female country singers of the '50s and '60s

Below is a list (in no particular order) of popular and talented female rock 'n roll, pop, country, R&B, jazz and soul music solo artists who forged their own way in the music world and are considered to be among the greats of the '50s, '60s, and '70s. As musicians began to write their own tunes and lyrics,female songwriters rose to the challenge as well. 1 hit in 1950 and 1951. Unlike her father, who belted elegant opera, Arden sang more traditional pop music. She also had a solo career, but it was far less prominent than her sisters. Janis Ian was a different kind of teen queen, hitting the national scene at the age of 15 with a self-penned tune about an inter-racial relationship. His early songs were brief and sharp topical songs like "I Ain't Marching Anymore" and "Draft Dodger Rag." His own Red House Records has produced a number of successful artists like Eliza Gilkyson and others. Her personal life has often sparked controversy, especially when she came out as pansexual and talked about use of cannabis. Barbra Streisand 15. Music!" Dottie West was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2018. With melodies like Crazy and Sweet Dreams, Cline remains as one of the genres most recognizable voices, even today. Kelsea Ballerini Announces Third Leg of Heartfirst Tour. [Please note, duets which involve one male and one female performer have been included. An exhibit about their life is on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum through August 2. Among these were The Girl Most Likely, There Never Was a Time, Country Girl, Oh, Singer and Good Enough to Be Your Wife.. 1 country singles, won nine Grammys, received two Oscar nominations, and in 2019 was the Recording Academy's MusiCare's Person of the Year. Her album Della and song You Gave Me Love received Grammy Award nominations, and she was honored with a Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame Award in 2017. Ian & Sylvia were one of the most successful folk duos of the 1960s and '70s. During her peak, she gained recognition worldwide as the most successful female singer. The song was the groups first single and their biggest hit. In 1945, her career took flight with a scat recording of Flying Home. When she reached a point of stagnation with her music, she turned to a new manager, Norman Ganz, who developed Verve records around her. Meanwhile, women began to carve out a space for themselves in the genre, too. Though their roots began in the San Francisco Bay area bluegrass scene, the Grateful Dead soon became one of the most prolific, popular, successful folk-rock bands. The day after graduating from high school, she moved to Nashville. She also has the distinction of having been the first Grand Ole Opry member to wear a miniskirt on stage -- although not without some grumbling from Opry management. Seeger and Hays went on to form The Weavers. From his early 60s topical tunes to his heartbreak songs of today, Dylan is easily one of the greatest American folk artists. Phil Ochs is known for writing exceptional protest songs, and he spared nobody with his sharp tongue. 4 on the U.S Pop chart. It's kind of funny that the Weavers and Woody Guthrie come up last in this alphabetical listing, as they're probably two of the most important artists in the history of the contemporary folk movement in this country. After having performed in the shadow of her husband Johnny Wright and his singing partner Jack Anglin, Kitty Wells (1919-2012) blew that duo out of the water in 1952 with her massive hit, It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels. It was her first record to chart and an answer song to Hank Thompson's Wild Side of Life, which lamented I didn't know God made honky tonky angels/I might have known you'd never make a wife., To this, Wells' tune responded, It wasn't God who made honky tonk angels/as you said in the words of your song/Too many times married men think they're still single/That has caused many a good girl to go wrong. Wells (real name: Muriel Deason) became known as the Queen of Country Music and would score two more No. WebTop 100 Artists of the 50's based on sales, Billboard charts and airplay. Born and raised in New York City, Mindy Carson started performing in her teens for the radio show Stairway To The Stars. She and Harry Cool made a chart hit called Rumors Are Flying.. In 1958, Frances Preston (1934-2012) was hired to head the Nashville office of BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.), a major performance rights organization that collects and distributes to songwriters and publishers royalties earned from the public use of BMI-registered songs. