Belinda Carlisle. Third up, Whitney Houston, might have had a massively successful song in the 1990s, but her work in the 1980s is nothing to forget. While the mid-80s saw the rise of hair metal and hard rock. She also provided two songs on the movies soundtrack, including the hit We Dont Need Another Hero (Thunderdome).. Her first solo came at the age of two years old. As soul music demands a lot of emotion from its performers, these women were able to convey a wide range of emotions through their music. Last but not least, we have Marvin Gaye. Another hit came the following year with Part-Time Lover in the album In Square Circle, which also landed him the Best R&B Vocal Performance Grammy. Renowned for her bold on-stage antics, Fassie earned the nickname Madonna of The Townships.Also dubbed the Queen of African Pop, Brenda Fassie won five South African Music Awards and three Kora Awards during her illustrious career.She was also named in the Top 100 Great South Africans list. Bonnie, Ruth, Anita, and June Pointer were the members of the initial Pointer sisters, but not all stayed in the group. 2 - Beyonc. And by the end of the decade, they had become some of the most popular female folk singers in the world. Lauper, in particular, was a pioneer in the world of Alternative music. 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. During the 80s, James created several hits as a recording artist. She rose to prominence in 1985 with the release of her debut album, Whitney Houston. 2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. But they soon began to gain wider recognition, thanks in part to their appearances on various television shows. Since the 80s were a decade filled with iconic music, its no surprise that there are so many amazing female singers from that era. In 2001 she recorded the 1975 hit Lady Marmalade with singers Christina Aguilera, Lil Kim, and Pink. Later Houston would go on to have a successful career, selling over 200 million records worldwide. Her family settled down in Detroit, Michigan where she would take voice lessons and dream of becoming a big star. 1985s Thats What Friends Are For went to #1 on three different Billboard charts and raised money for the American Foundation for AIDS Research. Hit single after hit single, Platinum record after Platinum record, Jackson transformed what it meant to be a pop star starting with 1979s Off The Wall. As you saw from this list, the 80s were a great decade for black singers. Other? Not to mention, they also had a killer sense of style. 100% clearance was achieved and an all breeds Australian record average price was set, at the Millah Murrah Stud female sale on April 24th. In fact, there were many blonde women who found success in the music industry during the decade. Everything seemed bigger in the 80s, including the hair and the talent of the female pop singers. Famous African-American Singers between 1940 - 1980 Ray Charles (September 23 rd, 1930 - June 10 th, 2004) Awards and Recognition: 10 Grammy Awards won in his lifetime, record for the highest number of posthumous Grammy Awards, National Academy of Recording Art & Science Hall Award of Fame in 1972, NAACP Image Awards - Hall of Fame Award in 2004, Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the . Next up, Teddy Pendergrass could have walked away from music entirely following the 1982 car crash that left him incapacitated from the chest down. In the case of the 80s, its probably a combination of both. It has influenced everything from rock and roll to hip hop, and it continues to be one of the most popular genres of music today. This was the catalyst for a self-titled debut album which peaked at number one in the U.S. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a32da80598ba3e06c3c8e7332494f69a" );document.getElementById("if75a4498f").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *, Careers Contact Us Privacy Policy CookiePolicy Win. Sign up for daily content and exclusive offers you'll love! But Houston wasnt the only R&B singer making waves in the 80s. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. black gospel music largely ceased to develop around the 1970s; progressing racial attitudes had helped . Back when J. ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. Chloe and Halle have the co-sign of Beyonc and after hearing these vocals we understand why. The 90s saw highs and lows for Chapman. Brandy looked up to artists like Whitney Houston and dreamed of becoming a professional singer when she was only seven years old. 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. Produced about 7 to 8 top selling LPs. Their songs spoke to the heart of people from all walks of life and showed that African American artists could make it big in mainstream America. There are many black female singers who became popular in the 80's. Some of them are Whitney Houston, Tracey Chapman, Natalie Cole, and Sade. 1. She was a soprano with a voice that would go on to be described as both silky and sweet. It was a critical success, selling over 1 million copies in the United States and over 2 million copies worldwide. There is a long list of talented black singers who found success in the 1980s, but there are also many who have been forgotten. When I Think of You and What Have You Done For Me Lately rocketed to the top of the charts, putting Janet on the map as a solo artist. Image: Time. These singers released dozens of hit singles throughout the decade, and their albums consistently topped the charts. These women were not only talented, but they were also physically attractive. And while the disco era may have come to an end in the early 1980s, there were still a few disco singers who found success in the decade. Control gave the world Nasty, What Have You Done for Me Lately, and When I Think of Youthree of a record-setting five singles that charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Aaliyah