Who was the most popular black female singer of the 1950s?
Please try again later. Dinah Washington was the most popular black female singer of the ’50s. The self-proclaimed “Queen of the Blues,” Washington performed mostly jazz songs. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. Her biggest hit, “What a Diff’rence a Day Makes,” reached No. 4 on the US pop charts in 1959.
Who was the Female R&B singer in the 1950s?
Female R&B singers of the 50s. Saved by sandra adamson. My Black Is Beautiful. Lymon was the lead singer for the group The Teenagers, which had its heyday in the late ’50s and ’60s. Individual female artists or all female groups of the 60's.
Who was the first black singer to make a record?
Mamie Smith, pictured with her band the Jazz Hounds, was the first black singer to make a record (Credit: Getty Images) This eclipse is the result of a concerted effort by cultural gatekeepers, across several decades, to valorise certain aspects of the African-American experience while denigrating others.
Who is the first female jazz singer?
A native of Newark, N.J., Sarah Vaughan is credited as one of the first jazz vocalists to introduce bebop into her singing. The singer and pianist acquired a love for music at a young age. As a teen, Vaughan and friends would cross over into New York City to watch jazz bands perform at Harlem’s Apollo Theater.
What black female artist started singing in the 50s?
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. Washington was born Born Ruth Lee Jones in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Who was the black singer in the 50s?
Dinah Washington Dinah Washington has been called “the most popular black female recording artist of the 1950s.” Her success, at a time when the recording industry wasn't necessarily friendly to women or Black performers, was astonishing.
Who was the famous African-American singer in the 40s and 50s known for hits like Unforgettable?
Born on March 17, 1919, Nat King Cole was one of the world's greatest solo vocalists and a pioneer for racial equality (in the 50s he became the first African-American artist to host a TV series). From “Unforgettable” to “L-O-V-E” and “The Christmas Song,” he left behind a slew of timeless classics.
Who was the first famous black female singer?
During the blues revival, about 30 years later, Mamie Smith became the first black female vocalist to record a blues song. While "Crazy Blues" is cited as the first blues recording, it also represents the emergence of black female singers into popular music culture.
Which two African-American singers became popular in the 1950s?
10 African American Musicians in the 1950s: Black History...Nat King Cole. Nat King Cole was considered to be part of the African American musicians that changed history. ... Harry Belafonte. ... Chuck Berry. ... Fats Domino. ... Little Richard. ... Ray Charles. ... Duke Ellington. ... Dinah Washington.More items...
Who are some famous black female singers?
Alicia Keys. Alicia Keys became an international star with her singular mix of classic and contemporary R&B. ... Aretha Franklin. Aretha Franklin is one of the giants of soul music, and indeed of American pop as a whole. ... Bessie Smith. ... Beyoncé ... Billie Holiday. ... Celia Cruz. ... Chaka Khan. ... Diana Ross.More items...•
Who is the greatest black female singer?
Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul Franklin is the undisputed Queen of Soul. While Dionne Warwick broke barriers in pop music, Franklin helped shift soul music into mainstream popular music—crossing over to the pop chart with hits like “Respect," “Think" and more.
Who are some older black female singers?
Now many black female legends have touched the hearts of others and moved generations with their music and artistry — from the gospel of Mahalia Jackson; the lady blues of Billie Holiday; the soulful sounds that get you caught up in a rapture with Anita Baker; the bridging the gap of R&B, and Rock and Roll of Etta ...
Who are some famous black singers?
28 Of The Greatest And Most Famous Black Singers Of All TimeAretha Franklin.Prince.Whitney Houston.Michael Jackson.Rihanna.Marvin Gaye.BeyoncéJimi Hendrix.More items...
Who was the first female R&B singer?
On Valentine's Day 1920, a little over a century ago, a 28-year-old singer named Mamie Smith walked into a recording studio in New York City and made history. Six months later, she did it again.
Who was the first Black female music producer?
Sylvia RobinsonGenresBlues R&B rock soul funk disco hip hopOccupation(s)Singer record producer record label executiveInstrumentsVocals guitarYears active1950–20118 more rows
Who was the most popular black singer in the 1950s?
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. Washington was born Born Ruth Lee Jones in Tuscaloosa, Ala. in 1924, and was raised in Chicago.
Who were the pioneering women in jazz?
7 Pioneering Black Female Jazz And Blues Singers Who Made Music History. Long before Aretha, Tina, Whitney, Janet, Brandy, Monica, and Beyonce, a group of pioneering jazz and blues vocalists fashioned the blueprint for the record-breaking feats enjoyed by some of…. By Latifah Muhammad.
When was Mamie Smith born?
While there is no official record of her birth, Mamie Smith was believed to have been born in Cincinnati in 1883. By 1920, Smith became the first black artist to make a vocal blues recording, and earned her biggest hit in “It’s Right Here for You (If You Don’t Get It, ‘Tain’t No Fault of Mine),” which sold a million copies in under a year. Her success opened the door for other black female blues singers to be sought after by record labels. Smith retired in 1931, returning to the stage in 1939 for a performance in the film Paradise in Harlem.
Who was Billie Holiday's friend?
Ella Fitzgerald. Around the same time that Billie Holiday was making a name for herself on the jazz scene, Ella Fitzgerald was moving along a similar path. Naturally, Fitzgerald and Holiday were pitted as rivals, but the two became friends instead. Fitzgerald, a.k.a.
Who was the singer who sang with Ella Fitzgerald?
At age 19, Vaughan took the Apollo stage as an amateur performer. 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. Vaughan went on to join another band, this time led by jazz and pop singer Billy Eckstine.
Who is the mother of blues?
Ma Rainey. Noted as the “Mother of Blues,” Gertrude “Ma” Rainey was reportedly born in Alabama in either 1882 or 1886. 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.
