As mentioned in Wikipedia the 80s is considered the golden age of hip hop. Whitney Houston officially stepped onto the music scene when she was only 22 releasing her first four albums between 1985 and 1992, reigning over the 80s. Vandross would go on to release several more successful albums in the 80s, including Forever, For Always, For Love and Give Me the Reason.. Each of these brought something unique to the table with Michael Jackson leading the pack as the biggest pop star of them all. Despite her career beginning in the 50s when she was just a teen, Tinas solo career didnt take off until 1983, when she recorded a cover of Al Greenes Lets Stay Together, which became an immediate hit and had people wanting more. This was especially true in the 1980s, when many black Britons were fighting for equality and against racism. Madonna 2. It featured the hit single I Think Were Alone Now, which was a huge hit with teens all over the world. Despite being called the queen of disco, Summer was able to break into different genres. The industry owes a lot to the black artists since they are the ones who shaped and created the trends we see today. She began touring with a Latin funk band called Pride in the late 70s and early 80s. Here are some more. Race & Ethnicity RevealedContinue, Comedy still seems to be a world that is dominated by men, but not for long! Every decade has its share of one-hit wonders, and the 80s were no exception. She has won a total of 20 awards and found additional success as an actress in movies like the Barbershop franchise. However, there were a number of successful female soul singers in the 1980s. If youre thinking of Madonna, then youre on the right track. While most rap and hip-hop artists have traditionally been black, white rappers have found major success in the industry since the 80s. She was a major figure in the civil rights movement, frequently addressing social issues such as racism through her songs. Those that stayed went on to produce five albums in the span of a few short years. That album generated three Billboard-topping hits with How Will I Know? Greatest Love Of All, and Saving All My Love For You, which nabbed a Best Pop Vocal Performance Grammy for Houston. For this, she was nominated Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The genre has its roots in gospel and blues music. Ma Harrison is a black Italian singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer born in 1979 in Washington D.C. As a child, her primary hobby was dance, dabbling in ballet, tap, and jazz as young as four years old. Were sure youll enjoy their music as much as we do. It was re-released a couple of years later with additional tracks. But infighting in the group forced them to oust founding member Bobby Brown in 1985, leading to a new line-up. The lyrics were often dark and introspective, dealing with topics like love, loss, and betrayal. Billboard Hot 100 list, and number one on the U.S. Top Black Female Singers of the 90s, Final Thoughts. Chapmans career began to fall off after she performed at Nelson Mandelas 70th birthday celebration. Unfortunately, this was Gayes final studio album as he was tragically killed in 1984. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Some of the biggest were Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Whitney Houston, and Tina Turner. The album was a huge success, reaching the top of the R&B charts and selling over a million copies. In the early days of MTV, when music videos were becoming popular, a new genre of music began to surface. And while it was obviously dominated by male bands, there were a few groundbreaking female metal singers who made their mark on the genre. Let us go down our list of famous 80s female singersin no particular order. Bulls on Parade Tab by Rage Against The Machine. On this edition of Night Lights we . The album did well but was decimated by the success of her second album titled Control. Whitney Houston was one of the first 80s female R&B singers to achieve mainstream success. She was nominated in 1993 for a Grammy award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and won a Golden Lion Award for Best International Artist the same year. "Good Quality". This honey-voiced chanteuse was also a great beauty, with cinnamon-kissed skin and cheekbones to cut glass. From actors and musicians to athletes and activists, the Black community has felt incredible losses. After all, the UK has always been a hotbed for musical talent. The songs featured themes of feminism and female sexuality, although it was generally considered a slump. Youtube isnt new and a lot of the more popular faces arent new either. From Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston to Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross, these artists dominated the charts and inspired millions with their unique sounds. She got her big break in 1986 when she was introduced to a manager at Elektra records that helped her break into the industry. Brotherhood Of Man were and still are a male/female group. From Madonna to Michael Jackson, they were the queens and kings of pop. Not to mention, they were also able to transcend the boundaries of music and find success in other areas such as film and television. 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. This former Prince protegee and self-proclaimed Nasty Girl set hearts racing with her smokey bedroom eyes, fucshia lips and wildly teased tresses. The black community has given the world many gifts, but one of the most important and influential is R&B music. The next year, the singer took home two Grammys for the albumfor Best Female R&B Pop Vocal Performance as well as Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. These are the women who had a few hits but never quite made it to the top of the charts. Lets get started. Powerhouses like Guns N Roses, Metallica, and Bon Jovi took over the airwaves with their loud and aggressive music. We use to consider celebrities influencers, but there are a few new kids in town. 