Category: Top 10 Features

The Industry Dot Biz:

Best Black Female Singers in the The Top 10 Best Female Groups of All Time. See if you agree that these Black Women rank Highest.

To start off our list of famous black female singers in groups we have to start with the world famous Supremes were originally formed as the Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959. They were the female version of the Temptations who were then known as The Primes. Initially, the group had several flops before becoming the most commercially successful of Motown’s acts and are, to date, America’s most successful vocal group with 12 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Most of these hits were written and produced by Motown’s main songwriting and production team, Holland–Dozier–Holland.

At their peak in the mid-1960s, these black women broke records by rivalling the Beatles in worldwide popularity and their success made it possible for future African American R&B and soul musicians to find mainstream success. The Supremes were popular in the 1960s and continued their popularity after Diana Ross left at the end of 1969 and Jean Terrell took her place until 1973. That was pretty much teh end of the group’s chart success. Click “NEXT” above or below to see the next group>

The Emotions

The next black female singers in a goup isThe Emotions were formed in Chicago, Illinois. They originally consisted of three sisters, all children of Joseph and Lillian Hutchinson. Joseph had prayed for talented children before the girls were born. They began singing in church choirs and were known as the Hutchinson Sunbeams. In 1968, the girls changed their name to ‘The Emotions’ and released their first album, So I Can Love You, the following year.

The album’s title track, written by Sheila, was a minor hit single, as was “The Best Part Of A Love Affair”. In 1969 the girls were asked to be part of a summer outdoor concert in Rochester, New York. The group caught the eye of the host of the concerts, Herb Hamlett the black DJ at WCMF FM. Father Joe was the group’s guitarist and formed a friendship with Hamlett, that brought the group bookings and headliners in New York State.

LaBelle

Labelle is the only singing group where each of the black women had their own success after that left the group and had some solo sucess (excusing Patti LaBelle who had major success). The group was formed after the disbanding of two rival girl groups in the Philadelphia/Trenton areas, the Ordettes, and the Del-Capris, forming as a new version of the former group, later changing their name to The Blue Belles (later Bluebelles). The founding members were Patti LaBelle (formerly Patricia Holt), Sundray Tucker, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash. Tucker left before the group cut their first record and was replaced by Cindy Birdsong.

As The Bluebelles, and later Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, the group found success with ballads in the doo-wop genre, most notably, “Down the Aisle (The Wedding Song)”, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “Over the Rainbow”. After Birdsong departed from the group to join The Supremes in 1967,

The Clark Sisters

The Clark Sisters are an all black women gospel vocal group consisting of four sisters: Jacky Clark Chisholm, Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark-Terrell, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard. A fifth sister, Denise Clark Bradford, no longer performs with the group.

The Clark Sisters are the daughters of legendary gospel musician and choral director Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. They are credited for helping to bring gospel music to the mainstream and are considered as pioneers of contemporary gospel. Their biggest crossover hits include: “Is My Living in Vain?” “Hallelujah,” “He Gave Me Nothing to Lose,” “Endow Me,” their hit song “Jesus Is A Love Song,” “Pure Gold,” “Expect a Miracle,” and their largest mainstream crossover gold certified, “You Brought the Sunshine.” Some of the Clark Sister’s greatest classics dominated Billboard’s R & B a

SWV

Sisters with Voices, better known as SWV, are an R&B, Grammy-nominated trio of black women from New York City. Formed in 1990 as a gospel group, SWV became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s. They had a series of hits, including “Weak”, “Right Here/Human Nature”, “I’m So into You”, and “You’re the One”. The group disbanded in 1998 to pursue solo projects, and reunited in 2005 and continue to reunite to tour.

SWV (an abbreviation for Sisters With Voices) was formed by three friends: Cheryl Gamble, Tamara Johnson and Leanne Lyons (the founding member). After getting their demo together, the trio sent out demo tapes along with bottles of Perrier (“We couldn’t afford champagne,” says Taj) to catch the attention of record execs all over America. In 1991, after being invited to sing live in front of RCA honchos, SWV was signed to an eight-album record deal.

En Vogue

En Vogue consisted of four black women from Oakland, California assembled by music producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy.

The group has won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in its history, a total of seven, along with five Soul Train Awards, six American Music Awards, and seven Grammy nominations. According to Billboard Magazine, they were the 18th most successful act of the 1990s, and one of the most popular and successful female groups of all time. En Vogue has accumulated over 2,800 weeks on various Billboard charts.

