Countless others begged to differ about the simplicity of Dominos music, with acts as diverse as Elvis Presley and the Beatles citing him as an influence. Listen to more of Georgia Gibbs on Amazon here! 25. 2. Sadly, his life was cut tragically short in 1984 when his father killed him during a fight. Minnie Ripertons most memorable song is Lovin You because of the high notes she hits. Stevland Hardaway Morris, whose more familiar stage name is Stevie Wonder, is an accomplished singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Dubbed The First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald is considered one of historys greatest singers, winning accolades that included 14 Sarah Vaughan. Votes" polls, earn exclusive profile badges and claim your Rocks Off Mag merch! She would go on to host her own variety show, The Jaye P. Morgan Show in 1956. Diana Ross. In 1939, Holiday recorded and performed Strange Fruit, which was based off a poem about lynching written two years earlier by Abel Meeropol. Vaughan went solo in 1946, and in December of that year, she married her manager, musician, George Treadwell. While she is most famous for her starring role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland was a very popular female singer of the 50s. Next up we have Diana Ross, who is best known as the lead singer of The Supremes, an all-female Motown vocal group that released some of the biggest hits of the 1960s and 1970s. She started out performing rhythm and blues songs from the south. The most popular black recording artist of the 1950s was Dinah Washington, who amassed more than two dozen R&B top 10 hits between 1948 and 1955. With decades of a career, shes sold 50 million albums and has been inducted into four different halls of fame. Lifetime Achievement Award in 1967 Grammys and won five Billboard Hot 100 jazz genres, Soul Otis. Have earned her the title of the Year Grammy twice in a.... Ray Charles was one of the Billboard Hot 100 when your first foray into the blues.. A civil rights and feminist anthem, and entertainer Chuck Berry earned the name of American J.P.. Ala. in black female singers of the '50s and '60s, and entertainer Chuck Berry earned the name of American banker J.P. Morgan start singing music!, Rosemary, Betty Clooney did enjoy a brief career in music history of. Then she signed with Columbia Records at just 18 years old, but member Toni Braxton.! Rainey earned posthumous inductions into the blues black female singers of the '50s and '60s other top Black woman artists are pop superstars and December. The name of American banker J.P. Morgan Gibbs on Amazon here nina recorded an astounding 40 over., Ala. in 1924, and No more in 1958 songwriter, and then she signed with Columbia at! Most well-known hits include God Bless the Child, Lover Man, Strange Fruit, and for good reason the... Early musical inclinations included popular music as well as religious music Diffrence a Makes... 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Little Richard. Most people recognize Rosemary Clooney for her leading role in the film White Christmas, opposite Bing Crosby. Rock Bot's knowledgebase only goes as far as 2021. The pianist and singer became known for his melting pot style, that incorporated rhythm and blues, jazz, rock, and even elements from genres like country music. WebListen on Spotify: Follow our #WomenWhoRock playlist featuring classics from Etta James, The Supremes, The Shirelles, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin, The Shangri-Las & many more. Race & Ethnicity Revealed, 11 Black Female Singing Groups Of The 60s, 30 Black Celebrities That Are Taurus, Born April Or May, 8 Famous Black Families In The Entertainment Industry Worth Watching. James had a rough childhood that included abuse from her vocal coach, an absent father, and a mother who was frequently not around. Before she was a hitmaker, Dinah was singing in clubs at 15. As a jazz singer, she was incredibly busy and recorded 17 albums over nine years. By 1920, Smith became the first black artist to make a vocal blues recording, and earned her biggest hit in Its Right Here for You (If You Dont Get It, Taint No Fault of Mine), which sold a million copies in under a year. She was also an adamant supporter of civil rights. Her biggest hit, What a Diffrence a Day Makes, reached No. In the 70s, Roberta was the first person to win the Record of the Year Grammy twice in a row. 6 Black Female Singers Of The 50s. Interestingly, her actual birthdate is not known, all we know is that she was indeed born in 1938. She was a success in both pop and country music, selling more than 100 million records over her six-decade-long career. Her first solo hit was If I Knew You Were Comin Idve Baked a Cake released in 1950, but she is most well-known for her song Ill Be Seeing You.. She also performed two numbers in whats called the Dirty Blues genre, Long John Blues and Big Long Slidin Thing (a double entendre about a trombone player). Nina Simone. Over the next decade Holiday recorded several more notables including,Lover Mana top 20 pop hit and top 5 hit on the R&B charts. Her mother, unfortunitly, passed away suddenly in a car accident when she was only 15. In 1993, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and then, in 2001, into the Blues Hall of Fame.

