In honor of Black History month, I’m going to share some of my favorite songs by Black artists in a few different genres. The first three songs are oldies from the 60’s and the last two songs are from the 2000s and 2020s.
- “Little Sunflower” by Dorothy Ashby
My dad actually discovered this song on our local LA jazz station, KJazz 88.1. I love that this song uses a harp as the main instrument in jazz composition. Frankly, It was the first time I’d heard a harp be the main instrument in this genre and it flows so nicely. Dorothy Ashby originally studied piano at Wayne State University, but she switched to the harp in 1952. Having led numerous albums, Dorothy became one of the best jazz harpists and was active until her death in 1986.
- “Cry Baby Cry” by Ramsey Lewis
This song was recommended to me through Spotify for one of my playlists called “Strange Little Film” which has eclectic songs I think would sound interesting in a film. I fell in love with the track when I first played it. It’s also an instrumental piece and has Ramsey Lewis leading with a keyboard. The drums, guitar, and strings that slowly build together in the melody produce a simultaneously melancholy but energetic tone. Ramsey Lewis is a pianist and composer who has been a great contributor to contemporary jazz since the late ’50s and is active to this day.
- “This Is My Life” by Shirley Bassey
Some of my favorite songs by Shirley Bassey are “Diamonds are Forever,” “Goldfinger,” and “(Where do I Begin) Love Story.” Her voice is gorgeously brassy which blends amazingly with the beautiful 60’s strings and drums of her songs. I love the song’s message of self love and not caring for lost emotions. I will admit, there have been many times that I’ve silently danced passionately to this song when school gets overwhelming. Shirley Bassey, most known for her two Bond songs, was one of the most famous British artists of the 60s and 70s. She received a Grammy nomination and has performed for the Oscars and the Queen of England herself. Having been in the music industry for 70 years, Shirley Bassey remains active today.
- “Stars and the Moon” by Audra McDonald
I discovered this song through my choir director in high school. He showed us this song to demonstrate the need for a balance of a round sound with wide consonants in our choral performances. Audra McDonald has an incredible, lush and open voice which translates her emotion into every song. I love the simplicity of the song, as it allows me to focus more on the great talent and skill of the pianist and singer. The irony of the song’s subject matter also always puts a smile on my face which is why I enjoy it so much. Audra McDonald is classically trained and has garnered 6 Grammy Nominations and 2 Grammy wins. In 2015, she received the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama. Some may know her most from her role as Madame Garderobe in Disney’s 2017 Live Action Beauty and the Beast.
- “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” by Celeste
Influenced by Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald, Celeste’s voice has a beautiful breathy and raw quality. Stop This Flame has a great old-fashioned soul yet modern sound with lyrics that immediately get stuck in your head. The strings and drums have a great lively beat that meld with and amplify Celeste’s voice. Celeste is a British-Jamaican singer-songwriter who was named the Brit Award Rising Star of 2020. She has numerous EP’s and has recently released her first album, Not Your Muse.
With this list, I hope you take a listen to each of these songs and explore more of these artists’ work!