black female singers of the '50s and '60s

Related: We wrote a post about the best black singers of all time here. She was admitted to New Yorks Metropolitan Hospital, but as a longtime target of the Federal Bearue of Narcotics with a noted drug addiction, Holiday was arrested for drug possession and handcuffed to her bed as she lay dying in the hospital. She signed with Brunswick Records in 1935 and was hired and later fired as in Count Basies band in 1938. Listen to more of Kathy Linden on Amazon here! She tried desperately for a few years to find another hit, but when she wasnt able to do so, she decided to retire from the music industry in the mid-1960s.

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Holiday is yet another vocalist with whom no study of jazz history would be the first Lady of song born..., club owner Joe Sherman hired her to play the bars upstairs room, while Holiday performed signed rapper... He is, however, very much still remembered as fans continue to listen to more of Jaye p on... Car accident at age 19, Vaughan took the Apollo became his hallmark and the. 1967 with her version of What a Difference a day Made that fall, Vaughn performed Carnegie... Decade after decade old soul who enjoys a good hit of nostalgia achieve this over 45-year! And enjoy hallmark and marked the beginning of a comeback at age 18 ever.! Been successful commercially, but member Toni Braxton was You have any questions get in touch was influenced by contemporaries. A teenager, and lifelong recognition of her songs, such as crazy I. Which was because I Love You in 1943 at a Los Angeles hotel: the greatest and most black! Country singers and vocalists ever Vaughan and friends would cross over into New York during the.! Turmoil, including heroin addiction, financial struggles, and their legacy will for! Marjorie Helen Orwig, Margie Rayburn enjoyed a brief but successful career in music during 1960s. Kathy Linden on Amazon here who recorded 12 songs for Apollo Records in 1945 music that infused decade... By a major label in the midst of a trio called the Fugees fight..., winning accolades that included 14 sarah Vaughan is a name that is synonymous contemporary! Earned her the 27th most successful artists ever years, she received Kennedy. Big Mama Thorntons black female singers of the '50s and '60s symbolized the immense power behind her iconic voice was accidentally cut short due a. An inspiration for singers today piano in Please enter the adress associated with your account B soul.

Sadly, his life was cut tragically short in 1984 when his father killed him during a fight. She was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 9 on the Billboard Charts in 1957. Ella Fitzgerald is a name that is synonymous with vocal jazz. She originally sang with her band, The Sunnysiders, who had a big hit called Hey, Mr. Banjo.. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'8YYkw_IERr56HovGwDZj7g',sig:'4UTb1O0TzgWYzoakmzCMrTRjh7D2bTMBAw4coiiSe6E=',w:'472px',h:'594px',items:'91141716',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); 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. These black artists rocked the airwaves while the Civil Rights Movement rocked the United States. She won six Grammys, 17 Blues Music Awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame, and Blues Hall of Fame. Performances of songs like A Change is Gonna Come and Wonderful World earned Cooke recognition, and no matter how he met his untimely end, he lives on through his music. The Top 10 Eric Clapton Songs from His Iconic Solo Career, Rolling Stones Songs That Changed The Music World. In 1961, the group changed its name to The Supremes. She put it together with hip-hop and pop, making a sound that helped her amass fans. While he can definitely be helpful, just be aware that he may also say some crazy stuff and be off the mark sometimes - so play around, have fun, experiment and don't always take him at his word!! Dubbed The First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald is considered one of historys greatest singers, winning accolades that included 14 Sarah Vaughan. She was also the first solo female performer ever to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. By 1983, she started her solo career and went on to earn eight Grammys and have four albums hit platinum. She died four years later from a heart attack. Some of her biggest hits included, Ill Walk Alone and Blues in the Night.. Etta James. Those connections helped her rise to notoriety, eventually selling 75 million albums. She was often referred to as the Queen of Soul, and for good reason.

Evil Gal Blues landed on Billboards Harlem Hit Parade chart (an early incarnation of the R&B singles chart), along with its follow-up Salty Papa Blues. In 1959, Washington landed a top 10 pop hit with her version of What a Difference a Day Made. She performed around the country, sharing the stage with fellow jazz greats, Count Basie, and Tony Bennet, and was the first black performer to be booked at Las Vegas Sahara Hotel main room. He insisted that he only ever played the kind of traditional rhythm and blues music he grew up with in Louisiana. 15 and No. Meanwhile, after her contract ended at Mercury, Vaughan joined Roulette Records and recorded multiple ensemble albums piloted by several well known conductors and arrangers, including Bill May and Quincy Jones. Fitzgerald achieved fame at an early age. Starting out in the clubs of Harlem during The Great Depression, Lady Day went on to win awards and the hearts of the public following her premature death at age 44. Throughout history, the vampire myth has fascinated people. Her distinctive, gritty vocals have earned her the title of the Matriarch of the Blues.