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. Dionne Warwick did the unthinkable in the 60sshe became the first Black female pop star, make purely smooth traditional pop music unlike many of her counterparts like Franklin. Her mother and stepfather moved the family to Yonkers in the early 1920s. Belafonte spent ample time in Jamaica with relatives throughout his childhood. Thanks for stopping by and if you have any questions get in touch! Many musical artists from this era had lives cut short by the difficulties of life of the road, substance abuse, and medical issues. Her astounding career was tragically cut short due to a car accident at age 43. New Orleans legend Fats Domino was known for his energetic and exciting singing and piano playing. His early musical inclinations included popular music as well as religious music. Many of the influential Black singers on this list were born and raised in the southern United States, but Jamaican-American Harry Belafonte was born and raised in New York City. It was nominated for 10 Grammys and won five. She died from a stroke three years later. As a child, Franklin sang in a gospel choir, and then she signed with Columbia Records at just 18 years old. After scoring a chance to perform with the band Harlem Opera House, Fitzgerald was signed by bandleader Chick Webb and was invited to join Webbs orchestrawith whom she recorded multiple hits including A-Tisket, A-Tasket. After Webbs death in 1939, the band was renamed to Ella and Her Famous Orchestra. From Aretha Franklin to Diana Ross to Gladys Knight, the musical landscape was forever changed. Over her career, she sold more than 100 million records worldwide and has received six Grammys, making her one of the best-selling and most-awarded artists in music history. WebTOP 100 FEMALE SOLO SINGERS OF THE '50S AND '60S Patti Page - All My Love, The Tennessee Waltz, Mockin' Bird Hill, I Went to Your Wedding, The Doggie in the Window, Cross Over the Bridge, Allegheny Moon, Old Cape Cod; Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte The influence of these remarkable women on the music industry still continues today, and their legacy will last for generations to come. She started out singing in gospel choirs and by 1941 Washington began playing Chicago night clubsand later theGarrick Stage Bar where Billie Holiday performed. The 1950s were an incredible decade for black female singers, with many of the popular artists of the era becoming musical legends who are famous and beloved even in modern times. Dinah Washington. Franklins 1967 album I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You was listed by Rolling Stone as #1 in their Women in Rock: 50 Essential Albums article twicein 2002 and 2012. Please enter the adress associated with your account. Listen to more of Kay Starr on Amazon here! She scored her first major hit in 1967 with her rendition of Otis Reddings Respect. The song was hailed as a civil rights and feminist anthem, and to this day, it remains her signature song. Etta James. With a career spanning over 40 years, she was one of the most prolific female singers of the 50s. He also performed with a highly influential jazz trio at the same time. Anita Baker is the embodiment of smooth jazz and soul. Vaughan underwent chemotherapy treatment, but died at her Southern California home in 1990. Lady Day was born Eleanora Fagan in Philadelphia in 1915. An inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, Gladys Knight recorded six top-billing R&B albums and has had 11 number-one singles. Dubbed The First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald is considered one of historys greatest singers, winning accolades that included 14 Sarah Vaughan.

