These bold beauties dictated makeup and hair trends during what was arguably the boldest style decade of the century! And their music continues to inspire and entertain us today. Throughout the 80s, Ross received several American Music Awards, and in 1988, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She has been married to Doug Rasheed since 2001. 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). Olivia Newton-John is easily one of the most legendary 80s singers. They pushed through the turbulence with the release of 1988s Heart Break, which gave the group five more hits. Many of the best Black female singers have reached the top of the charts with their catchy tunes. It is undeniable that Doja Cat will continue to dominate the global music scene like other talented black female singers. On. Source: Instagram. Fierce! Here are some forgotten black singers of the 1980s. No one could touch Sheila Escovedo on the drums, and her makeup look was equally as dynamic: kohl-rimmed eyes, and brick red cheeks and lips. She released some of her best-selling albums during that decade, including Whos Zoomin Who and Aretha. She also earned her first Gold record in 1982 with the album Jump To It., Luther Vandross was another soul singer who found success in the 80s. He has been married to Jacqueline Ross since December 15, 1992. Third up, Whitney Houston, might have had a massively successful song in the 1990s, but her work in the 1980s is nothing to forget. From Whitney Houston to Tina Turner, they were the first to break through many barriers and showed the world that black women could be just as successful, if not more, than their white counterparts. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. During her time with her ex-husband Ike Turner, Tina Turner was already a well-known singer, but Ikes abuse forced her to leave and focus on her family. Bad gal Ce'Cile is one of the most beautiful female reggae artists; she is also one of the most successful. 9. Erykah Badu (born 1971): neo soul, R&B, funk, hip-hop Mildred Bailey (1907-1951): jazz Chloe Bailey (born 1998): R&B Halle Bailey (born 2000): R&B Pearl Bailey (1918-1990): vaudeville LaVern Baker (1929-1997): R&B Florence Ballard (1943-1976): R&B, pop, soul Fantasia Barrino (born 1984): R&B, soul, gospel Fontella Bass (1940-2012): R&B, soul Mixing neo-soul sounds with powerful feminist lyrics, Hill delved deep into the complications inherent in womanhood, motherhood, black femininity, and the music business. Lo was still on the 6, Bronx-born bombshell Lisa Lisa was breaking hearts with her signature frosted pink lipstick and one-eye-obscuring bangs. Top 10 Iconic Female Singers of the 80s 229,689 views Jun 22, 2016 2.3K Dislike Share MsMojo 4.66M subscribers The female superstars of the MTV era. Mya Still, his success during that decade did not end there. Michael Jackson might have been the King of Pop for decades, but his sister Janet Jackson proved she could easily step out of her brothers shadow. Her biggest hit was 1984s Centipede written by none other than her brother, Michael Jackson. Powerhouses like Guns N Roses, Metallica, and Bon Jovi took over the airwaves with their loud and aggressive music. But the decade is also about the new sounds that came forward thanks to advances in technology, instruments, and production techniques. 19 February 1980. Hits like "Doo Wop (That. Here are some more. Karen Carpenter of the Carpenters, Age 32 - February 4, 1983. Well into her forties during her mid-80s heyday, Tina Turner made coppery red lips and frosted locks some of the most recognizable beauty trends of the decade. Annie Lennox Ann Lennox (known professionally as Annie Lennox) is known primarily for her success with Dave Stewart in the music group the Eurythmics and for her signature androgynous appearance that made her one of the most unique female artists of the 1980s. Yes, we know Rebbie as a Jackson family member, but she also sang. There were many artists who managed to find success with a single song, only to fade into obscurity soon after. Sade's career spans the 1980s to the early 2000s, with albums Love Deluxe and Greatest Hits falling into the middle of the 1990s. They racked up dozens of hits on the country charts and won multiple Grammy Awards between them. To celebrate their contribution to this decade, in this post, weve put together a list of 15 of the greatest and most famous black singers of the 1980s. Married to Stevie Wonder for a short two years, Wright had an impact on R&B during her time recording music. Offers may be subject to change without notice. New Edition had several hits at the start of the decade with Candy Girl, Cool It Now, and Mr. Austin still records music and most recently appeared in the documentary, 20 Feet from Stardom. She was previously married to Richard Holland and . YouTube: Jill Scott | Apple: Jill Scott | Spotify: Jill Scott 10. Two years later, Houstons follow-up, Whitney, was another commercial success. Although this jazz artist has had a long and prosperous career, her 1982 single Baby, Come to Me with John Ingram was her most successful. The 1980s was Michael Jacksons decade (part of the 1990s too), and there is no comparison. Outside of Michael Jackson, no one else had a more prominent decade than Prince. Having worked with Quincy Jones, Ray Charles and Leon Ware, the talent could sing and write. The title track on that album alone hit #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart and earned him a Grammy nomination in 1982. Each of Princes albums achieved massive amounts of critical success. Featuring a variety of genres that include jazz, soul, rock,. Even though she was a gospel singer, Murdocks most popular song was As We Lay released in 1986. now many black female legends have touched the hearts of others and moved generations with their music and artistry from the gospel of mahalia jackson; the lady blues of billie holiday; the. That album generated three Billboard-topping hits with How Will I Know? Greatest Love Of All, and Saving All My Love For You, which nabbed a Best Pop Vocal Performance Grammy for Houston. Several black singers were already wildly successful before the 80s, but the decade delivered with hit singles, Platinum records, and big paychecks. R&B