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). After Washington left Hamptons band, she embarked on a successful solo career. Nashville, Tennessee 37219. Her songs have been used in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" She's also an award-winning artist in her own rightand has recorded album after album of incredible folk, gospel, and blues songs. Although she constructed her image around her often-elaborate blonde wigs and ample bosom, she has never used sexiness to sell her performances or grab headlines. Skeeter Davis: Davis (1931-2004) first came to public notice in 1953 as half of the Davis Sisters (although she and Betty Jack Davis were not related). Singer and pianist Dinah Washington was noted as the most famous black female recording artist of the 1950s. Wells may have been countrys first queen, but Patsy Cline was soon to follow and emerged as an indelible part of the Nashville sound, a polished subgenre that dominated radio airwaves in the late 1950s and early 1960s. There were plenty of issues, to be sure. Richard Shindell started working in music with the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band (with fellow incredible songwriter John Gorka). Frank Sinatra soon joined the band and led them all to the top of theBillboardcharts for 12 weeks in 1940 with their version of Ill Never Smile Again., The group toured across the U.S. for three years, with Stafford making a solo recording on the side in 1941. Stand By Your Man, the 1968 No. 1945) sang Tom T. Hall's Harper Valley P.T.A. to No. His songs are deeply personal narratives about life, and they've been performed by countless other artists. Washington won a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Performance in 1959. Joan Baez 7. 21 Best 50s Female Singers. The list includes many familiar and great female country singers such as Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Shania Twain.The women country singers featured in this list are from United States, United Kingdom, Canada & Australia and many more countries. There are some exceptions- the work of Patsy Cline, Bobby Gentrie, and Loretta Lynn have achieved lasting renown- but overall the women on this list receive few plaudits these days. Dave Carter was inarguably one of the best songwriters the contemporary folk scene as known in some time. The Kingston Trio was one of the most successful folk groups of its kind, inspiring various other trios to dress alike and tell jokes between their renditions of traditional folk songs. Log In. Dylan's songwriting has spanned every nook and cranny of Americana, from the blues to folk to rock and roll, and his influence has been felt through every strain of American music. 1s, including her duets with Jones, before tapering off, chartwise, in the mid-1970s. She gained fame with her 1957 release And That Reminds Me, which sold millions and made the Top 20 pop hits chart. Betty Clooney briefly touched stardom alongside her sister, Rosemary. After winning a talent contest when she was only 15, she began to perform in clubs. After finishing first multiple times in a contest, Starr received a 15-minute radio show. 1 on the R&B chart. But in the 70s, together with Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Jr., Jennings started the Outlaw Country Movement as an attempt to break away from the more traditional Nashville Sound. She is also one of the best-selling music artists ever. Karen Dalton 16. Additional no. She's managed to influence an enormous crop of folksingers, including Gillian Welch and Janis Ian. 1944) is most famous for writing two quirky hits, the puzzling Ode to Billy Joe, her recording of which now resides in the Grammy Hall of Fame, and the explicit Fancy (Just be nice to the gentlemen, Fancy/and they'll be nice to you.). In 1994, The Shirelles were honored with a Pioneer Award by theRhythm and Blues Foundation, which was accepted by Owens, Lee, and Coley. Her performance of the song Aba Daba Honeymoon in the 1950 film Two Weeks with Love peaked at no. Even though he'd been playing music his whole life, Shindell didn't start making waves in the folk world until Joan Baez picked up three of his songs for her 1997 album. WebThe Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is not only one of the most prolific Black singers from the 60s but one of the worlds best-selling artists of all time. Her voice is an extraordinary soprano, and she's played everything from classic traditional songs to the work of Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs. A talent agent discovered her while she worked as an elevator operator in a clothing store on Hollywood Boulevard. If any songwriter could be called "prolific" or "influential," those terms would certainly apply to Woody Guthrie. He's written some of the most covered tunes in folk history. 1937) charted country songs from 1964 to 1974, generally in the lower regions. Heartache, thy name is Tammy Wynette (1942-1998). He's received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Folk Alliance and continues to tour nationwide. Her most famous singles are Right or Wrong and In the Middle of a Heartache.. 7. Their I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know reached No. Notable artists include Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Bill Haley. 