Music has the power to unite so many people together, and as Black History Month comes to a close, it is important to shine light on several influential African American musicians from past to present.
To start, Louis Armstrong was one of the most influential jazz artists in history. His fame started during the 1920’s in New Orleans and he was most known for his interesting trumpet style and smooth voice.
Aretha Franklin started her career at a very young age. She was a gifted singer and pianist and is most known for hits such as, “Respect,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” and “ Son of a Preacher Man.”
Jimi Hendrix is known for his mesmerizing guitar skills that he had been practicing since he was a teen. He pioneered interesting ways to play an electric guitar and loved performing in front of a crowd, especially at Woodstock.
Michael Jackson was known as “The King of Pop.” He started off as a member of his family’s group, The Jackson 5, but ended up starting a solo career that led to much success. Some of his most famous songs include : “Thriller,” “Billie Jean” and “Smooth Criminal.”
Stevie Wonder was a child musical prodigy who released his debut album at the age of 12. Being blind was something that did not stop him from becoming a success and he was committed to always staying a relevant artist.
Jennifer Hudson was first seen on American Idol in 2004. Since then, she has won a Golden Globe, Oscar, and Grammy for her role in Dream Girls and her debut album.
Kendrick Lamar took what he had experienced as a child growing up in Compton, California and created inspiring song lyrics. He was discovered by Dr. Dre in 2010 and was signed to his label shortly after. Today, he is a Grammy award winning rapper who plans on making a difference through his music.
All of these people have had a huge influence on not only musical history, but African American history as well. Most of them were extremely ahead of their time, creating pieces that sparked social change and unified everyone under the power of music.