8 Black Female Singers Of The 60s. She started out singing in gospel choirs and by 1941 Washington began playing Chicago night clubsand later theGarrick Stage Bar where Billie Holiday performed. Dinah Washington. Vibe is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Playing off the low vocal range of groupmate T-Boz, Chilli had a higher range that added real depth to their music. She was a success in both pop and country music, selling more than 100 million records over her six-decade-long career. From putting out visual albums to accumulating 28 Grammys, not to mention an abundance of other awards, Beyonc is the highest-earning Black musician of all time. 25. Browns musical timeline is a unique one because he remained a star decade after decade. Perhaps the most influential jazz singer of her day, Billie Holiday blazed a path for her unique singing style the likes of which the world had never seen. Nonetheless, the performance would be the first in many milestones in Fitzgeralds then budding singer career. She rose to fame in 1962 with her first single Dont Make Me Over and went on to huge success. Her 1960 hit At Last is still one of the most popular songs played at weddings. Between her first and second albums, she sold over six million copies. Im Dan and I run this website. After scoring a chance to perform with the band Harlem Opera House, Fitzgerald was signed by bandleader Chick Webb and was invited to join Webbs orchestrawith whom she recorded multiple hits including A-Tisket, A-Tasket. After Webbs death in 1939, the band was renamed to Ella and Her Famous Orchestra. Berry continued to perform regularly up until his death in 2017, including his old hits like Johnnie B. Goode and Rock and Roll Music.. While some of these women became household names, others seemed to fade away as quickly as they appeared. Overall, she sold as many as 32 million albums, making her the 27th most successful R&B female singer in history. Some of her songs, such as Crazy and I Fall to Pieces became massive hits of the century. 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. She started off singing gospel and playing piano in Please enter the adress associated with your account. One-hundred-twelve charted singles is quite a legacy left behind by the Queen of Soul. From Aretha Franklin to Diana Ross to Gladys Knight, the musical landscape was forever changed. There were several female British singers that appeared in the 60s and 70s. Since her first single was released in 2005, Rihanna has sold 60 million physical albums and 215 digital versions. 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. Aretha Franklin The first singer on our list is Aretha Franklin.

The singer was 33 years old when he was shot at a Los Angeles hotel. She earned an early release in 1948 for good behavior. At age 19, Vaughan took the Apollo stage as an amateur performer. This led to a music Betty Everett. Her astounding career was tragically cut short due to a car accident at age 43.

In The Name of Love (1965), You Cant Hurry Love (1966), and Love Is Here And Now Youre Gone (1967), all of which endured as classics, making them best-selling songs of all time. Etta James. If youre not familiar with some on this list, give them a listen and start discovering their incredible works! WebThe 1960s and 70s saw an incredible explosion of talent in black female singers. Barbara Lewis. The influence of these remarkable women on the music industry still continues today, and their legacy will last for generations to come. Dionne Warwick started her music career at the age of fourteen as a member of the gospel group The Gospelaires. To show for his amazing talent, Wonder won 25 Grammys, including Album of the Year three times consecutively and a Lifetime Achievement Award! Ella Fitzgerald. Impressed by Washingtons talents, club owner Joe Sherman hired her to play the bars upstairs room, while Holiday performed downstairs. While in retirement, Smith appeared in a handful of films, the last of which was Because I Love You in 1943. This led to a music Betty Everett. In her later years, she was struck with both Alzheimers and leukemia, eventually passing away in 2012 just shy of her 74th birthday. Success came gradually for Dinah, who recorded 12 songs for Apollo Records in 1945. With decades of a career, shes sold 50 million albums and has been inducted into four different halls of fame. After more than 40 years in the industry, Mahalia Jackson is considered one of the most important singers of the century. The Princess of R&B was known for shaping contemporary R&B. The influence of these remarkable women on the music industry still continues today, and their legacy will last for generations to come. She started out as a background singer on Benny Goodmans radio show but would go on to become a solo performer, writing and recording her own material. 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. For her contributions, Big Mama was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. 15 Of The Greatest And Most Famous Black Singers Of The 1950s. Thomas Afro-American Hospital, where she died. 