1 hit Leader of the Pack, along with songs like Give Him a Great Big Kiss and Remember (Walking in the Sand)., Hits: Leader of the Pack, Remember (Walking in the Sand), I Can Never Go Home Anymore. Like Kitty Wells' It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels, A Dear John Letter topped the charts for six weeks. Billboardawarded her the most popular female vocalist in 1955, 1956, and 1957. Etta James 2. His gritty voice and dark, dirty songs have almost a punk-rock sensibility. She also performed in Annie Get Your Gun, Woman Of The Year, and The Unmistakable Molly Brown.. Who is the singer you choose? What list of folk music greats would be complete without a nod to Mr. Bob Dylan? Female Country Singers: The Top 45 Singers of All Time - Wide He traveled with Guthrie for a half-decadeand has since recorded 50 albums. Her tear-stained voice carried so much emotional weight that three of her songs were featured in the soundtrack of the 1970 film, Five Easy Pieces. American singer, Elle King, made her mark in showbiz when her debut single Good To Be A Man was released in March 2012 as a digital download. With gospel roots, she embarked on a soul-singing career at the age of 18. Navigation. In 1938, the remaining members of The Stafford Sisters joined The Four Esquires and The Three Rhythm Kings to create an eight-piece ensemble called The Pied Pipers. Londons biggest hit was the blues-style jazz ballad, Cry Me A River, written by former classmate Arthur Hamilton. Rose Lee Maphis just may be the oldest country singer still alive. Also known for her philanthropic activitiesTrisha Yearwood has been supporting Habitat for Humanity, a charity home building group, for many years now. Her songs Am I Asking Too Much? and Baby Get Lost peaked at no. Born out of Washington Heights, New York, Veronica Bennett(Ronnie Spector), her older sisterEstelle Bennett, and their cousinNedra Talley made up The Ronettes. She kept the stage name after performing the song Dinah for many of her auditions. Stafford signed to a label as a solo artist in 1944. Motowns famous act received 12 no. STREAM THE SHOWTIME ORIGINAL SERIES GEORGE AND TAMMY, Read About Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Kitty Wells, Tammy Wynette, and More, Dierks Bentley Announces Summer Gravel & Gold Tour with Jordan Davis, Elle King and More. Since then, he's become a highly influential songwriter. He was an activist and a songwriter, a Merchant Marine, and a former member of a barbershop quartet. How Is Folk Music Different from Country. However, despite gender equality still being a major issue, many female vocalists of the 1950s rose to fame and made their mark in history. Singing seemed to be a family talent. Brenda Lee is a singer best-known for performing country music and pop. See his full schedule! 2. By 1996, The Shirelles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her biggest hits include Over the Rainbow, The Man That Got Away, and The Trolley Song, all of which were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Despite a number of songs in her repertoire prior, Clines first big hit was Walkin After Midnight, which peaked at No. WebThis is a list of American female country singers . Here are some more great female folk singers from the 1970s: Joan Baez Judy Collins Sandy Denny Janis Ian Emmylou Harris Odetta Vashti Bunyan Buffy Sainte-Marie Linda Ronstadt Judee Sill Female Disco Singers of the 70s People often mistake disco for a mans world, but that couldnt be further from the truth. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1976. The daughter of musician Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash followed in the footsteps of her father. 27. of 50. Seely remains one of the Opry's most applauded performers. Was there a female Elvis or Bob Dylan? Here are the 21 best 50s female singers: Patsy Cline dominated the country music scene as one of the best female vocalists of the 1950s. Singing since their teens, the trio was first known as The Darling Sisters and changed their name to The Ronettes after signing toPhil SpectorsPhilles Records in 1963. Her first chart song and only No. Hits: Be My Baby, Baby, I Love You, Walking in the Rain. Indeed, there aren't a lot of songwriters working these days who don't feel some reverence towards his work. In 1967, Berry Gordy changed the group name toDiana Ross & the Supremes and in the years that would follow, the Supremes underwent more lineup changes before parting ways in 1977. Patti Smith, Debbie Harry, Chryssie Hynde, Siouxsie Sioux -- these women were creating the role of rock and roll frontwoman as they went along. 1 on the R&B chart. 3. Thank you! Their first recording was titled Lets Get Together and Swing in 1936. First lionized as a teen rock 'n' roll star, Brenda Lee (b. Lees rise to fame took several years. Her recording debut came later that year, and both that record and its successor made theBillboardHarlem Hit Parade in 1944. Shirley Bassey 3. She moved around a lot from one gig to another. Shores legacy was honored with a dedicated street name in her hometown as well as a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. 2 in 1958. Yusuf Islam) was one of the most influential folk singer/songwriters of the 1970s. So what we've done is list them chronologically according to their first appearance on the Billboard chart. She recorded nearly 600 songs and was honored with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. She signed with King Records, releasing a few hits, including Kiki and Youre All I See.. They worked with fellow Canadian Gordon Lightfoot, and also recorded several original and traditional folk songs. 44. Their manner of incorporating bluegrass and jazz-like solo jams has inspired countless jam bands since their inception. 