has its roots in the blues, which was created by black Americans in the early 1900s. Summer had several certified Gold records released during the decade as well. Vote up the top Black female vocalists around the world. And for these singers, their only weapon was their music. On this edition of Night Lights we . Come get a plate of goodness! Some famous Black female singers sing the blues while other top Black woman artists are pop superstars. Janet Jackson ended the decade with another hit record in Rhythm Nation 1814, which went Platinum six times. Actress | The Blues Brothers Chaka Khan was born on March 23, 1953 in Great Lakes, Illinois, USA. Back when J. It was also a time when some of the most iconic and influential rappers emerged, including Eric B. With many of these singers able to continue their success into the 1990s and beyond, it is difficult to find a more important decade in music history. By the mid 1980, Fitzgerald's health began to decline due to a long battle with diabetes. A record eight Grammys in 1984 for that album gave him all the credibility he needed. . Warwick was one of the most successful singers between 1955 and 1999, ranking among the 40 biggest hitmakers according to the Billboard Hot 100. date added. Master Blaster (Jammin') Stevie Wonder. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 6. These are the top 100 artists of the 1980s. The band composed of eight people recorded nine albums with their 1981 hit Call Me charting No. She quickly rose to fame with her groundbreaking album Control and became one of the most successful black pop singers of all time. Sinach is by far the current best black female gospel singer in the world. Last but not least, we have Marvin Gaye. From legendary icons to new faces, this list features the most popularBlack female singers ever. The group is best known for their hits "Midnight Train to Georgia" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". Rhythm and blues, Soul music, Gospel music. These days, shes inspired everyone from Rihanna to Lady Gaga. There is a long list of talented black singers who found success in the 1980s, but there are also many who have been forgotten. Vandross would go on to release several more successful albums in the 80s, including Forever, For Always, For Love and Give Me the Reason.. In 1981, he worked with Diana Ross to write and produce the duet Endless Love. The song became one of the best-selling singles and is considered the greatest duet of all time. In the midst of the hard rock and hair metal crazes of the 80s, we often forget about the incredible male black singers who were making some of the best music of the decade. - A Spotlight on Women in Contemporary Art - The current role of women in the art field The Art World, and Art History, have always represented the dominant White and Male perspective, but thankfully things slowly improving. But thats not to say that these one-hit wonders were any less talented than the artists who found sustained success. Even though they got together almost ten years before their biggest hit Secret Lovers, Weathers vocals will always be cherished. So, in honor of their contributions, here are the best black female singers of the 80s. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms. Top 3 Hits. Next: The top female singers of the 1980s (our list) 15. Wrapping Up For Our 80s Black Singers List, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdxUFDoQe0, Michael Jackson Beat It (Official Video) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdxUFDoQe0), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHtT-a4n1vo, Sylvester Do Ya Wanna Funk (remastered remix) [HQ] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHtT-a4n1vo), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG3VcCAlUgE, Prince & The Revolution When Doves Cry (Official Music Video) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG3VcCAlUgE), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY7PmX6Oz58, Whitney Houston You Give Good Love (Official HD Video) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY7PmX6Oz58), Bobby McFerrin (Song Dont Worry Be Happy), The Weather Girls (Song Its Raining Men). While the mid-80s saw the rise of hair metal and hard rock. The sales of that album alone catapulted the then 45-year-old Turner into levels of success she had never seen before. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The black community has given the world many gifts, but one of the most important and influential is R&B music. These are the greatest Black female singers of all time, from Aretha and Whitney Houston to Mariah Carey and Sade, as ranked by music enthusiasts like you. Above all, they were proud of who they were and didnt let anyone stop them from being their true selves. This American singer, musician and author was the lead singer of the Go-Go's making it one of the most successful pop music bands of this era. During the 80s, James created several hits as a recording artist. former teen model was one of the most lauded beauties of the 1980's. 02 Sade. Died. The women featured here are standouts in a number of genres. Sade's signature look porcelain skin, scarlet lips and . Rock With You. . Were sure youll enjoy their music as much as we do. Theyhave careers that span the old guard of the '50sand '60s, on into the disco-dominated '70s and '80s, and through '90s,2000s, and modern day. For this, she was nominated Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. "Always Be My Baby" By Mariah Carey 8. Unfortunately, this was Gayes final studio album as he was tragically killed in 1984. 12. 1985s Thats What Friends Are For went to #1 on three different Billboard charts and raised money for the American Foundation for AIDS Research. Richard Wayne Mullins (October 21, 1955 - September 19, 1997) was an American Christian music singer and songwriter born in Richmond, Indiana. From discovery by the legendary group of The Roots, to receiving numerous awards and nominations, including a few Grammys, Jill Scott became one of the most popular soulful singers of her time. 14 Etta James "Let's Get Married" By Jagged Edge 7. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart. 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