Famous Black Musicians - List of Famous Black Musicians - page 2

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’
The Notorious B.I.G.

The Notorious B.I.G.

Christopher George Latore Wallace, known by his stage names Biggie Smalls, The Notorious B.I.G, or Biggie, was an American rapper

AmericanMay 21, 1972126 views

Marian Anderson

Marian Anderson was one of the best known American singers of the twentieth century

AmericanFebruary 27, 1897224 views

Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith was a famous blues and jazz singer from America who is known for her songs like ‘Downhearted Blues’ and ‘The St

AmericanApril 15, 1894220 views

Lena Horne

Lena 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’

AmericanJune 30, 1917309 views

Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist

AmericanOctober 18, 1926167 views

Etta James

Etta James was an American singer-songwriter

AmericanJanuary 25, 1938326 views

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye was an American musician who revitalized the genre of R&B music

AmericanApril 2, 1939167 views

Thelonious Monk

Thelonious Monk was an American jazz artist, pianist and composer, who is considered as one of the pioneers of the American jazz music

AmericanOctober 10, 1917147 views

James Brown

James Brown was an American musician and recording artist regarded as ‘The Godfather of Soul’

AmericanMay 3, 1933358 views

Darius Rucker

Darius Rucker is a famed American singer, songwriter, and musician

AmericanMay 13, 1966150 views