1. Leadbelly's influence has been felt across the musical spectrum, and his tunes spanned the old folk-blues and contemporary folk music. Her first no. Her organization MuttNation Foundation works for rehabilitation of rescue animals. But there was a lot to celebrate as music evolved from the clean-cut '50s to the free-and-easy '70s. Next: The best blues singers of all time (most famous picks), Born in New York City, Toni Arden started singing in a big band in the 1940s. In a career spanning six decades, she has released multiple gold albums and has won Grammy Award thrice. Among them were love songs, songs of praise, silly children's songs, songs about nature, and topical protest songs. Diana Ross in 1965, photographed by Barrie Wentzell. Bessie Lee Mauldin: Mauldin (1920-1983) was Bill Monroe's bass player from 1953 to 1964 and co-wrote with him the bluegrass classic, A Voice from on High., Wanda Jackson: Often dubbed the Queen of Rockabilly, Jackson (b. Ross earned the title of Female Entertainer of the Century, given byBillboardin 1976. She has charted 25 No. She became widely renowned for her performances of Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend, When Love Goes Wrong (Nothin Goes Right), and Bye Bye Baby in a film adaptation of the Broadway musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.. Shes the only female vocalist with no. Rosanne Cash is an American singer-songwriter. That year,Billboardvoted her The Most Promising Singer. 1 solo single). She even got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Behind the scenes in this era, producers like Chet Atkins played an important part in putting Nashville on the map by striving for a compromise between traditional country sounds and commercially-appealing pop. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1995. Guthrie wrote thousands of songs in his lifetime, many of which are still being found. The 2023 version of "The Exorcist" is a fresh interpretation of the horror classic that will be released in theaters on Oct. 13. With their prodigious instrumental skills, the trio blended jazz, folk, rock, and bluegrass on originals and covers alike. The group released hits Baby, I Love You, (The Best Part of) Breakin Up, Walking in the Rain, and Be My Baby, all christened by Ronnie Spectors tender and tough vibrato. Mandy Moore is a popular singer, songwriter, and actress who has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. LaVern BakerConnie FrancisBrenda LeeDinah WashingtonDella ReeseAretha FranklinEtta JamesKaren CarpenterDusty SpringfieldPatti LabelleMore items Pop hits, country ballads, punk bangers and jazz standards, the best female singers' work is essential listening. March 31, 2022, 8:55 am. Kitty Wells - It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels 2. The brother-and-sisters act The Browns first charted in 1954 with Looking Back to See, a song Jim Ed Brown (1934-2015) and Maxine Brown (1931-2019) wrote. | Many have even crossed over finding audiences in the pop and rock worlds, including women country singers Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, and top selling female 2 on the pop charts. Her top hits were My Heart Cries For You and Sweet Violets, both reaching no. The Poppies - Lullaby of Love. Although she really wanted to be a painter, Mitchell managed to pen some of the most memorable folk songs of the past 40 years, including the preservationist tune "Big Yellow Taxi.". On top of However, Days breakthrough hit didnt come until 1955, when she starred as singer Ruth Etting in Love Me Or Leave Me., She also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 and three Grammy Hall of Fame Awards for Sentimental Journey, Secret Love, and Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera).. CMT Roundup: Charles Esten, Priscilla Block, Sam Williams, Alana Springsteen and More Release New Music. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998. Music! She began performing when she was 19and rose to fame through singing classic African-American spirituals. As a writer, she has contributed immensely to publications like The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Seventeen. 5. 13 on the Top Pop Singles chart. A rather talented trio of artists, Peter, Paul & Mary also became vocal advocates in the peace movement, and continue to be a force to be reckoned with in contemporary folk music. Nashville, Tennessee 37214, Ryman Auditorium Kay Starrs aunt launched the singers career when she was only seven by making arrangements for her to sing on the radio after hearing her voice. In the 1950s, she made regular appearances in movie musicals. After the show went off the air, Francis signed up with a record company to no immediate avail. After winning a 1949 contest on Arthur Godfreys radio program, the quartet became a regular fixture on the show and recorded their debut album Harmony Time in 1950. BillboardHot 100, including songs such as Come See About Me and Love Child., After leaving the group to pursue a solo career, Ross debuted an album in 1970 featuring her legendary songs, Reach Out And Touch (Somebodys Hand) and Aint No Mountain High Enough (her first no.

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female country singers of the '50s and '60s