It is hard to argue with the legacy these artists have created for themselvesit shows in modern music. Madonna in particular, was considered to be one of the hottest female singers of the 80s. As mentioned in Wikipedia the 80s is considered the golden age of hip hop. To celebrate their contribution to this decade, in this post, weve put together a list of 15 of the greatest and most famous black singers of the 1980s. 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. The 90s saw a breakthrough for popular young black women in the music industry. Setting aside highly mainstream R&B artists of the '80s that enjoyed at least as much success on Billboard's pop charts as on the niche R&B charts ( Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Prince, Lionel Richie and Whitney Houston are the most obvious examples), the decade still harbored numerous important purveyors . 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. The film had a production budget of $195 million and a marketing budget between $80 million and $100 million but only made $390 million.. The songs Baby and I Wanna Be Down each cracked the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 list. The Comfort Zone was very popular, selling over 2 million copies and went triple platinum. 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. It was a time when the genre was just beginning to find its footing, and artists were experimenting with different sounds and styles. 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. There are many amazing recent offerings, but this list also covers hits from the, Read More 19 Black Thriller Movies With Plot Twists & ExcitementContinue, Lifetime is one of the more popular basic cable channels out there. But despite their limited success, these women made a significant impact on the music industry. Her family settled down in Detroit, Michigan where she would take voice lessons and dream of becoming a big star. Although todays punk scene is not as male-dominated as it was in the 80s, these female singers continue to be an inspiration to punk rockers all over the world. -- gained wide renown among both black and white audiences. She was particularly fond of artists and bands like the Jackson 5, Donny Hathaway, and Curtis Mayfield. 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. Her follow-up album in 2001 was also a big success. Today, these women are still remembered for their contributions to the disco era. So if youre a fan of R&B music, then you owe a debt of gratitude to these female singers. She released her first album Discovery when she was only 14. In the next couple of years, Aaliyah would gain further recognition for her soundtrack recordings on popular films Anastasia and Dr. Doolittle. The group recorded many songs that people still listen to today, but Diana Ross always had extra star power. Her work was expressive and creative and paved the way for future 90s black female singers. Ive left off some of the most famous white rappers like Eminem, Vanilla Ice, and The Beastie Boys off this list since theyre household, Read More 31 White Rappers You Thought Were BlackContinue. While the mid-80s saw the rise of hair metal and hard rock. Later Houston would go on to have a successful career, selling over 200 million records worldwide. Throughout the '80s, Ross received several American Music Awards, and in 1988, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The following is a round-up of the top black male singers of the 70s. Dominating their respective fields, women were taking their careers into their own hands. Besides being highly talented they also had a great deal of charisma which helped them to win over American audiences. Brandys career has spanned music, television, Broadway. Overall, Sade and her band would release six studio albums and go on six tours from 1984 to 2011. As a child, she exhibited a great talent for music and dance and had a dream to become the African American Rockette. This was the catalyst for a self-titled debut album which peaked at number one in the U.S. Joan Jett Annie Lennox (Eurythmics) Cyndi Lauper Pat Benatar Chrissie Hynde (Pretenders) Ann Wilson (Heart) Grace Slick (Starship) Joni Mitchell Tori Amos Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac) Debbie Harry (Blondie) Linda Ronstadt Suzanne Vega Bonnie Tyler Albino? Today, black female musicians like Doja Cat, Beyonce, and SZA inspire young women and have a hold on the music industry. Outside of Michael Jackson, no one else had a more prominent decade than Prince. The oldest of six children, Braxton's family had strict rules about engaging with popular culture. There is no performer quite as compelling as the jazz singer. She later embarked on a solo career and released several successful albums, including Out for Blood and Dancin on the Edge. From pop to R&B, this musical era saw a surge of female black singers, and their songs ranked on the charts. She released her debut LP, Da Baddest Bitch, two. Not to mention, they also had a killer sense of style. 