Haughton, 22 (Wikimedia) Just 22-years-old at the time of her death, Aaliyah was just hitting her stride as a singer and actress. Even with this culture shift, her music remains some of the most popular dance jams ever made. PICK UP THE GUITAR is the home to guitar lessons, tutorials, articles on how to improve your guitar playing, exercises, chords, tabs, scales, tips, and much more. But regardless of their current situation, these singers all made great music in the 1980s and deserve to be remembered. They pushed through the turbulence with the release of 1988s Heart Break, which gave the group five more hits. She got her big break in 1986 when she was introduced to a manager at Elektra records that helped her break into the industry. Her follow-up album in 2001 was also a big success. Youll find films featuring love triangles, murder mysteries, and religious con-men. Her combined voice talent and love for music led her to pursue a career as a music teacher. The album, released in 1988, catapulted to number one in the United States and the U.K. thanks to its single Fast Car. Her initial album earned her three Grammy Awards for Best New Artist, Best Contemporary Folk Album, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performer. Some of these singers include Debby Boone, Toni Basil, and Tiffany. She began touring with a Latin funk band called Pride in the late 70s and early 80s. Singers like Duran Duran, Madonna, and Cyndi Lauper dominated the charts with their catchy pop songs. Every decade has its share of one-hit wonders, and the 80s is no exception. There are many amazing recent offerings, but this list also covers hits from the, Read More 19 Black Thriller Movies With Plot Twists & ExcitementContinue, Lifetime is one of the more popular basic cable channels out there. You may not even realize it, but his work produced nine albums in the 1980s, starting with 1980s Dirty Mind and capping off the decade with 1989s Batman. But thats not to say that these one-hit wonders were any less talented than the artists who found sustained success. These are the women who had a few hits but never quite made it to the top of the charts. While her initial album had a heavier rap influence, her follow-up albums featured more classically soul tracks that had heavy emotive power. In honor of their contributions, here are the best black female singers of the 80s. New Edition had several hits at the start of the decade with Candy Girl, Cool It Now, and Mr. Vanessa Williams was born Vanessa Lynn Williams March 18, 1963 to musical educators Milton and Helen Williams. Despite the obstacles they faced, these singers managed to break down barriers and achieve commercial success. This album broke the top ten on the charts in the United States and the U.K. Powerhouses like Guns N Roses, Metallica, and Bon Jovi took over the airwaves with their loud and aggressive music. In addition to her musical prowess, Shanice also spent the late 90s flexing her acting chops. Sades signature look porcelain skin, scarlet lips and a slicked-back ponytail instantly became iconic with the release of her first album, Diamond Life.. Thats where funny Black movies come in. With her first two albums alone, Whitney Houston and Whitney, equaling over 20 million records sold, the accumulation of albums sells and the number of hits and classic albums and soundtracks, like the Bodyguard, makes Whitney Houston's resume and her skill level almost untouchable amongst other 80s R&B female singers. 21. She was the first black woman to play Eponine in the Broadway musical Les Miserables. Best Black Female Jazz Singers You Will Enjoy Sweet Emma Barrett Ella Fitzgerald Billie Holiday Carmen McRae Dinah Washington Sarah Vaughan Etta Jones Betty Carter Nina Simone Nancy Wilson Ruth Brown Abbey Lincoln Dakota Staton Ernestine Anderson Dianne Reeves Samara Joy Esperanza Spalding Conclusion Best Black Female Jazz Singers You Will Enjoy If youre thinking of Madonna, then youre on the right track. There were many others who managed to find success in the 80s, including Lionel Richie, Prince, and Stevie Wonder. 1985 rolled around, and Richie worked with Michael Jackson to write the charity tune We Are The World, raising millions for Africa. Toni Braxton Toni Braxton was a 90s music sensation. How do you define hot? She released her first album Discovery when she was only 14. James Cleveland, Mahalia Jackson, the Clara Ward Singers, etc. Throughout her childhood, Sade found joy in listening to American soul music. She is also the eldest sister of entertainer Ray J and Snoop Doggs cousin. Featuring a variety of genres that include jazz, soul, rock, blues, indie, hip hop, pop, r&b, experimental, and early "girl groups" -- this playlist features all the greatest influential black female singers. It featured bands with unique sounds and unusual instruments. They popularized the punk look, which included tight leather jackets, ripped jeans, and spikes. Apart from solo artists, there were also a number of successful bands in the 80s that featured female lead singers. While most rap and hip-hop artists have traditionally been black, white rappers have found major success in the industry since the 80s. And as we are talking about the 1980s, it would be impossible to discuss R&B without mentioning some of the genres biggest stars. The 1980s also saw new recording companies take off thanks to the work of these black artists. Midnight Love would go on to sell over six million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of Gayes career. PICK UP THE GUITAR is the home to guitar lessons, tutorials, articles on how to improve your guitar playing, exercises, chords, tabs, scales, tips, and much more. She was nominated for numerous posthumous awards and won the Billboard-AURN Top R&B/Hip-Hop Female Artist in 2003. 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