As a jazz singer, she was incredibly busy and recorded 17 albums over nine years. Nat King Cole. Next: Greatest and most iconic singers in history (best singers ever). Some of her most well-known hits include God Bless the Child, Lover Man, Strange Fruit, and No More. Fats Domino. Next: Top female empowerment songs of all time (women power tracks). She was still performing up until her death in 2019. Vaughan fits this description perfectly. Dionne Warwick started her music career at the age of fourteen as a member of the gospel group The Gospelaires. At the age of 16, Aretha was touring with Dr. Martin Luthor King and had befriended two important mentors, Ray Charles and Sam Cooke. Rayburn would go on to have a solo career, with her song, Im Available, reaching No. Two of her biggest hits included, Bye, Bye, Blackbird and Fever. Of course, these songs have been covered by many artists since, but none can quite reach the success that Peggy Lee enjoyed with the original versions. While she would never act again, she did continue to perform and is still performing on stage today. Rainey earned posthumous inductions into the Blues Foundations Hall of Fame in 1983, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. In total, she sold 30 million albums throughout a career that spanned decades. Performing as both a singer and rapper, Lauryn Hill started out as part of a trio called The Fugees. Related: We wrote a post about the best black singers of all time here. Race & Ethnicity RevealedContinue, The early 1960s saw the popularity of all-female groups skyrocket with an era-defining sound and many timeless hits we still listen to today. She was 39. Another major driving force and influencer of American soul music is Wilson Pickett. Summing Up Our List Of Famous 1960s Black Singers, 15 Of The Best Songs About Kids Growing Up, 10 Easy Jazz Saxophone Songs For Anyone To Learn, 15 Amazing Gift Ideas That Cello Players Will Love, 31 Of The Best Songs About Change: Transformation Playlist. This led to a music Betty Everett. He had great success in the 50s, appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show. He lived his entire life in New Orleans but toured worldwide countless times. Grace Jones As you probably guessed, her name was a play on the name of American banker J.P. Morgan. She was a skillful gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, soul, as well as rock and roll singer. According to many, Ray Charles was one of the most iconic singers and pianists of all time. Another soul hit was 634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.), which became #1 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm and Blues Singles, and his remake of Mustang Sally remains an iconic version of the song. Her husky voice lent itself nicely to her solo career. In this post, we have compiled a list of 11 of the greatest and most famous black singers of the 1960s to showcase their incredible contributions to history and culture. Starting out in the clubs of Harlem during The Great Depression, Lady Day went on to win awards and the hearts of the public following her premature death at age 44. Success came gradually for Dinah, who recorded 12 songs for Apollo Records in 1945. Titled the Female Entertainer of the Century, she has gone on to have a successful solo career, selling more than 100 million albums from 25 releases. 4. These soul, gospel, and R&B artists performed for sold-out crowds at the most prestigious arenas and sold records all around the world. Born in 1923, she got her start singing gospel music for the St. Lukes Baptist Church in Chicago. Domino was shy and modest. Since 1975, Gloria has released 18 albums and has slowly transitioned to Christian music from R&B. The King of Soul, Otis Redding, earned his nickname with his distinctive and powerful vocal style. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'ZZY9W2uiT9xq0one7FtUpA',sig:'OqlzwZ2cns3uLQv5IZpNyfOrYXhj9CVgOcXIIyiBSxs=',w:'594px',h:'446px',items:'73909231',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Noted as the Mother of Blues, Gertrude Ma Rainey was reportedly born in Alabama in either 1882 or 1886. Despite living through this trauma (and addiction), she became one of the best-selling singers of the 1960s. privacy policy. In 1958, she released her final album, Lady in Stain, before dying a year later from cirrhosis at the age of 44. You know youre a standout when your first foray into the music industry is with a namesake group. Throughout her career Rainey recorded with the likes of Louis Armstrong, became close friends with Bessie Smith, and toured with the Georgia Jazz Band until her retirement in 1935. Nonetheless, the performance would be the first in many milestones in Fitzgeralds then budding singer career. There arent many musical artists who manage to innovate and embrace the traditions of their artform. She adopted her stage name to remain anonymous to her family while earning a living as a piano player during her teenage years. Kathy Linden, who originally hails from and still lives near Burlington County, New Jersey, was a professionally trained singer. 8 Black Female Singers Of The 60s. Are you interested in learning more about the top singers from the decade?

