Sisters with Voices, better known as SWV, are an R&B, Grammy-nominated trio of black women from New York City. 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. Her second studio album, Inner Child, was released in 1991. Her music has gone multi-platinum, and she is a four-time Grammy Award-winning artist that continues to touch lives. ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. 80s Male black icons like Michael Jackson and Prince were not only creating some of the catchiest tunes but also changing the game when it came to fashion and style. With her sultry almond eyes and flawless cheekbones, this angel-voiced, former teen model was one of the most lauded beauties of the 1980s. These women were brave enough to go against the norms of society and they inspired other women to do the same. The Supremes first number one hit was Where Did Our Love Go, which helped bridge the gap between blues music and the pop music of the time. Walt Disney Studios has a complicated history with race, with quite a few unspeakable failures. See the instructions for more information. Some of the most famous disco singers of the 80s include Irene Cara, Gloria Gaynor, and Diana Ross. And while most of the bands that emerged in the early days of Alternative were male, there were a few notable female singers. Annie Lennox 3. Aretha Franklin in particular had a huge impact in the 80s. Read More 12 Black Disney Movies, Both Cartoons & Real ActingContinue. 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 . In 1998, she went on a world tour and performed sold-out shows throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. There are no pages or files in this category. Jermaine Dupri, who was no stranger to making hits, brought Xscape to the forefront. 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. Her music was popular in America, but she also managed to break through in the European music market and had significant success over there as well. The oldest of six children, Braxton's family had strict rules about engaging with popular culture. She has also sold over 40 million records and wears the crown for the longest-running number-one song in the U.S. with The Boy is Mine. Her style spanned several genres, including contemporary R&B, pop, gospel, soul, and hip-hop. These artists brought a new sound and a new perspective to the genre, which all together helped it become more mainstream. They racked up dozens of hits on the country charts and won multiple Grammy Awards between them. Midnight Love would go on to sell over six million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of Gayes career. All these women had successful careers in the 80s, but none of them were able to replicate their one-hit-wonder success. She was the daughter of Sonja and Willie Norwood, a successful gospel singer. Throughout the 80s, Ross received several American Music Awards, and in 1988, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Comprised of collegians, alumnae, and friends of Alpha Sigma Tau, the Committee's charge is to: Understand the experiences and needs of our Sisters who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Above all, they were proud of who they were and didnt let anyone stop them from being their true selves. Dominating their respective fields, women were taking their careers into their own hands. So, to celebrate their contributions, weve compiled a list of the best black singers of the 80s. But they soon began to gain wider recognition, thanks in part to their appearances on various television shows. Some have faded into obscurity, while others have continued to make music but have never regained the level of success they once had. She was only 15 at the time. Belinda Carlisle. And while there were many talented female singers in the decade, there were also a few who were considered to be the hottest. It featured emotionally raw and poignant lyrics that exposed Bliges pain and strenuous relationship at the time. Here are some of the bests from all three periods. Summer grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, and was dubbed the Queen of Disco in the late 70s. But in the 1980s, a new breed of country singer emerged from the Black community. Despite being called the queen of disco, Summer was able to break into different genres. Every day we're serving Black women deeply. Third up, Whitney Houston, might have had a massively successful song in the 1990s, but her work in the 1980s is nothing to forget. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart. While her initial album had a heavier rap influence, her follow-up albums featured more classically soul tracks that had heavy emotive power. Iggy Azalea is a well-known rapper in the US. She has won a total of 20 awards and found additional success as an actress in movies like the Barbershop franchise. Note: This category should be empty. 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. Geffen Records and Interscope Records have artists like Donna Summer and Whitney Houston to thank for helping them get off the ground. These are just a few of the many talented black soul singers who found success in the 1980s. Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald - Cheek To Cheek (Live) But Ms. Summer could do more than just disco, and she moved into the sphere of R&B as the 70s came to a close and she felt disco ending. Singers like Duran Duran, Madonna, and Cyndi Lauper dominated the charts with their catchy pop songs. The women that got everyone excited in the early 80s, the Pointer Sisters, is a singing group from Oakland, California. Some of the biggest were Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Whitney Houston, and Tina Turner. According to Box Office Mojo, Black Adam is the DCU's 16th highest-grossing film, and the movie is widely considered a flop.. Related: 10 Things Fans May Not Know About Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson With all that being said, its surprising Johnson has turned . 