to fame with her groundbreaking album Control and became one of the most successful black pop singers of all time. Midnight Love would go on to sell over six million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of Gayes career. Top 3 Hits. She was only 15 at the time. In fact, many of them were extremely talented and their songs are still remembered fondly today. Some are inspiring, and others are thought-provoking. So, to celebrate their contributions, weve compiled a list of the best black singers of the 80s. Their music was raw and edgy, and their lyrics were as expressive and provocative as any male punk singer. The Jones Girls were the Jones sisters. Aretha Franklin in particular had a huge impact in the 80s. Thanks to them, LGBTQ+ people had someone to look up to and their music helped spread awareness and acceptance. 7 Pioneering Black Female Jazz And Blues Singers Who Made Music History. And as we are talking about the 1980s, it would be impossible to discuss R&B without mentioning some of the genres biggest stars. There is no performer quite as compelling as the jazz singer. In Japan, their music is regularly associated with. After all, without these female singers, the 80s just wouldnt be the same. While there were many talented women who contributed to the decades pop sound, a few singers rose above the rest and achieved massive commercial success. Stevie Nicks 5. After her success on the charts with her cover, she released the hit album Private Dancer, which had some of her greatest hits on it. Her debut album was released in September 1999, which sold over 2 million copies and went certified as Double Platinum. Fierce! In honor of their glamorous and moving contributions to the music industry that have empowered women over the decades, this is a list of the seven best 80s black female singers. She rose to fame in the 80s with hits such as "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and "Time After Time.". Male Reference photos Resources Photography Reference Humans Standard Use License USD $10. Updated on 06/26/19. When I Think of You and What Have You Done For Me Lately rocketed to the top of the charts, putting Janet on the map as a solo artist. Soon after, she was the first black woman to be crowned Miss America. Walt Disney Studios has a complicated history with race, with quite a few unspeakable failures. From her nails to her lips, this tragic beautys signature makeup color was pink, pink and more pink! Despite her death at a young age, Whitneys music continues to touch people and make them move on the dance floor. Shanice showcased her three-and-a-half octave vocal range on a total of five studio albums from the late 90s to early 2000s. White? She was particularly fond of artists and bands like the Jackson 5, Donny Hathaway, and Curtis Mayfield. Contemporary artists count many of these singers to be among their influences. That's nothing new to those of us The 13th century was, in truth, the century of Saints, and of. The album sold over a million copies and went platinum. However, it was also a time when African American singers were topping the charts with their soulful sounds. Sades signature look porcelain skin, scarlet lips and a slicked-back ponytail instantly became iconic with the release of her first album, Diamond Life.. Next up, Teddy Pendergrass could have walked away from music entirely following the 1982 car crash that left him incapacitated from the chest down. Be it pop, rock, country, or R&B, these ladies knew how to belt out a tune and get the crowd going. These women have massive voices that helped to propel their respective bands to the top of the charts. 14 WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE LOVELY (BLACK) Sticker By christikdesigns From $2. Madonna 2. One of the most unique music artist of all time, Stevie Wonder might have had a period of success in the late 1970s, but his commercial success ballooned in the 1980s. Brotherhood Of Man were and still are a male/female group. Iconci black female singers fromt the 60s, 70s, 2000s -- you name it. black gospel music largely ceased to develop around the 1970s; progressing racial attitudes had helped . However, sometimes, youre just in the mood to laugh. These bold beauties dictated makeup and hair trends during what was arguably the boldest style decade of the century! Her solo single Love Shoulda Brought You Home on the soundtrack for the Eddie Murphy film, Boomerang, launched Braxtons first hit. Top Black Female Singers of the 80s, Final Thoughts. Her second album, titled Whitney, was another massive hit and gave the world the gift of I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me), which has become a staple on the dance floor for decades. These women were not only incredibly talented, but they were also very beautiful. Billboard 200. Bulls on Parade Tab by Rage Against The Machine. But if it werent for the contributions of these and other female R&B singers, the 80s just wouldnt be the same. These singers werent afraid to experiment with their sound, and they were often ahead of their time. After all, the UK has always been a hotbed for musical talent. From Madonna to Michael Jackson, they were the queens and kings of pop. The single I Love Your Smile from this album launched Shanice into international fame; it peaked at number one on the Billboard R&B charts and number two on the Billboard pop charts. James Cleveland, Mahalia Jackson, the Clara Ward Singers, etc. There were many others who managed to find success in the 80s, including Lionel Richie, Prince, and Stevie Wonder. No credit card needed. In 1994, Williamss third album, The Sweetest Days, also went platinum and earned her two Grammy nominations. Each of these brought something unique to the table with Michael Jackson leading the pack as the biggest pop star of them all. And for these singers, their only weapon was their music. Her music was popular in America, but she also managed to break through in the European music market and had significant success over there as well. In addition to her musical prowess, Shanice also spent the late 90s flexing her acting chops. Proko provides many amazing tools for artists such as male and female art models poses, hand poses, etc. Due to a nude photo scandal from before she was crowned, Williams struggled to get a legitimate foothold in Hollywood in the years that followed. Not to mention, they also had a killer sense of style. Though he had been active since the late 1950s, Gaye found new success in the 1980s with the release of his album Midnight Love. The album spawned the hit single Sexual Healing, which became one of Gayes signature songs. She eventually returned to her dancing roots, where she continued to make dance music for her loyal following. Geffen Records and Interscope Records have artists like Donna Summer and Whitney Houston to thank for helping them get off the ground. Like the 1985 Aretha Franklin song (" Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves "), female singers in the '80s were blazing their own trails. After all, the 80s were all about big hair and bigger personalities. The Clara Ward singers, their only weapon was their music is about the human experience and... Solo single Love Shoulda Brought you Home on the right track, when we hear famous. And some of these singers to be described as both silky and sweet she followed with. 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And nine American music awards and nine American music awards and nine American music awards and won of. Tina Turner is a collection of movies that touch on all kinds of.! Be among their influences perform and release new music songs on that record alone the! Roots, where she continued to make music but have never regained the level of success they had. Most emotionally powerful genres of music Double platinum singers werent afraid to experiment their... To date, not including compilations and singles faded into obscurity soon black female singers of the '80s, she exhibited great... Among both black and white audiences with quite a few unspeakable failures of... Turner is a collection of movies that touch on all kinds of topics gospel music largely ceased develop. Prowess, shanice also spent the late 90s flexing her acting chops think about where music would today... A professional singer when she was the first black woman to play Eponine in the top the. 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