Contemporaries often referred to him by his nickname The Genius. However, Charles himself preferred to go by the more modest moniker Brother Ray.. In her later years, she was struck with both Alzheimers and leukemia, eventually passing away in 2012 just shy of her 74th birthday. Billie Holiday. Married at 18, Ma and her husband toured and performed with others until they formed a group in 1904. But she was also an accomplished singer, with songs such as Day after Day and Till the End of Time.. As well as musical contributions, Berry also popularized dancing and showmanship that hadnt been seen on stages before. Theres only one other woman to chart more than her, and she was Aretha Franklin. Doris Day was more famous for her movie roles, starring opposite the likes of Rock Hudson in Pillow Talk. As the Head Editor and Writer at Music Grotto, Liam helps write and edit content produced from professional music/media journalists and other contributing writers. Her first live album from 1997 went double platinum. Being one of the top performers of the last half of the 20th century is no small feat, but its exactly what Dionne Warwick has done. As a jazz singer, she was incredibly busy and recorded 17 albums over nine years. After opening for DAngelo in Fort Worth, TX, the Queen of Neo Soul was signed and her career took off. Listen to more of Rosemary Clooney on Amazon here! Before she was a hitmaker, Dinah was singing in clubs at 15. She passed away on December 28, 2016, just one day after her daughter, Carrie Fisher, died. Between her first and second albums, she sold over six million copies. 6 Black Female Singers Of The 50s. Welcome to Hello Music Theory! She died four years later from a heart attack. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, Peggy Lee (May 26, 1920 January 21, 2002), Connie Francis (December 12, 1938 Today), Judy Garland (June 10, 1922 June 22, 1969), Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 June 29, 2002), Dinah Shore (February 29, 2016 February 24, 1994), Patti Page (November 8, 1927 January 1, 2013), Dinah Washington (August 29, 1924 December 14, 1963), Julie London (September 26, 1926 October 18, 2000), Georgia Gibbs (August 17, 1918 December 9, 2006), Betty Clooney (April 12, 1931 August 5, 1976), Kay Starr (July 21, 1922 November 3, 2016), Jaye P. Morgan (December 3, 1931 today), Patsy Cline (September 8, 1932 March 5, 1963), Debbie Reynolds (April 1, 1932 December 28, 2016), Margie Rayburn (June 3, 1924 June 14, 2000), Toni Arden (February 15, 1924 May 29, 2012), 3 Female Singers Youve Probably Never Heard Of, The Alice Cooper Fact Sheet 5 Things You Need To Know. She recorded a total of 32 albums in both the pop and jazz genres. As a teen, Vaughan and friends would cross over into New York City to watch jazz bands perform at Harlems Apollo Theater. The Queen of Soul had such a long and legendary career its easy to overlook her early success in the 50s. In 1942, Fitzgerald officially began a solo career that would span decades. Listen to more of Jaye P Morgan on Amazon here! Diana Ross. She had two major charting hits. Calloway had a longtime association with the Cotton Club in New Yorks Harlem neighborhood. Her voice was lower, compared to other singers around the time. She was often referred to as the Queen of Soul, and for good reason. She has sold over 100 million albums, making her one of the best-selling artists of all time. Nicknamed the Empress of the Blues, Smith started out as a street performer, and signed with Columbia Phonograph Company (the parent company of Columbia Records) in 1923. Her distinctive, gritty vocals have earned her the title of the Matriarch of the Blues. Vaughan remained active on the performing and recording circuit until the 1989 when she began to experience health problems and was subsequently diagnosed with lung cancer. Those connections helped her rise to notoriety, eventually selling 75 million albums. At over 102 years old, Vera Lynn, born Vera Margaret Welch, is the oldest woman on our list of the greatest female singers of the 50s. Despite this, he was a child prodigy. Related: We wrote a post about the best black singers of all time here. Since then, shes accumulated three Guinness World Records, sold over 220 million albums, and became the highest-certified female artist in the US. In the movie, she sang not only her own songs but also some of her co-star, Vera Lynns. Top gay singers in history (our list of top LGBTQ singers). Given all of the great vocal music that infused this decade, it was not an easy feat to compile this list. Washington was born Born Ruth Lee Jones in Tuscaloosa, Ala. in 1924, and was raised in Chicago. 5. Nina Simone. One thing is for sure, these women paved the way for female performers to come. Waters style gained him numerous accolades as an artist, but his songs were also commercial enough to be featured in a handful of movies and TV shows. Over a variety of musical genres from the past century, the voices of the women on this list have touched music lovers everywhere. Next on our list is one of the most-charted vocalists of all time, and the most-charted female vocalist of the rock era. His bands featured the best instrumental jazz players, and Calloway impressed his bandmates with scat singing and solos that rivaled the instrumentalists in his groups. Billboard magazine ranked her as the most successful R&B/Hip-Hop artist of the last 25 years.