Assembled in Oakland, California in July 1989, En Vogue launched with original members Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones, and noticeably Dawn Robinson and Terry Ellis. The inspiration for the group came when production duo of Foster and Mc Elroy envisioned a modern-day girl group in the tradition of the 1950s/1960s female trios. The blueprint was based on the plan of recruiting singers who possessed noticeably good looks.

TLC

If you ask what is TLC, most people would say Tender Loving Care but in this case it stands for a major group in the history of music, T-Boz, Chilli and Lisa Lopes.

TLC were hugely successful black female singers whose repertoire spanned R&B and hip hop music. Originally composed of singer Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, rapper Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes and singer Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas the group found unprecedented success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats with the law, each other, and the group’s record label.

Initially, tlc achieved commercial success following the release of their debut album Ooooooohhh… On the TLC Tip, which sold 6 million copies worldwide. However, it was their second album, CrazySexyCool, that catapulted the group to superstar status. CrazySexyCool went on to be certified diamond by the RIAA— a first for a female group, and eventually sold 23 million copies worldwide.

Five years later, the group released their third album FanMail, which became the group’s first album to debut at number one and sold more than 11 million copies worldwide. The subsequent tour following FanMail’s release became the highest grossing tour of all time by a female band. In 2002, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes died in a car accident in Honduras. Seven months later, T-Boz and Chilli released the group’s fourth album 3D, which sold 2 million copies worldwide, scored the Top 40 hit Girl Talk and earned two Grammy Awards nominations, it featured unreleased vocals from Left Eye.

Salt n Pepa

The group entered pop music at a time when rap music was believed to be a fad and record companies were reluctant to sign rap artists. Originally calling themselves Super Nature (on their first single), James and Denton debuted in 1985 with the single “The Showstopper” an answer record to Doug E. Fresh’s hit single “The Show”. “The Showstopper” was produced by Hurby Azor.

The song utilized a melody from the 1984 film Revenge of the Nerds. The finid recording garnered some airplay on a New York City rap radio program. The independent Pop Art Records gave it an official release, and “The Showstopper” became a modest R&B hit. With the success of Showstopper, the group’s name was changed to Salt-N-Pepa (which they had called themselves in the first verse of the song) and they signed to the independent Next Plateau Records to record a full-length album. Roper then joined the group as the dj, replacing dj Latoya Hanson as Spinderella, and the group’s first album Hot, Cool & Vicious was released afterwards in 1986.

The album was produced by Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor, Salt’s boyfriend at the time and also the group’s manager. Years later, the women would have legal issues with Azor as they accused him of paying unfair royalties.

Destiny’s Child

Destiny’s Child is an American R&B girl group whose final, and perhaps most recognizable, line-up comprised of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas, Destiny’s Child members began their musical endeavours as Girl’s Tyme comprising, among others,Knowles, Rowland, LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett.

After years of limited success, they were signed to Columbia Records as Destiny’s Child. Destiny’s Child was launched into mainstream recognition following the release of their best-selling second album, The Writing’s on the Wall, which contained the number-one singles “Bills, Bills, Bills” and “Say My Name”.

Despite critical and commercial success, the group was plagued by internal conflict and legal turmoil, as Roberson and Luckett attempted to split from the group’s manager Mathew Knowles, citing favouritism of Knowles and Rowland, his daughter and niece, respectively. (source Wikipedia.org)

Quite often, we get requests here at The Industry Dot Biz to work records or people want us to provide references for promoters. While there are some great promoters out there, one of the many detriments of the music business continues to be the “fake promoter.” Whether promoting directly to radio or being hired as an independent by a music company, the fraudulent promoter continues to mar the industry with lies, lack of credibility, poor judgment and weak follow through. To that end, there could also be more work on the part of the person hiring them too. Due diligence instead of taking someone’s word could save you time and money.

In the end, when the promoter doesn’t work out, the company or artist finally DOES their homework and finds a legitimate promoter but with an attitude as if all promoters are bad, which causes problems in the new situation. In an effort to make it easier for you, we’ve outlined the ten traits of a phony promoter. Please beware of all of the following signs:

At first they tell you that your record is the greatest song they’ve ever heard.

After giving your song one listen, they call you back with all of this fake enthusiasm, while telling you that the record is a guaranteed smash! They think that in order to get the business, they have to make you believe that they are in love with your project. Then if the record flops, watch how quick their excitement for the record deflates too.  (click NEXT for next segment)

They tell you how easy it’s going to be to get results.

In the present competitive landscape of radio, nothing is easy to get on the air. If a promoter tells you that it’s going to be a walk in the park, you need to quickly run from this phony. In fact, you should respect the honest opinion of a promoter, who raises the potential challenges that he or faces while working your record.