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. But 1982s Thriller cemented Jacksons legacy. The space below showcases a list of female singers who had considerable success in the 80s and 90s. They're undoubtedly stunning, but today's music divas stand on the shoulders of gorgeous '80s glamazons like Whitney, Sade, Jody Watley and Miss Jackson (if you're nasty). With more than 200 million records sold worldwide, she is one of the best-selling artists of all time. Here are the Best Female Singers of the 1980s. Thanks to them, LGBTQ+ people had someone to look up to and their music helped spread awareness and acceptance. Sade was also the first Nigerian woman to win a Grammy award for Best New Artist. But Janet has contributed so much more to the music industry than that unfortunate incident, and she has handled it with grace despite unfairly receiving the brunt of the criticism. . She eventually returned to her dancing roots, where she continued to make dance music for her loyal following. Instead, he used the crash as an opportunity. By the time of her 1980 release No Night So Long, Dionne Warwick was already a hit-maker, but her career reached new heights in that decade. Ma had a unique, slightly breathy voice that spanned four octaves. Towards the end of the decade, Summer two Grammys for Hes A Rebel and Forgive Me, both for Best Inspirational Performance. Best 80s Female Singers - Top 80s Women Music Hits - playlist by Redlist Playlists | Spotify Home Search Your Library Create Playlist Privacy Center Privacy Policy Cookies Cookies Preview of Spotify Sign up to get unlimited songs and podcasts with occasional ads. These are singers who had a few hits but never quite made it to the top. Still, Princes success did not explode into rock-god status until the release of 1984s Purple Rain. The following is a round-up of the top black male singers of the 70s. Perhaps one of the most diverse genres of the 80s was metal. Their music was also featured in films and commercials. She got her start in the music world as a child singing in her fathers church choir. But Houston wasnt the only R&B singer making waves in the 80s. Every decade has its defining moments, and the 1980s was no different. She later embarked on a solo career and released several successful albums, including Out for Blood and Dancin on the Edge. She continued to create music and release albums even as she dabbled in the world of musical theater. Outside of Michael Jackson, no one else had a more prominent decade than Prince. 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. Perhaps known best for her solo hit Mickey, Antonia Christina Basilotta (known professionally as Toni Basil) became an instant chart-topper with one of the 80s most catchy songs. Her first breakthrough came in the form of a role in the movie The Pick Up Artist in 1987. As a child, she was extremely interested in poetry and proved to be a talented singer. Though he had been active since the late 1950s, Gaye found new success in the 1980s with the release of his album Midnight Love. The album spawned the hit single Sexual Healing, which became one of Gayes signature songs. Updated on 06/26/19. Artists like Whitney Houston and Tina Turner topped the charts, set the trends, and built the foundation of powerful black women in music. Her sophomore album was released in 1995 and is credited for helping introduce R&B and hip-hop to the mainstream pop scene. Cyndi Lauper is one of the most iconic female pop singers of all time. Summing Up Our List OF Famous Black 80s Singers, 10 Of The Greatest And Most Famous Musicians From Nebraska, 13 Of The Most Famous Rock Bands From Chicago, 13 Of The Best Songs About Storms Of All Time, 20 Of The Best Songs About Days Of The Week, 10 Of The Best Online Harmonica Lessons And Courses In 2023. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. These women, listed in no particular order, have cemented their place in music history. While the mid-80s saw the rise of hair metal and hard rock. Soul music is a genre that has its roots in the African-American experience. 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. Grimy Goods LA indie music blog,reviews,free concert tickets,mp3s . Chloe and Halle have the co-sign of Beyonc and after hearing these vocals we understand why. Her daring style and sexually-charged lyrics helped to redefine mainstream pop music, paving the way for later stars like Britney Spears and Lady Gaga. If there was one thing the 80s pop scene lacked, it was diversity. Her race and ethnicity are often questioned as she is accused of appropriating Black culture or blackfishing. Today, Read More Is Iggy Azalea Black? Born Eve Jeffers to Julie and Jerry Jeffers, Eve lived in West Philadelphia until her parents divorce when she was 12. During her solo career, she produced many hits, including I Still Believe and Endless Love, which continue to crush the souls of romantics worldwide. Sonja and Willie Norwood, a successful gospel singer so, to celebrate their contributions weve... Had considerable success in the music world as a child, was released in 1991 to the... New perspective to the top Black male singers of the best-selling albums of Gayes signature.. 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