Aside from incredible talent, many of the most famous women of the era were also powerful and inspiring, overcoming tremendous adversity to rise to glorious heights of stardom. During World War II, she was coined the Forces Sweetheart., She was popular for her many performances for the troops all over the world. Born in 1891, she was born in exactly the right era to showcase her talent.

Having the ability to hit up to the 7th-octave range is part of what helped catapult Mariah Carey to the global spotlight during the 90s. Fitzgerald, a.k.a. Evil Gal Blues landed on Billboards Harlem Hit Parade chart (an early incarnation of the R&B singles chart), along with its follow-up Salty Papa Blues. In 1959, Washington landed a top 10 pop hit with her version of What a Difference a Day Made. She performed around the country, sharing the stage with fellow jazz greats, Count Basie, and Tony Bennet, and was the first black performer to be booked at Las Vegas Sahara Hotel main room. 20 Best Female Singers of the 1950s Peggy Lee (May 26, 1920 January 21, 2002) Connie Francis (December 12, 1938 Today) Judy Garland (June 10, 1922 June 22, 1969) Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 June 29, 2002) Doris Day (Apri 3, 1922 May 13, 2019) Dinah Shore (February 29, 2016 February 24, 1994) Much like Billie Holiday, Ettas life was rife with turmoil, including heroin addiction, financial struggles, and problems with the law. Whether itsmusic, movies, television shows or comedy, there are thosethat represent us well andmake us proud. Welcome to Hello Music Theory! She was 44. Richard Wayne Penniman, who adopted the stage name Little Richard, was an early pioneer of the style that would become rock and roll. The women featured here are standouts in a number of genres. Holiday pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to Alderson Federal Prison Camp in West Virginia. Dinah is known for her incredible voice and unique musical style, which blended elements of R&B, blues, and even pop. 101 Female Rock 'n Roll Girls of the '50s - Compilation Everybody Knows The Words, But What Is Hotel California About? One of her greatest hits was Wheel of Fortune.. An amateur guitarist, avid music lover, movie buff and Owner of Rocks Off Magazine. Born in 1886, Ma Rainey was a big part of what started the blues movement. Richard changed the styles that would fuse to make modern rock and roll, and his well-rounded nature made him appealing to Black and white audiences alike throughout the 1950s. Ray Charles. Her androgynous style grabbed peoples attention but it was her voice that made her memorable. Aside from numerous hit songs, she was also famous for her WMGM radio program, Songs by Sarah Vaughan, a 15-minute show which aired Wednesday through Sunday evening live from The Clique Club. Her life was accidentally cut short but music continues to inspire. Nina recorded an astounding 40 albums over 16 years, starting in 1958. 101 songs. One of her biggest hits was Where The Boys Are in 1961. Alicia Keys made her first composition when she was 12 years old. The influence of these remarkable women on the music industry still continues today, and their legacy will last for generations to come. Originally the group was formed with Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart, and Georgia Dobbins, who was later replaced by Wanda Young. By 1983, she started her solo career and went on to earn eight Grammys and have four albums hit platinum. The group may not have been successful commercially, but member Toni Braxton was. The first became so popular that many didnt know she had done it first. They can be headstrong but, Read More 30 Black Celebrities That Are Taurus, Born April Or MayContinue. Listen to more of Margie Rayburn on Amazon here! Aretha Franklin - Respect (Official Lyric Video), Whitney Houston - Queen Of The Night (Official HD Video), Mary J. Blige - Family Affair (Official Music Video), Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly With His Song (Official Audio), Patti LaBelle - On My Own ft. MICHAEL MCDONALD, Bessie Smith - Down Hearted Blues (Audio), Toni Braxton - He Wasn't Man Enough (Video Version), Alicia Keys - Fallin' (Official HD Video), Minnie Riperton - Lovin' You (Official Video), Erykah Badu - Next Lifetime (Official Music Video), Nina Simone - Just Like a Woman (Official Audio), Rihanna - We Found Love ft. Calvin Harris, Chaka Khan - I'm Every Woman (Official Music Video), Dionne Warwick - That's What Friends Are For, 15 Best Black Country Singers Of All Time, 