They try to play A&R.

Rather than to promote and try their best at the record that you’ve handed them, they tell you that the company should come with a different single. If the decision is final within the company and marketing dollars already spent, no one wants to hear your opinion on what we should’ve done. Chances are they are just setting up their excuses as to why they couldn’t deliver on the actual single. Then if the song doesn’t get the expected results that the company was hoping for, the fake promoter will be the first to tell you, “I told you! You should’ve listened to me.”

They tell you that their job is dependent upon it.

There’s no doubt that the pressure to get a record played at radio at times can be intense. Program directors do not want to hear that your livelihood and the contingency of your job is in their hands. A former Houston program director that was invited to a record company retreat once said, “Just give me, my job is on the line excuse only once per year!”

They promise and commit the world to you up front.

Seasoned promoters know that you never commit anything in advance. A fraudulent promoter will promise you Top 10 results before they’ve even begin working.

They typically ask for all or the majority of their service fee up front.

If a promoter asks for all or the majority of their service fee in the beginning, it’s time to immediately start waving the red flag. They do this, so when they don’t deliver on the project, at least they’ve already been paid a sizable percentage beforehand. It’s a lot more challenging to ask for it back than it is to refuse to pay the remaining balance.

They are not willing to put a plan on paper.

If a promoter is reluctant or doesn’t provide you with a strategy outlining their approach, action steps, and required resources to do a job, typically they are trying to keep you in the dark. Plus, it’s hard for them to deny a bold face lie, when it’s staring at you in black & white.  

Just give me the facts.

We live in easy access to information world today. If a promoter embellis and exaggerates sales, digital traction, chart positions, and any other pertinent data, by the availability of all kinds of information that is at your fingertips, this “Pinocchio Promoter” can easily be exposed. Remember, radio is already provided with a lot of the information that you will be selling.

It’s always most effective to just tell the truth. We’re in the hype business, not the lie business. There is a difference. Just give me the

The Industry Dot Biz . Not the Radio Fiction.

They tell you that they single-handedly were responsible for breaking a particular song in the past.

Hit records are always as a result of a TEAM effort. That work begins with A&R, Marketing, Promotion, Publicity, and Sales. If a promoter tries to take the full credit for the success of any record, they are completely lying.

If a promoter uses the quote, “I broke that record,” you need to “break away” from that promoter.

Their references don’t add up.

If they are the ones always contacting you. In this small industry, one’s reputation typically precedes itself, so the majority of business comes as a result of referral. They will also name drop and tell you that everyone in the industry is their best friend. B.S. promoters will casually throw around all types of names and artists and tell you that they have stellar relationships with everyone. If no one else is blowing their horn, there’s a reason behind it.

Absolute Best Black Female Singers of All Time

Digital and The Industry Dot Biz: Who Are the Top Black Female Singers of All Time? – Any way that you look at it black women singers have made an indelible mark on the history of soul music as everything from soul singers, to crossing over to pop music singers. Whatever genre you want to call it, R&B Music, race music, black music or pop music … black singers cannot be denied their own place in its history. These are the women who have taken the industry by storm since the inception of the music industry.

From the Blues to Jazz to R&B the riffs, scats, octaves, and emotion black women singers have mastered over the decades have without a doubt played an integral part in the music industry it’s a rich history. Like “Soul Food” we have, or at least HAD a plethora of Soul Music to choose from.

Black female singers were there during the highs and the lows of our community from the ins and outs of love go through the Civil Rights movement.If we were to close the music history books today and list the best black female singers of all time is this list complete? Absolutely not, you would literally have to write a book on all the great black women in music, but these are our choices in who we think the top ones are. Do you agree or disagree? Well, you can be the judge. Click NEXT below to see the next singer we picked

Whitney Houston

Only a fool could deny the late Whitney Houston’s amazing talent. She had one of the most spectacular voices of the century and sold millions of albums and singles in a career that spanned 30 years. No list would be complete without including her as one of the best black female singers of all time.

Aretha Franklin

The late Aretha Franklin had etched her space in history as the undeniable Queen of Soul decades ago. As one of the pioneering black women in the best singing category, her career spanned more than 50 years.

Nancy Wilson

The late Nancy Wilson was always a bit underrated but made up for it with her Jazz tinged sexy vocals that won fans worldwide and earned her space as a great singer of many genres, including jazz and soul. She was the epitome of class and elegance and one of the few black women on our list that transcended musical genres.