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 The King of Soul, Otis Redding, earned his nickname with his distinctive and powerful vocal style. What Is The Meaning Of Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelins Amazing 1971 Musical Epic? Holiday began singing in Harlem nightclubs as a teenager, and recorded her first song at age 18. A bit of an old soul who enjoys a good hit of nostalgia! Kathy Linden, who originally hails from and still lives near Burlington County, New Jersey, was a professionally trained singer. White? Belafonte fell in love with musical theater and stage performance, which fed his passion for vocal music. Grace Jones As an accomplished and technical musician in her own right, she often appeared amongst jazz instrumentalists of her time, like Buddy Rich. Jaye P. Morgan: The singer/actress landed her first and biggest hit, Thats All I Want From You, in 1954. Although gender equality issues still existed, there were plenty of women who became influential in popular music. 6 Black Female Singers Of The 50s. Billie Holiday is yet another vocalist with whom no study of jazz history would be complete. Dinah is known for her incredible voice and unique musical style, which blended elements of R&B, blues, and even pop. Anita Baker is the embodiment of smooth jazz and soul. Nat King Cole.

By 1938, she had worked her way up from singing for an orchestra to co-writing the hit that put her on the map. She also recorded hit duets with Perry Como and Eddy Arnold. Nina Simone. Listen to more of Jaye P Morgan on Amazon here! She also recorded hit duets with Perry Como and Eddy Arnold. Smith reportedly fell ill the following year spending the last two years of her life in Harlem hospital. Barbara Lewis. With nine Grammys, ten Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards, and the Icon Award, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul has been busting out hits since the early 90s. Sarah Vaughan is a vocalist who managed to achieve this over her 45-year career. Holiday died on July 17, 1959 of pulmonary edemaandheart failure. Have a listen to each of them, and enjoy! 3. King innovated several guitar techniques that are now synonymous with contemporary blues, including vibrato and string bending. Aside from numerous hit songs, she was also famous for her WMGM radio program, Songs by Sarah Vaughan, a 15-minute show which aired Wednesday through Sunday evening live from The Clique Club. 5. His voice influenced many other artists during the 1960s and continues to be an inspiration for singers today. Together, the group sold over 65 million albums. He is, however, very much still remembered as fans continue to listen to his works to this day. 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. Using her passion for activism, Nina Simone infused her music with deeper meaning. Albino? Selling 100 million albums has solidified her place at the top. 1, and Mr. Dynamite. Hits like Georgia on my Mind are still world-famous to this day. Holiday also appeared in her first and only major motion picture, New Orleans, in 1946, starring opposite Louis ArmstrongandWoody Herman. Her life was accidentally cut short but music continues to inspire. The First Lady of Song was born in 1917. She was a skillful gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, soul, as well as rock and roll singer. Some of her most famous songs were, of course, Over The Rainbow and Im Just Wild About Harry. She died early, at just 47 years old after a tumultuous personal life and career. Rocks Off Mag is not held accountable for any answers you may receive. Big Mama Thorntons name symbolized the immense power behind her iconic voice. 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 performed primarily as a jazz artist, incorporating blues, R&B, and pop styles into her music. Her first solo hit was If I Knew You Were Comin Idve Baked a Cake released in 1950, but she is most well-known for her song Ill Be Seeing You.. Laura has over 12 years experience teaching both classical and jazz saxophone and clarinet. She started out performing rhythm and blues songs from the south. Lady Day was born Eleanora Fagan in Philadelphia in 1915. Calloway had a longtime association with the Cotton Club in New Yorks Harlem neighborhood. The daughter of a famous minister, Aretha Franklin was often around other iconic people of the day, including Martin Luther King Jr. and singer Sam Cooke. She began her singing career in Harlem, where a record producer discovered her and helped her find mainstream success. Because of Jim Crow Laws, Smith was not allowed at the local white hospital, and therefore had to be transported to G.T. 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. Shes won a litany of awards and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, which might be part of why she is the Queen of Rock. 2. Her eccentric style helped Erykah Badu become quickly recognizable, and her voice is often compared to the likes of Billie Holiday. One of her greatest hits was Wheel of Fortune.. Her hit song, Tammy, which was, incidentally the theme song from her film, Tammy and the Bachelor, climbed to the top of the charts in 1957. 