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. 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. Redefining the look . Not to mention, they also had a killer sense of style. She also provided two songs on the movies soundtrack, including the hit We Dont Need Another Hero (Thunderdome).. Eve spent time after graduating from high school in New York. She rose to prominence as the lead guitarist of The Runaways, one of the first all-female rock bands. Artists like Whitney Houston and Tina Turner topped the charts, set the trends, and built the foundation of powerful black women in music. Over her career, Blige released thirteen studio albums, won nine Grammy Awards, twelve Billboard Music Awards, and four American Music Awards. Apart from solo artists, there were also a number of successful bands in the 80s that featured female lead singers. Even with this culture shift, her music remains some of the most popular dance jams ever made. In this post, we're going to take a look at 15 of the greatest and most famous female singers of the 80s. The singer was born on the seventh of October, 1967, in a religious household. These are the singers who helped change the game and made a lifelong impact on the music industry. We hope you enjoyed reading the post as much as we enjoyed writing it for you. Other? Ruth B. makes singing look effortless, and that's why we love . As a child, she exhibited a great talent for music and dance and had a dream to become the African American Rockette. Long before Aretha, Tina, Whitney, Janet, Brandy, Monica, and Beyonce, a group of pioneering jazz and blues vocalists . (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) The first choice here is hard to argue. This was the catalyst for a self-titled debut album which peaked at number one in the U.S. Rappers like N.W.A., Public Enemy, and Beastie Boys were making a name for themselves with their controversial lyrics and innovative beats. . Iconci black female singers fromt the 60s, 70s, 2000s -- you name it. Despite the obstacles they faced, these singers managed to break down barriers and achieve commercial success. Billboard 200. The following is a round-up of the top black male singers of the 70s. Eventually, she signed on with several members of the original group under the name Sade. They were true superstars in every sense of the word. But they soon began to gain wider recognition, thanks in part to their appearances on various television shows. From Madonna and Diana Ross to Joan Jett, get ready for a trip down memory lane. And while we cant name every single great black rapper from the 80s, we would be remiss if we didnt at least mention a few of the pioneers who paved the way for the rest. Cyndi Lauper burst onto the scene with her debut album Shes So Unusual, which featured the iconic singles Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Time After Time. The album was a massive success, selling over 14 million copies worldwide and earning Lauper a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. From pop to R&B, this musical era saw a surge of female black singers, and their songs ranked on the charts. After her success on the charts with her cover, she released the hit album Private Dancer, which had some of her greatest hits on it. Dominating their respective fields, women were taking their careers into their own hands. In fact, many of them were extremely talented and their songs are still remembered fondly today. With her neon pink lips and back-combed curls, this diminutive cutie-pie was always at the height of 80s glamour. Control was nominated for three Grammy Awards and nine American Music Awards and won two of the AMAs. 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. She later joined a hip-hop group with a couple of friends called Edjp. Belinda Carlisle. There were many others who managed to find success in the 80s, including Lionel Richie, Prince, and Stevie Wonder. In a male-dominated industry, women gained confidence that allowed them to . This category is located at Category:African-American women singers. She was the daughter of Sonja and Willie Norwood, a successful gospel singer. Whether they were topping the charts or fighting for social justice, these singers used their talents to make a positive impact on the world. In fact, there were many blonde women who found success in the music industry during the decade. Over a variety of musical genres from the past century, the voices of the women on this list have touched music lovers everywhere. This list is based on the highest album sales, influence over the fans, and overall impact on the music industry during the 1980s. Sign up free 0:00 0:00 Company About Jobs For the Record Outside of Michael Jackson, no one else had a more prominent decade than Prince. Her race and ethnicity are often questioned as she is accused of appropriating Black culture or blackfishing. Today, Read More Is Iggy Azalea Black? Her powerful vocals coupled with her thoughtful lyrics made her a well-respected artist. Many of the 80s female folk singers started out by performing at small coffeehouses and other intimate venues. But regardless of their current situation, these singers all made great music in the 1980s and deserve to be remembered. James Cleveland, Mahalia Jackson, the Clara Ward Singers, etc. This Puerto Rican/Black soul singer turned heads with her impossibly lush pout and expressive, dark eyes. She quickly