Celebrating African-American Music Appreciation Month

Each June, we celebrate African–American Music Appreciation Month. This yearly celebration is an opportunity to highlight African American musicians and composers who have made significant contributions to genres such as blues, classical, gospel, jazz, rock, R&B, and soul. Here are just some of the artistic pioneers who profoundly impacted American music.

Blues

• Lead Belly — born Huddie Ledbetter, he was known as the "King of the 12–String" guitar. The Lead Belly Foundation | About Lead Belly

• Big Bill Broonzy — a singer, songwriter, and composer, he combined ragtime and hokum blues with country blues, which formed the basis for Chicago blues. Big Bill Broonzy | Association for Cultural Equity

• Blind Lemon Jefferson — considered the founding father of Texas blues, he was the first commercially successful blues recording artist (in the late 1920s). TSHA | Jefferson, Blind Lemon (tshaonline.org)

• Robert Johnson — a powerful singer and a skilled slide guitarist, he is considered the master of the blues. He played primarily in the Mississippi Delta region. Biography — Robert Johnson Blues Foundation

• Bessie Smith — called "The Empress of the Blues," she was a powerful vocalist who sang blues and jazz and was one of the most successful singers in the 1920s and 1930s. How Bessie Smith Influenced A Century Of Popular Music : NPR

Classical

• Marian Anderson — she became the first African American singer to perform at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1955. Marian Anderson — National Marian Anderson Museum (weebly.com)

• Dean Dixon — in 1941, at age 26, he became the first African American to lead the New York Philharmonic. He later conducted the Boston Symphony and Philadelphia Orchestra. America’s Lost Generation of Black Conductors | WQXR Editorial | WQXR

• Leontyne Price — she was the first African American to sing solo at the prestigious La Scala opera house in Milan, Italy. Metropolitan Opera | Leontyne Price: A Legendary Met Career (metopera.org)

• Hazel Scott — a child piano prodigy, she became the first Black American to host her own nationally syndicated TV show in 1950. Hazel Scott’s Lifetime of High Notes | Arts & Culture| Smithsonian Magazine

• Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins — born into slavery, by 10, he was one of the best known pianists in the 19th century. The Ballad of Blind Tom

Gospel

• Rev. James Cleveland — he was hailed as the "King of Gospel" and credited with helping to create the contemporary gospel sound. James Cleveland (1931–1991) • (blackpast.org)

• Thomas A. Dorsey — known as the "Father of Gospel Music," he wrote more than 1,000 gospel songs. This Far by Faith . Thomas Dorsey | PBS

• Mahalia Jackson — considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century, she became the first gospel artist to sell 1 million copies, helping to bring gospel into the mainstream. Mahalia Jackson — Queen of Gospel

• Sallie Martin — called the" Mother of Gospel Music," she was noted for her unpolished singing style. Sallie Martin, Gospel Singer, and Businesswoman born — African American Registry (aaregistry.org)

• Sister Rosetta Tharpe — began performing at the age of 6. Her gospel music combined spiritual lyrics with electric guitar. Sister Rosetta Tharpe (osu.edu)

Jazz musicians

• Louis Armstrong — a brilliant trumpeter, “Satchmo" was among the most significant figures in jazz, especially during the 1920s Harlem Renaissance. Louis Armstrong — Louis Armstrong Home Museum (louisarmstronghouse.org)

• John Coltrane — he is considered one of the most influential saxophonists in music history. His brilliance received national exposure and acclaim after joining Miles Davis’s quintet. Biography (johncoltrane.com)

• Miles Davis — an accomplished trumpeter by his teens, his seminal "Kind of Blue" album is considered a classic. In 2009, he was honored by Congress as a "national treasure." Home | Miles Davis Official Site

• Duke Ellington — his orchestra is regarded as the best in jazz history. He wrote or collaborated on more than a thousand compositions. One critic called him "the most significant composer of the genre." The Duke Ellington Home Page

• Dizzy Gillespie — along with Charlie Parker he is considered a founding father of the bebop movement and was one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of all time. Biography — The Official Licensing Website of Dizzy Gillespie

• Charlie Parker — known as “Bird,” he was a genius as a saxophonist and at the forefront of the bebop movement. Charlie Parker | Charlie Parker Biography | American Masters | PBS

Jazz singers

• Ella Fitzgerald — known as the "First Lady of Song,” she became one of the greatest bebop and "scat" singers in jazz history. Biography | Ella Fitzgerald

• Billie Holiday — nicknamed "Lady Day," her husky and emotionally powerful voice and unique phrasing made her one of the great jazz vocalists. Bio — The Official Website of Billie Holiday

• Nat King Cole — his silky smooth baritone voice was perfect as a jazz singer and complemented his swinging jazz piano playing with his trio. Nat King Cole: An Incandescent Voice : NPR

• Nina Simone — born Eunice Waymon, a gig at an Atlantic City nightclub changed her career as word spread about this classical jazz pianist and gifted singer. Biography — The Official Home of Nina Simone | The High Priestess of Soul

• Sarah Vaughan — known as the “Divine One,” a New York Times critic said she had "what may well be the finest voice ever applied to jazz." Sarah Vaughan | About Sarah Vaughan | American Masters | PBS

Rock and roll

• Sister Rosetta Tharpe — her heavy electric guitar distortion gave rise to "electric blues" and eventually the 1960s British blues. Sister Rosetta Tharpe | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (rockhall.com)

• Jimi Hendrix — is considered by many to be the greatest ever rock guitarist. His performance at Woodstock is generally regarded as one of the greatest live rock and roll performances of all time. Hendrix, Jimi (1942 – 1970) — HistoryLink.org

• Fats Domino — one of the pioneers of rock and roll, his first single, "The Fat Man," is cited as the first rock single and the first to sell more than 1 million copies. Fats Domino | Official Website (fatsdominoofficial.com)

• Chuck Berry — he is known as the "Father of Rock and Roll" for being the first to put together country guitar riffs, R&B beats, and lyrics that helped define rock and roll. Chuck Berry

• Bo Diddley — he and his innovative guitar style played a vital role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. HOME | BO DIDDLEY

• Little Richard — considered one of the first Black crossover artists, his frenzied piano playing and screaming vocals made him the ultimate showman. Little Richard | Songwriters Hall of Fame (songhall.org)

Soul

• Ray Charles — known as “The Genius,” as a singer, pianist, and composer he helped popularize soul — which combined blues, jazz, R&B, and gospel — with a string of hits in the 1950s. Ray Charles Biography — Lost His Sight at an Early Age, Seasoned on the Road, Developed Unique Sound — JRank Articles

• Etta James — after she started singing for her church choir at the age of 5, Etta became a professional singer by the age of 14. Etta James | American singer | Britannica

• Sam Cooke — an influential soul voice, he was called the "King of Soul" after transitioning from gospel. One critic said that if Ray Charles represented "raw soul," then Cooke was "sweet soul." The Soul Stirrer: Sam Cooke - TeachRock

• Clyde McPhatter — in addition to forming the R&B group The Drifters, he was a founding father of soul; with his high tenor voice, he effortlessly sang R&B and rock. Clyde McPhatter Biography, Songs, & Albums | AllMusic

• James Brown — nicknamed the "Godfather of Soul," he excelled in gospel, R&B, soul, funk, and rock. He was called the "hardest working man in show business.” Bio | James Brown

References:
The History of African American Music | Encyclopedia.com
A timeline of history–making Black music (thecurrent.org)