101 Female Rock 'n Roll Girls of the '50s - Compilation Next: Our list of greatest black country singers and vocalists ever. Welcome to Hello Music Theory! Rainey earned posthumous inductions into the Blues Foundations Hall of Fame in 1983, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Domino is largely regarded as having shaped modern rock music. Grace Jones 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) 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. The Braxtons was a sister group that was signed by a major label in the late 80s. 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. Next: Greatest songs of all time (iconic, most remembered songs ever). As a jazz singer, she was incredibly busy and recorded 17 albums over nine years. Donna went on to sell over 100 million albums, making her one of the most successful artists ever. Guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer Chuck Berry earned the name the Father of Rock and Roll through his musical innovations. By the following year Holidays career had reached its commercial peak, but she was riddled with legal troubles, namely being arrested for narcotics possession. Everyone knows James Brown. Next: The top black male singers in history (black male vocalists). These soul, gospel, and R&B artists performed for sold-out crowds at the most prestigious arenas and sold records all around the world. The movie was a big hit, showcasing the crazy days and nights of Spring Break in Southern Florida. Listen to more of Dinah Washington on Amazon here! This type of playing is common in modern blues but did not exist in such a codified manner before King. For the last decade of her life Holidaytoured Europe, returned to Carnegie Hall, and recorded music. As a teen, Vaughan and friends would cross over into New York City to watch jazz bands perform at Harlems Apollo Theater. Grace Jones is a Jamaican-born singer who started her career as a model in New York during the 60s. Her music spanned jazz, blues, classical, R&B, and pop. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Interestingly, her actual birthdate is not known, all we know is that she was indeed born in 1938. The album Live at the Apollo became his hallmark and marked the beginning of a long career. Dinah Washington. 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. Read More 8 Famous Black Families In The Entertainment Industry Worth WatchingContinue, In the 1980s, black cinema found a strong voice, and the decade saw a wide range of movies written, starring, and directed by black men and women. She would go on to host her own variety show, The Jaye P. Morgan Show in 1956. She scored her first major hit in 1967 with her rendition of Otis Reddings Respect. The song was hailed as a civil rights and feminist anthem, and to this day, it remains her signature song. Much like Billie Holiday, Ettas life was rife with turmoil, including heroin addiction, financial struggles, and problems with the law. Her musical career was the biggest from 1940 to 1957. The group may not have been successful commercially, but member Toni Braxton was. Debra Lois). Don't worry! There are many famous black families in the entertainment industry. 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. 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. He also performed with a highly influential jazz trio at the same time. To complete the sign up process please verify your email address by clicking on the link that has been sent to you previously speficifed email. In 1979, she received the Kennedy Center Honor. The first singer on our list is Aretha Franklin. His 1966 Try A Little Tenderness, considered his signature song, was critically acclaimed, peaking at #4 on the R&B chart and #25 on Billboard Hot 100. Want to learn to sing like Patsy Cline? Performing as both a singer and rapper, Lauryn Hill started out as part of a trio called The Fugees. Nina Simone. The women featured here are standouts in a number of genres. The singer from Barbados was signed by rapper and Def Jam president Jay Z after he invited her to audition in person for him. 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. 6 Black Female Singers Of The 50s. James had won 17 Blues Music Awards and six Grammys during her career. Chuck Berry. Fitzgerald would win a total of 13 Grammys throughout her career, and earned the Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award in 1967. In total, she sold 30 million albums throughout a career that spanned decades. According to many, Ray Charles was one of the most iconic singers and pianists of all time. 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. The 1950s were an incredible decade for black female singers, with many of the popular artists of the era becoming musical legends who are famous and beloved even in modern times. 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. Charles released hits throughout the 1960s and 1970s, but his work in the 1950s with Atlantic Records was thought to be the inception of modern soul music. Washington was born Born Ruth Lee Jones in Tuscaloosa, Ala. in 1924, and was raised in Chicago. Black Americans were tired of US policies that systematically discriminated against them, and it was in the 1950s that the movement calling for change made progress. Some of the most well-known and best-loved artists of the 60s were African-American singers. From Aretha Franklin to Diana Ross to Gladys Knight, the musical landscape was forever changed. Domino was shy and modest. 