rose to fame with her groundbreaking album Control and became one of the most successful black pop singers of all time. They rose to stardom via their ability to blend into any genre with ease. He based his platform of positivity and roll-up-your-sleeves attitude on this slogan, which carried him into the oval office. Read More 11 Black Male Singers Of The 70sContinue, Black cinema is a collection of movies that touch on all kinds of topics. She released some of her best-selling albums during that decade, including Whos Zoomin Who and Aretha. She also earned her first Gold record in 1982 with the album Jump To It., Luther Vandross was another soul singer who found success in the 80s. Due to a nude photo scandal from before she was crowned, Williams struggled to get a legitimate foothold in Hollywood in the years that followed. View this photo on Instagram. Shes won seven awards over the course of her career and produced five albums to date, not including compilations and singles. Commercial success finally followed with 1982s 1999, which spawned several hit songs such as Little Red Corvette, Delirious, and of course, 1999.. The 1980s was Michael Jacksons decade (part of the 1990s too), and there is no comparison. But that all changed with the introduction of Janet Jackson. 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. In 1994, a compilation album was released titled The Best of Sade. And in the 80s, there were a number of British female singers who found success in America. She released her debut LP, Da Baddest Bitch, two. The singer was born on the seventh of October, 1967, in a religious household. Billboard 200. She is best known for her songs Give Me A Reason and Fast Car, which come off her debut album. She was nominated for numerous posthumous awards and won the Billboard-AURN Top R&B/Hip-Hop Female Artist in 2003. There is a long list of forgotten female singers from the 80s. 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. Later Houston would go on to have a successful career, selling over 200 million records worldwide. They appeared on Sesame Street and the Grand Ole Opry and went on to win a Grammy, just to give you an idea of their range. There are no pages or files in this category. 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. Towards the end of the decade, Summer two Grammys for Hes A Rebel and Forgive Me, both for Best Inspirational Performance. Thats where funny Black movies come in. In 1998, she went on a world tour and performed sold-out shows throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia. White? From the early days of Madonna and Cyndi Lauper to the height of Whitney Houstons career, this list includes all the ladies who made the 80s such a great decade for music. The album won four Grammy awards and sold more than 20 million copies, solidifying her place in the music industry. She has been the recipient of several Emmy nominations, a Tony nomination, and 11 Grammy nominations. Aretha Franklin in particular had a huge impact in the 80s. This album broke the top ten on the charts in the United States and the U.K. Among the most successful Black country singers of the 1980s were Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, and Tina Turner. Top Black Female Singers of the 80s, Final Thoughts. She is also the eldest sister of entertainer Ray J and Snoop Doggs cousin. Her mother introduced her to music when she was three after gifting her a ukulele, and she would go on to play guitar and write her own moving songs. Every good girl in the 80s wanted to look just like these doe-eyed, luscious-lipped sisters. Born Eve Jeffers to Julie and Jerry Jeffers, Eve lived in West Philadelphia until her parents divorce when she was 12. There, she was raised on the music her parents loved, including jazz, reggae, and calypso, all of which would influence her unique sound. Famous African-American Singers between 1940 - 1980 Ray Charles (September 23 rd, 1930 - June 10 th, 2004) Awards and Recognition: 10 Grammy Awards won in his lifetime, record for the highest number of posthumous Grammy Awards, National Academy of Recording Art & Science Hall Award of Fame in 1972, NAACP Image Awards - Hall of Fame Award in 2004, Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the . And for these singers, their only weapon was their music. This was a decade that saw the rise of some of country musics most iconic female singers. Her music also broke into European charts, and she became popular over there too. With her waterfall of ringlets and virgin brows, Perri Reid, aka Pebbles, was the ultimate in late Eighties cool. Some of the most prominent black British singers of the 1980s include Sade, Seal, and Soul II Soul. All these women had successful careers in the 80s, but none of them were able to replicate their one-hit-wonder success. Some famous Black female singers sing the blues while other top Black woman artists are pop superstars. Females in country music had been around since the genres inception, but they truly came into their own in the 80s. Famous for her belly-baring buckskins in the 70s, Chaka Khan made fluffy hair and kissable plum lips the thing in the 80s. Their followings are massive, and their songs are on the radio every single day, but the road they walk on was paved by the beautiful black women of the 80s that dominated fashion and culture at the time. The space below showcases a list of female singers who had considerable success in the 80s and 90s. 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. And it all came from the hard work and raw talent of these artists. Her combined voice talent and love for music led her to pursue a career as a music teacher. 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