Who is Lady Day?
Billie Holiday is one the most well-known jazz vocalists in history. “Lady Day” was born Eleanora Fagan in Philadelphia in 1915. She took the name Billie from her favorite actress, Billie Dove, and Holiday, from her father, Clarence Holiday.
Who was the most popular black singer in the 1950s?
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. Washington was born Born Ruth Lee Jones in Tuscaloosa, Ala. in 1924, and was raised in Chicago.#N#She started out singing in gospel choirs and by 1941 Washington began playing Chicago night clubs and later the Garrick Stage Bar where Billie Holiday performed. Impressed by Washington’s talents, club owner Joe Sherman hired her to play the bar’s upstairs room, while Holiday performed downstairs.
Who was the most famous singer of the 1920s?
Bessie Smith was the most popular and highest-paid singer of her day. Nicknamed the “Empress of the Blues,” Smith started out as a street performer, and signed with Columbia Phonograph Company (the parent company of Columbia Records) in 1923. 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.
Who was the first jazz singer to sing with bebop?
A native of Newark, N.J., Sarah Vaughan is credited as one of the first jazz vocalists to introduce bebop into her singing. The singer and pianist acquired a love for music at a young age. As a teen, Vaughan and friends would cross over into New York City to watch jazz bands perform at Harlem’s Apollo Theater. At age 19, Vaughan took the Apollo stage as an amateur performer. 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. Vaughan went on to join another band, this time led by jazz and pop singer Billy Eckstine. Vaughan went solo in 1946, and in December of that year, she married her manager, musician, George Treadwell.
Who is the mother of blues?
Noted as the “Mother of Blues,” Gertrude “Ma” Rainey was reportedly born in Alabama in either 1882 or 1886. 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. Throughout her career Rainey recorded with the likes of Louis Armstrong, became close friends with Bessie Smith, and toured with the Georgia Jazz Band until her retirement in 1935. She died four years later from a heart attack.
Who is Lady Day?
Billie Holiday is one the most well-known jazz vocalists in history. “Lady Day” was born Eleanora Fagan in Philadelphia in 1915. She took the name Billie from her favorite actress, Billie Dove, and Holiday, from her father, Clarence Holiday.
When was Mamie Smith born?
While there is no official record of her birth, Mamie Smith was believed to have been born in Cincinnati in 1883. By 1920, Smith became the first black artist to make a vocal blues recording, and earned her biggest hit in “It’s Right Here for You (If You Don’t Get It, ‘Tain’t No Fault of Mine),” which sold a million copies in under a year. Her success opened the door for other black female blues singers to be sought after by record labels. Smith retired in 1931, returning to the stage in 1939 for a performance in the film Paradise in Harlem.
Who is the Queen of Disco?
Donna Summer's title as the "Queen of Disco" wasn't mere hype. Like many of her contemporaries, she was a talented vocalist trained as a powerful gospel belter, but she set herself apart with her songwriting ability, magnetic stage presence, and shrewd choice of studio collaborators, all of which resulted in sustained success.
Who was the singer who sang Rufus?
Best known in the mainstream for her superb 1984 cover of Prince's "I Feel for You," R&B singer Chaka Khan enjoyed solo success as well as popularity as a member of the group Rufus.
What is Erykah Badu's first album?
She grew up listening to '70s soul and '80s hip-hop, but Erykah Badu drew more comparisons to Billie Holiday upon her breakout in 1997, after the release of her first album, Baduizm.
Who is the most famous singer of Destiny's Child?
Beyoncé. One of the most recognizable figures in contemporary music, Beyoncé rose to fame as the central member of pop-R&B group Destiny's Child before embarking on a multi-platinum, record-breaking solo career in 2001. 24.
Who is Aretha Franklin?
Aretha Franklin is one of the giants of soul music, and indeed of American pop as a whole. More than any other performer, she epitomized soul at its most gospel-charged.
How many octaves does Mariah Carey have?
The best-selling female performer of the 1990s and one of the most popular artists through the 2010s, Mariah Carey rose to superstardom on the strength of her stunning five- octave voice.
What was the blues for black women?
For black, working-class women, the classic blues was an unprecedented new arena of self-expression, which gave voice to overt sexuality, the peril of abusive men, and even queer perspectives.
Who was the first black singer to make a record?
Mamie Smith, pictured with her band the Jazz Hounds, was the first black singer to make a record (Credit: Getty Images) This eclipse is the result of a concerted effort by cultural gatekeepers, across several decades, to valorise certain aspects of the African-American experience while denigrating others.
What did August Wilson call the blues?
August Wilson's Rainey calls the blues "life's way of talking". For black, working-class women, the classic blues was an unprecedented new arena of self-expression which gave voice to overt sexuality, the peril of abusive men (like Bessie Smith's husband), and even queer perspectives.
How many blues songs are written from a woman's point of view?
As one 1926 study observed, "upwards of 75% of the songs are written from a woman's point of view. Among the blues singers who have gained more or less national recognition there is scarcely a man's name to be found.".
What is Ma Rainey's Black Bottom about?
Her journey from Georgia to Chicago in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom represents the Great Migration of hundreds of thousands of black people from the rural South to the urban North during that period. Those migrants craved music that built a bridge between their old and new lives.
How many copies of Crazy Blues were sold?
By selling an estimated one million copies in its first year, Crazy Blues was like the first geyser of oil in untapped ground, instantly revealing a huge appetite for records made by and for black people.
How old was Mamie Smith when she walked into a recording studio?
Why were they then relegated to the sidelines, asks Dorian Lynskey. On Valentine's Day 1920, a little over a century ago, a 28-year -old singer named Mamie Smith walked into a recording studio in New York City and made history. Six months later, she did it again.