Dionne Warwick

Dionne Warwick was the whitney houston of the 60s, teaming up with Burt Bacharach for some of the most memorable hits in the history of music like I Say a Little Prayer and Walk on By. She ranked high as one of the few black women on the pop charts in those days and her legacy continues to be one of the greatest black female singers of all time.

Gladys Knight

Gladys Knight has one of the most recognizable and BEST voices in R&B. She is still going strong today

Chaka Khan

chaka Khan has solidified her space as one of the premier singers in R&B history. Her range and interpretation is second to none.

Natalie Cole

Natalie Cole was a multi-dimensional singer that can do standards, soul, jazz and even Latin music. Her troubled past and her poor relationships fueled her talent to incredible heights. Out of all the women on the list, Natalie and Mariah Carey probably has the best range.

Patti LaBelle

Patti LaBelle was never meant to be a gracious and plastic singer off stage or on. She never had a problem rolling on the floor and kicking off her shoes to the delight of fans and singing her heart out.

Mariah Carey

Mariah is not a soul singer or a pop singer is JUST a GREAT singer. Her unique ability to sing in the whistle register is only matched by Rachelle Ferrell … Mariah is probably the wealthiest woman on the list as wrote MOST of her smash hits so will have a great payday for life. Best Black Female Singers

Phyllis Hyman

Phyllis was so incredibly underrated and deserved SO much more recognition for her amazing voice. ironically her music sounds just as good today as it did 20 years ago RIP.

Sarah Vaughn

Sarah Vaughn was so talented with such great range and wonderful jazzy style that there were times could sing like a man and bridge a baritone key into a soprano with amazing ease. She was truly one of the best singers in the world.

BEST BLACK MALE SINGERS OF ALL TIME

Is there anything that can’t be said about the amazing Ella Fitzgerald?

The world has become obsessed with headphones, especially those that come with a celebrity endorsement but are those the Best Headphone Brands or simply quick sells?

While I have a preference for Sony headphones and have used them the entire time I was on the air, there are others you should check out for use on the air for the best dj headphones or for podcast headphones and voiceover. Let’s pull the celebrity endorsements out of the equation and focus on quality first. But we want to focus on quality first. Click NEXT above or below to see our next pic for best headphones

These headphones don’t seem to have a natural knock but they are quite stylish and they have pretty good high-end sound. When you crank them up, that bass starts to come out. They are a little heavy but other than that, I would recommend them for clarity and style.

I believe they call this inspiration because of the customizable headbands. They also have multiple cables and control features which makes these headphones cool to wear and play around with. The sound quality on these is just decent but they make up for that in the bass.

These headphones really knock but the overall sound quality is a bit muddy but if you are listening to some old school Miami bass music, please be prepared to be blown away. The overall style is pretty standard but still nice.

I am quite partial to all Sony Headphones so this is an easy review. You get a decent pair of headphones for a little bit of a lower price and less than $200. The bass doesn’t knock as loud as some of the others but they possess decent clarity and they are very lightweight in the design.

These bad boys have an amazing sound quality and you can really hear the highs, miss, and lows. The bass isn’t heavy but these are more than worth the money. You will thank us later.

These are a quality pair of headphones and also slightly under $200. They actually have a control feature that allows you to control your bass level. Once you crack up the bass, you are in for a great experience. The design is pretty basic but the sound makes up for the lack of design creativity.

It’s all about sound quality with these headphones. You can hear all your highs, mids, and lows with very good bass. They are light in design but they don’t fit on your head as comfortably as some of the other headphones, which moved them down on the list a bit.

How many ways can you say awesome? These headphones are impeccable in every way. The design is sleek and the sound really resonates throughout your soul when you are rocking out to your favorite songs. They fit well, sound better, and look aight too.

Finally, we have reached our number one headphones on the list. They made it to the top for overall sound quality, features, and great bass. They look pretty damn good too! Sorry all you Beats by Dre fans, these V-Modas are absolutely stellar and you can definitely hear a difference in your music when you put them on.

Top 90s Love Songs by Black Female Singers

What was it about the 90’s love songs that made music so dope? Was it the producers, the songwriters, the artists, or the collaborative efforts of all parties involved? Whatever it was, some great songs came out of the classic era where R&B thrived and hip-hop ruled.

While the men did their thing, the ladies slayed love song after love song that went on to top the charts. Whether it was the whispery yet sultry tone of Janet Jackson or the amazing vocal talents of the late Whitney Houston, love was king back then or should we say love was queen.

Check out this top 10 list of love songs that ruled the era that was flawlessly executed by Black women singers.