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. Billboard 200. Back when J. Janet Jackson is an icon in the music industry, not just for her music, but for her resilience through the ups and downs the industry puts women through. Ola Ray is internationally known as Michael Jackson's girlfriend in the Grammy Award winning short film video ''Thriller." Her work in 'Thriller' brought her worldwide recognition and made her a household name. In honor of Black Music Month, we're saluting twenty most beautiful songstresses of the Eighties. Trained in the background vocal trenches of soul singing masters. July 15, 2020 12:30 PM. Though soul and R&B were the most popular genres, there were also many talented black singers in other genres, such as pop, rock, and hip-hop. However, sometimes, youre just in the mood to laugh. Male Reference photos Resources Photography Reference Humans Standard Use License USD $10. With her waterfall of ringlets and virgin brows, Perri Reid, aka Pebbles, was the ultimate in late Eighties cool. But regardless of their current situation, these singers all made great music in the 1980s and deserve to be remembered. However, in more recent years, the House of Mouse has begun to tackle racism, both as a storyline and an industry-wide problem. As a member of The Supremes, Diana Ross was one of the most well-known group members and branched out as a solo artist in the 1970s. Sades signature look porcelain skin, scarlet lips and a slicked-back ponytail instantly became iconic with the release of her first album, Diamond Life.. Chapmans career began to fall off after she performed at Nelson Mandelas 70th birthday celebration. Imagine a world without Janet Jackson or Whitney Houston. While Off The Wall was a late 70s release, Jacksons Shes Out Of My Life was a top-10 hit in 1980 and showed off his range. However, there were a few groundbreaking female punk singers who managed to make a name for themselves in the male-dominated world of punk rock. Since the 80s were a decade filled with iconic music, its no surprise that there are so many amazing female singers from that era. Nevertheless, she is an icon in the music industry and paved the way for many black female artists on this list. Some of the popular were Cindy Lauper, Cyndi Thomson, and Debbie Gibson. Shes won seven awards over the course of her career and produced five albums to date, not including compilations and singles. 12 Black Disney Movies, Both Cartoons & Real Acting, 61 Black Celebrities That Died In 2023; A Tribute To The Fallen, 30 Black YouTubers 2023; Male & Female Channels. 15 Black Artists Who Died Too Young 1. Come get a plate of goodness! 1985s Thats What Friends Are For went to #1 on three different Billboard charts and raised money for the American Foundation for AIDS Research. The oldest of six children, Braxtons family had strict rules about engaging with popular culture. 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. Above all, they were proud of who they were and didnt let anyone stop them from being their true selves. However, before she could complete her degree, she was discovered by Bill Pettaway, who helped her land a recording deal with Arista Records alongside two of her sisters. She is one of the only artists to simultaneously occupy the top two spots of the Billboard Hot 100. The albums single Un-Break My Heart became a musical sensation. R&B has its roots in the blues, which was created by black Americans in the early 1900s. Janet Jackson ended the decade with another hit record in Rhythm Nation 1814, which went Platinum six times. She attended high school at the Hollywood High Performing Arts Center before dropping out to sign with Teaspoon Productions as a backup vocalist in 1990. 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. And in many ways, they were ahead of their time. They are also remembered for their style, which was a big part of disco culture. Lo was still on the 6, Bronx-born bombshell Lisa Lisa was breaking hearts with her signature frosted pink lipstick and one-eye-obscuring bangs. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a3fd76e9916ca9ed221113da4c016ebd" );document.getElementById("if75a4498f").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *, Careers Contact Us Privacy Policy CookiePolicy Win. Wonder also saw success in the 1980s with several duets and collaborations, including We Are The World and Thats What Friends Are For., Name another pop group with a legacy of spawning other great acts. Beyonc is the most famous American black singer in the world, born on September 4, 1981. In fact, many of them were extremely talented and their songs are still remembered fondly today. 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. Maze feat. The 80s were a great time for music as genres were being combined the produced new sounds that would lay the groundwork for contemporary R&B and hip-hop . The industry owes a lot to the black artists since they are the ones who shaped and created the trends we see today. Grimy Goods LA indie music blog,reviews,free concert tickets,mp3s . 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