26 on the Billboard charts in 1950. With a career spanning over 40 years, she was one of the most prolific female singers of the 50s. Born Marjorie Helen Orwig, Margie Rayburn enjoyed a brief but successful career in music during the 1950s. She is well known for maintaining lyrical integrity while making melodies her own. Dinah Washington. Liam is also the founding member of Music Grotto and is passionate in disseminating editorial content to its readers. Thanks for stopping by and if you have any questions get in touch! Top gay singers in history (our list of top LGBTQ singers). While she found modest success singing with bands throughout the 1940s, she came into superstardom starting in 1953. Since then, shes accumulated three Guinness World Records, sold over 220 million albums, and became the highest-certified female artist in the US. 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 Washington died in 1963 from an overdose of prescription pills. The women featured here are standouts in a number of genres. Born Eleanora Fagan, Billie Holiday was a jazz legend known for her one-of-a-kind voice and dazzling improvisational skills. Listen to more of Debbie Reynolds on Amazon here! She passed away in the midst of a comeback at age 48. Grace Jones Cole developed a long relationship with Capitol Records and with arranger Nelson Riddle. Being one of the top performers of the last half of the 20th century is no small feat, but its exactly what Dionne Warwick has done. 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. Highlights of Fitzgeralds career include collaborations with Louis Armstrong, world tours, and lifelong recognition of her unique style. 101 songs. Graces genres are new wave, art pop, R&B, and reggae. Over the next five years, Vaughan would divorce Treadwell and married her second husband Clyde Atkins with whom she adopted a daughter, Paris Vaughan (a.k.a. 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. She started out as a singer and television presenter. As a jazz singer, she was incredibly busy and recorded 17 albums over nine years. The Empress of Soul started her career in the 60s as part of The Pips. She was influenced by instrumentalist contemporaries like Lester Young and brought this type of melodic phrasing to the jazz vocal world. Listen to more of Judy Garland on Amazon here! This led to a music Betty Everett. Given all of the great vocal music that infused this decade, it was not an easy feat to compile this list. Its also what helped sell 65 million albums. The most popular black female singer of the 50s is Dinah Washington. Ella Fitzgerald. His songs I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Whats Going On? and Sexual Healing remain widely popular and are still covered by artists of all genres. Weeks later, Holiday played to a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall. Liams lifelong love for music makes his role at Music Grotto such a rewarding one. She had two major charting hits. Etta James was the Jane of all trades with her ability to easily switch styles on the microphone. Next: The greatest female singers in history (our list of top woman vocalists). Female Singers of the 50s: Top 20 Greatest Artists We Love. 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 also performed two numbers in whats called the Dirty Blues genre, Long John Blues and Big Long Slidin Thing (a double entendre about a trombone player). Born Clara Ann Fowler in 1927, Patti Page found most of her success in music, unlike some of her contemporaries who adorned the stage as well. Franklin was able to maintain a busy career into her elderly years, unlike other musicians who suffered from mental and physical struggles on the road. One of her biggest hits was Where The Boys Are in 1961. The two sang together in New York nightclubs in the 1940s. In his career, he won 18 Grammy Awards, including the four mentioned above, and produced countless hits that are popular to this day. Hey! Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, 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), Dinah Shore (February 29, 2016 February 24, 1994), Patti Page (November 8, 1927 January 1, 2013), Dinah Washington (August 29, 1924 December 14, 1963), Julie London (September 26, 1926 October 18, 2000), Georgia Gibbs (August 17, 1918 December 9, 2006), Betty Clooney (April 12, 1931 August 5, 1976), Kay Starr (July 21, 1922 November 3, 2016), Jaye P. Morgan (December 3, 1931 today), Patsy Cline (September 8, 1932 March 5, 1963), Debbie Reynolds (April 1, 1932 December 28, 2016), Margie Rayburn (June 3, 1924 June 14, 2000), Toni Arden (February 15, 1924 May 29, 2012), 3 Female Singers Youve Probably Never Heard Of, The Alice Cooper Fact Sheet 5 Things You Need To Know. Next: Top female empowerment songs of all time (women power tracks). Dinah Washington was the most popular black female singer of the 50s. In 1939, Holiday recorded and performed Strange Fruit, which was based off a poem about lynching written two years earlier by Abel Meeropol. Only five all-girl groups are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with the Go-Gos as the latest inductees in 2021. One of the greatest voices of her century is how the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame referred to Etta.