To mark Black Music Month, stories of overlooked and groundbreaking Black artists are being spotlighted for their lasting impact on American and global music. These individuals helped shape entire genres, introduced innovation through performance and production, and broke down social barriers, even as credit was often withheld.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe laid the foundation for rock ‘n’ roll with her electric guitar and gospel-infused sound. Elvis Presley’s biggest hits, including “Hound Dog,” were first performed by Black artists like Big Mama Thornton. Mamie Smith’s 1920 single “Crazy Blues” helped define the blues genre and opened the door for other Black women artists. George W. Johnson became the first African-American to record commercially in 1890, and Tommy Edwards was the first Black artist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958.
Ella Fitzgerald became the first Black Grammy winner in 1959, while jazz was used by the U.S. military during WWII as a propaganda tool — even as Black artists faced discrimination at home. James Brown’s “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” faced radio bans, and Teddy Wilson helped form one of the first publicly integrated jazz groups in 1935 with Benny Goodman.
Marian Anderson was the first African American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in 1955. Charley Pride won the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year in 1971. Isaac Hayes became the first Black artist to win an Oscar in a non-acting category in 1972. Chuck Berry’s style and sound became the model for rock stardom, though media coverage often centered white artists.
The disco backlash in the late ’70s was tied to racism and homophobia, as disco came from Black and LGBTQ+ communities. Prince’s legal fight over his masters reshaped how artists negotiate with labels. Jazz was born in Black neighborhoods in New Orleans and was initially dismissed by white audiences.
Kendrick Lamar became the first non-jazz or classical artist to win a Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2018. Lil Nas X broke barriers as an openly gay Black artist winning a CMA Award for “Old Town Road.” Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill became the first hip-hop album to win Album of the Year at the Grammys in 1999.
Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” was the first rap song to win both Record and Song of the Year at the Grammys. Francis Johnson was the first Black composer to have published sheet music in 1818. Funk, techno, and house music originated in Black communities in Cincinnati, Detroit, and Chicago.
The first Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 1989 wasn’t televised, prompting boycotts from nominees. Thomas “Blind Tom” Wiggins, a blind enslaved piano prodigy, wrote music credited to white publishers. MTV initially refused to air Black artists until Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” forced change.
Aretha Franklin was the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and Natalie Cole was the first Black woman to win Album of the Year at the Grammys in 1992. Frankie Knuckles helped develop house music in Chicago’s Black queer clubs. Meanwhile, federal agencies monitored many Black musicians—such as Nina Simone and Paul Robeson—through surveillance, viewing their art and activism as a threat.
Each story reflects the depth and influence of Black artists whose work has shaped music and culture, far beyond the charts.
