Famous Black Musicians - List of Famous Black Musicians

Blacks have revolutionized the music industry with their extraordinary blend of jazz, soul, rock, gospel, and R&B genres. During the 1980’s, people were fascinated with Prince’s music, which included elements of rock, jazz and blues. His music won seven Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award. Louis Armstrong, one of the prominent musicians known for jazz is a trumpeter. He was one of those persons, who was socially accepted by whites during the racism period. Whitney Houston, another musician from 1980’s has her name printed in the Guinness book of world records as the most-awarded female artist of all time in 2006. Other black musicians including Aretha Franklin, Nat King Cole, James Brown, Francis Johnson, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Tina Turner have showcased to the world their innate talent.

Check out the list of prominent Black musicians

The Most Famous Black Musicians

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
Muddy WatersApril 4, 1913AmericanMuddy Waters was a blues musician referred to as the 'father of modern Chicago blues.'
WaleSeptember 21, 1984AmericanWale is an American rapper of Nigerian descent
Kanye WestJune 8, 1977AmericanKanye West is an American hip-hop musician, rapper, lyricist, record producer, film director and fashion designer.
James BrownMay 3, 1933AmericanJames Brown was an American musician and recording artist regarded as ‘The Godfather of Soul’
Cab CallowayDecember 25, 1907AmericanCab Calloway was a jazz singer and bandleader
Etta JamesJanuary 25, 1938AmericanEtta James was an American singer-songwriter
Michael JacksonAugust 29, 1958AmericanPopularly referred to as King of Pop, Michael Jackson created history in the world of music with his chartbuster albums
Lena HorneJune 30, 1917AmericanLena Horne was a famous American actress and civil rights activist and is remembered for her roles in ‘The Duke Is Tops’ and ‘Cabin in the Sky’
Stevie WonderMay 13, 1950AmericanStevie Wonder is an American musician, singer and songwriter, considered to be one of the most creative musical performers of the 20th century
Bob MarleyFebruary 6, 1945JamaicanBob Marley is a famous Jamaican reggae singer, known for his album ‘Rastaman Vibration’
Nina Simone

Nina Simone

Nina Simone was one of the most iconic American musical icons of the 20th century

AmericanFebruary 21, 1933257 views

Cab Calloway

Cab Calloway was a jazz singer and bandleader

AmericanDecember 25, 1907328 views

Curtis Mayfield

Curtis Mayfield was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer

AmericanJune 3, 1942255 views

Fats Domino

Fats Domino was an American pianist and singer known for his hit single ‘The Fat Man.’

AmericanFebruary 26, 1928216 views

Bob Marley

Bob Marley is a famous Jamaican reggae singer, known for his album ‘Rastaman Vibration’

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson is an American entertainer best known as the Queen of Pop and R&B

AmericanMay 16, 1966190 views

Seal

Seal is a ‘Grammy Award’-winning British singer-songwriter and musician

BritishFebruary 19, 1963268 views

Aretha Franklin

Popularly known as ‘The Queen of Soul’, Aretha Franklin was an American singer and musician

AmericanMarch 25, 1942173 views

Prince

Prince Rogers Nelson was an American singer widely regarded as the pioneer of Minneapolis sound

AmericanJune 7, 1958136 views

Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke was one of the greatest American singers

AmericanJanuary 22, 1931195 views