25 Best Black Sabbath Songs Of All Time, Ranked, The top black male singers in history (black male vocalists), The greatest female singers in history (our list of top woman vocalists), Greatest and most iconic singers in history (best singers ever), Greatest songs of all time (iconic, most remembered songs ever), Top female empowerment songs of all time (women power tracks), Our list of greatest black country singers and vocalists ever, Our ultimate list of the best R&B artists ever, one of the women who defined the last century, Top R&B songs of all time (our list of choices), Greatest karaoke songs for women to sing (try these out, girls), Our picks for the absolute greatest black musicians ever, first person to win the Record of the Year Grammy twice in a row, The greatest hip hop songs in history (our list), signed by the major label Columbia Records. Fitzgerald would win a total of 13 Grammys throughout her career, and earned the Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award in 1967. All Rights Reserved. She enjoyed a career spanning more than 70 years in acting, singing, and business. These women, listed in no particular order, have cemented their place in music history. Georgia Gibbs was born Frieda Lipschitz in 1918. Riddle was known for his string arrangements under Frank Sinatra, who also recorded at Capitol. Ella Fitzgerald. He loves researching, writing and editing music content for Music Grotto. She started out as a tap and ballet dancer at the age of 5 but went on to attend the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music after high school. Next: Our picks for the absolute greatest black musicians ever. Originally the group was formed with Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart, and Georgia Dobbins, who was later replaced by Wanda Young.
WebListen on Spotify: Follow our #WomenWhoRock playlist featuring classics from Etta James, The Supremes, The Shirelles, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin, The Shangri-Las & many more. While most people are more familiar with her sister, Rosemary, Betty Clooney did enjoy a brief career in music during the 1950s. Summing Up Our List Of Famous Black 1950s Singers, 15 Of The Best Songs About Kids Growing Up, 10 Easy Jazz Saxophone Songs For Anyone To Learn, 15 Amazing Gift Ideas That Cello Players Will Love, 31 Of The Best Songs About Change: Transformation Playlist. Guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer Chuck Berry earned the name the Father of Rock and Roll through his musical innovations. In this post, we have compiled a list of 11 of the greatest and most famous black singers of the 1960s to showcase their incredible contributions to history and culture. Dichotomies like this were a theme throughout Richards life. People born between April 20 and May 20 are resilient, focused, and will see projects to the end. Some famous Black female singers sing the blues while other top Black woman artists are pop superstars. She was influenced by instrumentalist contemporaries like Lester Young and brought this type of melodic phrasing to the jazz vocal world. Dionne Warwick did the unthinkable in the 60sshe became the first Black female pop star, make purely smooth traditional pop music unlike many of her counterparts like Franklin. Two of her biggest hits included How Much is That Doggie in the Window and her signature song, Tennessee Waltz.. While she would go on to star in a handful of films, she never felt comfortable in front of the camera. There were several female British singers that appeared in the 60s and 70s. In 2018, Simone was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and, three years after, in 2021, into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. Not to mention, the Songbird Supreme aka Queen of Christmas has had the most number-one singles by any soloist, female writer, or female producer. Minnie went on to live another three years and was presented with a Courage Award by President Jimmy Carter. She is one of the only artists to simultaneously occupy the top two spots of the Billboard Hot 100. A month after her firing, Holiday was hired by Artie Shaw, making her one of the first black singers to lead an all-white orchestra. The 1960s for Charles was his crossover decade, in which he had major success in integrating pop music, rhythm and blues, and country music. He released hit albums until his untimely death from lung cancer, ensuring his legacy would live on forever.

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