In this first article, we will celebrate female artists from multiple decades who were, and still are, influential in shaping music as we know it.

In this article, we acknowledge rock and popular music’s 11 most influential and significant Black artists and figures who started their music careers from the late 1940s through the mid-50s. We begin with Little Richard and take you up to Aretha Franklin.

In this article, we will celebrate some of rock music’s earliest artists and influencers. Many of these artists were inspired by musicians that came from other genres, such as blues, folk, jazz, and gospel. You will find these inspirations in most of the artists listed below. In addition to their biographies, be sure to check out their notable songs and what popular artists or bands they are known to have directly influenced.