What 10 music artist do you think define Black music in the 20th century?

[IllmaticDelta]

Ella Fitzgerald
Diana Ross
James Brown
Miles Davis
Marvin Gaye
Michael Jackson
Bob Marley
Whitney Houston
Dr. Dre
Beyonce

And the funny thing about all of them is that almost to a man you could refer to them by their first name only and people would know who you were talking about.

Spoiler: First Names

Ella
Diana
James
Miles
Marvin
Michael
Bob
Whitney
‘Dre
Beyonce

Spoiler: Honorable Mentions

Nina Simone
George Clinton
Public Enemy
Run DMC
Stevie Wonder
Tina Turner
Tupac

EDIT: oops
Aretha Franklin
Prince
Ray Charles

Ray Charles is the Father of Soul Music. He should always be top 10

 

[null]

Ray Charles is the Father of Soul Music. He should always be top 10

I was trying to cover the entire span. Maybe exchange Beyonce for Ray.

Truth is there are just too many to choose from.

 

[K.O.N.Y]

In no order but based on influence/innovation/impact on a GLOBAL scale



Louis Armstrong
Duke Ellington
Billie Holiday
Miles Davis
Ray Charles
Hendrix
Robert Johnson
Chuck Berry
James Brown
James Jamerson

Bob is not top ten

 

[IllmaticDelta]

Bob is not top ten

Marley was great but I made my top mainly around innovators; he did not innovate/pioneer anything musically. The same reason why MJ or Stevie weren't in my top 10.

 

[Days of Future Piff]

Duke Ellington
Aretha Franklin
James Brown
Chuck Berry
Ray Charles
Stevie Wonder
Jimi Hendrix
Michael Jackson
Prince
Marvin Gaye

Even with this list, I feel like I'm missing some major players (like Tupac, for example).

 

[K.O.N.Y]

Marley was great but I made my top mainly around innovators; he did not innovate/pioneer anything musically. The me reason why MJ or Stevie weren't in my top 10.

what about stevies usage of voice alteration-vocoder early auto tune etc ?

 

[K.O.N.Y]

@IllmaticDelta

who would best represent hip hop in music innovation that you may squeeze in your top ten

 

[IllmaticDelta]

what about stevies usage of voice alteration-vocoder early auto tune etc ?

not enough to break my top ten based on innovative importance

 

[IllmaticDelta]

@IllmaticDelta

who would best represent hip hop in music innovation that you may squeeze in your top ten

On a historic level of innovation? Probably, Melle Mel

 

[feelosofer]

Michael Jackson
Prince
James Brown
Stevie Wonder
Nas
Aretha
Beyonce
2Pac
Jimi Hendrix
BB King

 

[K.O.N.Y]

On a historic level of innovation? Probably, Melle Mel

the common ancestor all modern rappers stem from

 

[BmoreGorilla]

1. James Brown
2. Michael Jackson
3. Sam Cooke
4. Duke Ellington
5. Dr. Dre
6. Teddy Riley
7. Aretha Franklin
8. The Temptations
9. Stevie Wonder
10. Rakim

 

[ultraflexed]

In no order:

1. Ella Fitzgerald
2. Stevie Wonder
3. Aretha Franklin
4. James Brown
5. Micheal Jackson
6. Tupac( can’t ignore Rap)
7. Chuck Berry
8. Duke Ellington
9. Nina Simone
10. Ray Charles

It’s mainly in regards to their influence rather than personal taste. For instance, Aretha’s the most influential singer of the last 60 years.

Dont forget prince with the purple rain album and movie, he was the first to do that.

swamp out tupac with
Tina turner was the biggest female rock an roll and singer, dancer, she was the first beyonce

Whitney Houston on voice power and grace alone

Temptations deserve a honorable mention

Also marvin gaye, he was really the first to from soul to r&b, he was also the first to make major hits singing about social issues







Outside of that cool list

 

[ultraflexed]

Ella Fitzgerald
Diana Ross
James Brown
Miles Davis
Marvin Gaye
Michael Jackson
Bob Marley
Whitney Houston
Dr. Dre
Beyonce

And the funny thing about all of them is that almost to a man you could refer to them by their first name only and people would know who you were talking about.

Spoiler: First Names

Ella
Diana
James
Miles
Marvin
Michael
Bob
Whitney
‘Dre
Beyonce

Spoiler: Honorable Mentions

Nina Simone
George Clinton
Public Enemy
Run DMC
Stevie Wonder
Tina Turner
Tupac

EDIT: oops
Aretha Franklin
Prince
Ray Charles

Diana ross...

 

[ultraflexed]

Naming record companies is cheating

Beyonce is cutting it close.

How is beyonce on this list?

What had done that hasn't been done?
Beyonce is not even the first beyonce that was tina turner who crossed musical boundries between soul and rock and roll