Every music genre with roots in America can be traced back to an influential Black artist. Talented Black singers, musicians, and trailblazers have defined our music for decades. Unfortunately, many of them don’t get the recognition they deserve. Here’s a short (not comprehensive!) list of Black artists who shaped music as we know it.

1. Sister Rosetta Tharpe

The “godmother of rock and roll”, Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915 – 1978) was the first rock guitarist and gospel musician to bring both genres to the attention of mainstream America. In the late 1930s, she became a household name with the release of songs like “Rock Me” and “This Train”. “Rock Me”, in particular, is often cited as the first mainstream gospel song.

“Strange Things Happen Every Day”, a song Tharpe released in 1945, was one of the first rock and roll songs to become widely popular. Tharpe’s pioneering of these genres influenced artists like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Tina Turner. Her influences can still be heard in modern rock and gospel music.

2. Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton

You have definitely heard some of Wilie Mae Thornton’s (1926 – 1984) songs, but you probably don’t know that she wrote them. This oft-forgotten artist first performed a little ditty called “Hound Dog”, a song later popularized by Elvis Presley. She released the song in 1953 – three years before Elvis’s cover – to critical acclaim. However, she never received much credit for inspiring the track.

Her popularity persisted well into the 1960s and 1970s. She wrote Janis Joplin’s hit “Ball and Chain”, and allowed the singer to perform it with her permission. This time, she received some royalties for her part in the song’s production. It’s clear to see that Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton has her fingerprints all over modern rock and R&B music.

3. Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

No one produced theatrical music performances quite like Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (1929 – 2000). While he wore many hats (including a boxer, film producer, and actor), his influences on modern metal and operatic rock can’t be ignored.

In 1958, he released another song you’ve probably heard before – “I Put a Spell On You”. This song made perfect use of Hawkins’s style, including strong operatic influences and macabre theatrics. These elements would go on to inspire goth music and shock rock, including the performances of megaliths like Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, and Ozzy Osborne.

4. Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson (1911 – 1938) was rarely recognized for his talents during his lifetime. However, he managed to influence huge sections of the music industry with just two recordings. In 1961, Columbia Records released 29 songs originally recorded 25 years earlier by the blues musician. These songs became the inspiration for British blues, most songs with boogie bass lines, and an energetic style of playing the piano.

Johnson is said to be the inspiration for artists such as Keith Richards, Robert Plant (of Led Zeppelin fame), and even Bob Dylan. Most classic rock features some influence from those two recording sessions. Robert Johnson doesn’t get the credit he deserves for this influence, but it’s clear he had a lasting impact on music as we know it.

5. Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald (1917 – 1996) was an artist that can’t be matched. Her contribution to music can’t be overstated, either. “The First Lady of Song”, as she is often called, rose to fame in the 1930s. By her final performance in 1993, she’d left a mark on music that few can claim. Most popular female vocalists trace their musical roots back to Fitzgerald. Her pure vocals and beautiful intonation pioneered a niche in music for a uniquely female sound.

If you’ve ever enjoyed music from artists like Adele and Lady Gaga, you are unknowingly familiar with Fitzgerald’s work. During the height of her fame, she was just as popular as these powerhouse ladies are today.

Conclusion

Whether you know their names or not, these powerful and talented Black singers created some of the most popular genres of today. In some cases, it’s been a century since they made music – still, their musical DNA is in most music today. This is by no means an exhaustive list. Name a genre – you’ll find a pioneer of Black Excellence at its root.

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