Black American Women in Music – Part 2
Dear Reader,
I fell and broke my left wrist, so I am typing this with one finger! I had already done research in Black American First Singers. I will just list them and indicate what their claim to fame is. please get some of their music and be inspired and blessed. I have to say that all of these women make me feel good when I hear them, and I thank God for their music.
This week we will continue with our stories of black female firsts in entertainment. In the last few posts, we related the fascinating stories of black women in television and stage. We began last time to look at the stories of black women in music.
Today there are so many gifted black female singers that we cannot cover all of those who are deserving of our adulation in this short series on black female firsts. We will just concentrate on our theme – Black American Women Firsts. – Women whose warm voices still inspire and make us feel glad
Black Women Firsts in Music –Gospel, Soul, Jazz, Smooth Pop
Aretha Franklin – Queen of Soul (1942-2018)
As a young woman, Aretha traveled with her father’s revival show singing and playing the piano. Since then she has released many popular singles that are now considered classics. She became the FIRST female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2008 she won her 18th Grammy Award, making her one of the most honored artists in Grammy history.
In 1967, the album I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) was released, and the first song on the album, “Respect” reached No. 1 on both the R&B and pop charts and won Franklin her first two Grammy Awards.
Dubbed the ‘Queen of Soul’
Aretha Franklin’s chart dominance soon earned her the title Queen of Soul, while at the same time she also became a symbol of Black empowerment during the civil rights movement. She also had Top 10 hits with “Baby I Love You,” “Think,” “Chain of Fools,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”
Aretha retired in 2017. She had been collaborating with Stevie Wonder to release a new album. Her health deteriorated after that and she died on August 16, 2018, of pancreatic cancer. We miss her, but she left the world a tremendous legacy in music. She has been honored by having things named for her such as a subway.
Mahalia Jackson – International Gospel Star (1911-1972)
Mahalia Jackson began her singing career as a child at Mount Moriah Baptist Church. She went on to become one of the most revered gospel figures in the United States. Her recording of “Move On Up a Little Higher” was a major hit. She has become an international star for music lovers from a variety of backgrounds. She was on the Ed Sullivan show in 1956. She was active in the Civil Rights Movement. She sang at the March on Washington at the request of her friend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1963. In 1966, she published her autobiography Movin’ On Up. After King’s death in 1968, Mahalia sang at his funeral and then withdrew from public political activities.
When she was older, she suffered major health problems and finally succumbed to a heart attack January 27, 1972. Mahalia is remembered and loved for her passionate singing, her deep commitment to her faith and her lasting inspiration to listeners of all faiths.
Ella Fitzgerald – First Lady of Song (1917-1996)
Ella was an immensely popular jazz vocalist. She began singing after a difficult childhood. She debuted at the famous Apollo theatre in 1934. She remained the top female jazz singer for decades. In 1958, Ella made history as the FIRST African American woman to win a Grammy Award. She went on to win 13 Grammys in total. Ella worked with many great artists such as Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and Frank Sinatra.
Ella Fitzgerald recorded more than 200 albums and some 2,000 songs in her lifetime. Her total record sales exceeded 40 million. Other accolades include the Image Award for Lifetime Achievement and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She died on June 15,1996 at her home in Beverly Hills. Since her death she has been honored in many ways including a United States postage stamp.
Diana Ross – Queen of Motown (1944 – )
Diana Ross is remembered as singing with the Supremes and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for her part with that group in 1988. The Supremes scored their first No. 1 hit with “Where Did Our Love Go?” (1964). The Supremes then broke music records by having a streak of four additional singles top the charts — “Baby Love” (1964), “Come See About Me” (1964) “Stop! In the Name of Love” (1965) and “Back in My Arms Again” (1965). Diana and her group became the FIRST U.S. group ever to have five songs in a row to reach No 1.
Diana left the group for a solo career in 1969 where she topped the charts with songs like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”. She starred in several films as well – Mahogany and Lady Sings the Blues. Diana Ross had some ups and downs during her life. Her father’s death hit her especially hard. She but her career as a singer has withhold the test of time for over four decades. She was married twice and has five children.
