6 Black Artists Who Have Broken Musical Norms
June is Black Music Month, and many have taken the time to acknowledge this month-long celebration. Of course, many artists in the Hip-Hop and R&B industry are recognized for their accomplishments and influence. However, some black artists are often left out of the conversation. In contrast, some prominent artists lack the significant accolades due (which is ironic since various music genres are traced back to the Black community, but that’s a conversation for another day). Black musicians have broken ground in genres the majority of us have never thought of. At the time, these artists didn’t get the recognition they deserved right off the bat but believe me when I say we see the influence of these artists every day, whether by today’s current artists or everyday people. Here are 6 Black artists who’ve broken musical norms in the music industry.
Donna Summer
The 70s was a time of counterculture and anti-establishment. Disco was the sound that brought people together, and there was one woman who was the Queen of that sound, that woman is Donna Summer. Known as the “Queen of Disco,” Donna Summer gained chart success and worldwide fanfare with hits such as “Love to Love You, Baby,” “Last Dance,” “Bad Girls,” “I Feel Love,” and most notably, “Hot Stuff.” Her song “She Works Hard For the Money” has become a feminist anthem, and her bold image has shaken up standards for how women should present themselves in the industry. Donna’s music started the birth of electronic dance music, giving black artists, especially black female artists, the ability to sing dance-pop music. Her influence is evident in artists like Madonna, Beyonce, Rihanna, Victoria Monet, and Dua Lipa.
Tina Turner
It’s only right that we acknowledge an undisputed force in the music industry. Tina Turner began her career singing with her husband Ike in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. After leaving the band and her toxic husband, Ike, Tina set out to pursue her musical endeavors, leading her to become the Queen of Rock and Roll. Tina is the only black woman to win four Grammys for Best Rock Vocal Performance and the only female artist to have won a Grammy in the pop, rock, and R&B industries. A fun fact is that she taught one of the Rolling Stones founding members, Mick Jagger, how to dance. Sadly, we lost Tina on May 24, 2023, due to health complications. However, countless black women can explore genres and rock out like the men thanks to her courageous strides in music, making her one of the most powerful voices in the world and one of the most influential artists in music.
Janet Jackson
When your brothers are the Jackson 5, and one of your brothers is the King of Pop, one may think, “How can I top them?” For Janet Jackson, however, it wasn’t so much “how?” but more like “when?” After the release of her album, Control, there was no doubt that the youngest member of the Jackson family had the same star quality as her siblings. However, when she released Rhythm Nation 1814, Janet became a star and an icon in her own right. Rhythm Nation 1814 has seven top-five singles on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Her music videos heavily impacted the MTV generation and helped set the standards at MTV (and music videos in general). She also influenced a generation of stars who used pop music to speak on social issues. Janet broke ground for black women as she’s the only artist in history to receive Grammy nominations spanning five genres (pop, dance, rock, rap, and R&B), thanks to the success and Grammy nomination for “Black Cat.” The song also made her the first female artist to have a Grammy-nominated number-one song, which she solely wrote and produced.
Charley Pride
Before Lil Nas X had the world singing “Old Town Road,” there was a country music star who dominated the 60s. Charley Pride broke barriers in the 1960s by being the first black artist to achieve major success in the country music scene. From the 1960s until the 80s, Charley scored 29 number-one country hits, won the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year, and became a flourishing entrepreneur, part owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team, and owns a publishing and management company that helps upcoming country singers discover fame.
Tina Bell
Tina Bell may not be a name you hear in the public as often as other rock stars, but she created something influential for numerous Gen X and older millennials. Tina Bell is often referred to as the “Queen of Grunge.” Yes, you read that correctly! While many associate grunge music with notable 90s bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana, Tina Bell pioneered the sound that would eventually become known as grunge with her band, Bam Bam. Fun fact, Nirvana’s lead singer Kurt Cobain was not only a fan but a roadie for the band.
Whitney Houston
Who doesn’t know Whitney Houston? A global icon and an influence to many, Whitney Houston could sing everything from R&B to gospel to opera. What couldn’t she sing? However, what she began singing at the beginning of her career wasn’t well received. Whitney’s early albums were considered too “white” by black music listeners, and some considered her a sell-out. Despite the backlash, Whitney’s music and image did help usher in the next generation of singers. Thanks to her, she was the first black woman to have her videos played on MTV. Much like the aftermath of Michael Jackson being the first black artist to have his videos played on MTV, Whitney saw a surge in her popularity whether in her music or public image. Whitney was one of the key artists to help shape the MTV generation and opened doors for Mariah Carey, Brandy, and Ariana Grande, just to name a few.