Awards include in 2007 when she was presented with Black Entertainment Television’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Diana was honored by the Kennedy Center for her contributions to the arts.
In 2012 Ross received her first Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement; it would become her first Grammy ever, despite having been nominated twelve times. Four years later, Barack Obama presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor to Diana in 2017. In addition to these she also won many other Lifetime Achievement honors at the American Music Awards.
Whitney Houston – Numerous Number One Singles (1963-2012)
Like so many of these other talented ladies, Whitney debuted at a fairly young age of 22 wen she produced three #1 singles. In 1987 she delivered four more No. 1s and earned a Grammy. Later albums including I’m Your Baby Tonight (1990) and My Love Is Your Love (1998) as well as soundtracks to The Bodyguard (1992) and Waiting to Exhale(1995).
Whitney’s life was filled with struggles, and she went off track several times. She worked hard to pull herself together and released a new album, I Look To You, in 2009. In early 2012, Whitney seemed to be trying for a comeback. She was working on a film. Unfortunately, she died from accidental drowning at a party on February 11, 2012. Sadly, heart disease and drugs may have been contributing factors.
She had many troubles in her life, but I will always remember her as the beautiful woman who sang “I Will Always Love You” from 1974. The song proved to be Whitney’s biggest hit ever, spending a record-breaking 14 weeks atop the U.S. charts.
Roberta Flack – Genius – Classical and Gospel (1937- )
Roberta Flack will always be one of my favorite singers. Learning classical and church music at her mother’s knees, Roberta’s music would be some of the most beautiful and inspirational for me. “This Roberta strove to understand both Chopin and Methodist hymnody and was precocious enough to gain admission to Howard University at 15. She was a shy, awkward, diligent girl with her nose always in a book and fingers tired from practicing piano scales.”[1]
Roberta was able to blend the genres together to produce a unique and compelling sound. Her music never fails to bring a smile or make me feel good.
Dionne Warwick, Queen of Smooth Pop (1940-), Patti Labelle – Godmother of Soul (1944- ), and Gladys Knight – Empress of Soul (1944-)
These three black women have inspired generations of artists who came after them. They have remained popular themselves.
Patti LaBelle – Godmother of Soul
Like many other stars, Patti Labelle began with girl groups – Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles in the ’60s and Labelle in the ’70s. She began a rising solo career in the late ’70s. She is known for her amazing vocals as well as her hits like “Lady Marmalade”, “If Only You Knew,” “New Attitude” and “On My Own”—just to name a few. From her stage presence to her vocal prowess, she has inspired many of today’s R&B/soul powerhouses—like Fantasia.
Gladys Knight, Empress of Soul
Another incredible woman who inspired so many others is Gladys Knight. Gladys said “I can’t be no Pip!” Can a Pip be her though? She’s the Empress of Soul who fronted her own group—Gladys Knight & the Pips and joined Motown Records in the ’60s—scoring mega hits like “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” before continued success throughout the ’70s with the chart-topper “Midnight Train to Georgia.” She is known for her distinctively soulful contralto voice.[2]
Fun fact: Many know the Marvin Gaye version of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” which was released in late October 1967, but Gladys Knight & the Pips originated the song, which was released in September of the same year. While Gladys Knight & the Pips’ original version peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, Gaye’s version topped the chart. Both soulful versions are iconic and distinctive, right?
Dionne Warwick, Queen of Smooth Pop
Dionne Warwick did the unthinkable in the ’60s—she became the FIRST Black female pop star. She made purely smooth traditional pop music unlike many of her counterparts like Aretha Franklin. Her smooth voice yet powerful vocals, vocal control and ability to read music only catered to her success—inspiring artists like her cousin and pop icon Whitney Houston. Some of my favorite songs: “Walk on By”, “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again”, and “What the World Needs Now”.
[1] “The Virtuoso”: Roberta Flack’s Career demands a new way of thinking about the word “genius”. https://www.npr.org/2020/02/10/804370981/roberta-flack-the-virtuoso
[2] From – https://www.pennlive.com/life/2020/09/phillys-patti-labelle-gladys-knight-and-the-black-women-in-music-who-paved-the-way-in-the-60s-70s.html