Soon As I Get Home” is an absolute smash and probably one of Faith’s dopest songs. She executes this song with a vocal presence that breathes emotion and pain as if was reliving a moment in her life when recorded it. The song was written by Faith and Sean Combs for her debut studio album Faith (1995) and released as the album’s second single following her debut single, “You Used to Love Me”. The song peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The record has been certified gold by the RIAA.

SADE “No Ordinary Love”

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)[/caption]

We all know the legend that is Sade. Just saying her name will send chills through the spines of those who adore her. When came out with “No Ordinary Love.” That adoration was no different if not elevated for the queen of sultry soul. “No Ordinary Love” was released as the lead single from Sade’s fourth studio album, Love Deluxe (1992).

8. Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here – Deborah Cox

“How did you get here, nobody’s supposed to here,” are the lyrics from the classic smash song, “Nobody’s Supposed to be Here” by Deborah Cox. The song was featured on her second studio album One Wish (1998). It is Cox’s most successful song, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks, and spending a then-record fourteen weeks at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

In 2017, Billboard ranked the song at number five on its “Greatest of All Time Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs” chart. It is written and produced by Anthony “Shep” Crawford and the song resonated with women across the world and beyond.

7. Angel of Mine – Monica

I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Monica twice and I can confirm is one the sweetest yet realest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of speaking with. We all know possesses a powerful voice so it was no surprise that her version of “Angel of Mine” performed so well as it did around the world.

Monica released her version on November 17, 1998, as the third single from her second studio album The Boy Is Mine (1998). Following the success of her previous singles, “The Boy Is Mine” and “The First Night”, the song became the album’s third release to reach the top of the US Billboard Hot 100..

6. That’s the Way Love Goes – Janet Jackson

No her first name ain’t baby, It’s Janet, Ms. Jackson if you’re nasty. Now those are the famous lines from Janet’s classic hit, “Nasty Boy,” but we are not here to talk about that particular groove.

This is all about “That’s The Way Love Goes.” Written by Janet, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis, this iconic joint is one of Jackson’s biggest hits in the United States. It was one of the longest-reigning hits of 1993, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks, To date, it is the longest-running number-one single of any member of the Jackson family on the Hot 100.

It also topped the Hot 100 Airplay for ten weeks, as well as spending multiple weeks at number one on several of Billboard’s other component charts. The song became the first and only single in history to debut at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.

Mary J Blige’s “Not Gon Cry”

How many women felt this song with all their heart and soul? That was really a rhetorical question however, the answer is probably something like countless. When this joint came out as part of the Waiting To Exhale film, it hit hard. The song is also featured on Mary J. Blige’s 1997 album, Share My World. The song was written and produced by none other than Babyface and became a major hit for Blige in the US, where it peaked at number one and two on the Billboard’s R&B Singles and Hot 100 charts respectively. Mary was also nominated for a Grammy for this song.

4. Always Be My Baby – Mariah Carey

“Always Be My Baby” is a song about letting someone fly for now but knowing that they will return to you later. This happens so much in relationships everywhere which is why people truly relate to this song. The song is from Mariah Carey’s fifth studio album Daydream (1995). It was released by Columbia Records on March 9, 1996, as the third US single and fourth overall. The song was written by Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Manuel Seal.

3. Weak – SWV

“I get so weak in the knees, I can hardly speak, I lose all control and something takes over me.” Who doesn’t know these lyrics… This song by SWV has the 90’s written all over it. This is a classic groove that keeps the party going until this day. their debut studio album It’s About Time (1992).

It was written and produced by Brian Alexander Morgan. Word on the street is he composed the lyrics based upon his feelings toward singer Chanté Moore. “Weak” was released as the third single from Its About Time, following the commercial success of “I’m So into You.”

It topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in July 1993, ending the two-month-long reign of Janet Jackson’s “That’s the Way Love Goes,” which is also on our list. It sold over one million copies domestically and was awarded Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

2. Un-Break My Heart – Toni Braxton

1. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston

What can we even say about one of the greatest voices of all time…Whitney Houston is the quintessential voice of a generation that was taken too soon. “I Will Always Love You” is a song written and originally recorded in 1973 by Dolly Parton.

The song reached astronomical levels once Whitney Houston put her stamp on it for the “Bodyguard” soundtrack. Whitney’s version spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is one of the best-selling singles of all time. It also holds the record for being the best-selling single by a woman in music history.

Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You” re-entered the charts in 2012 after her death, making it the second single ever to reach the top three on the Billboard Hot 100 in separate chart runs.

The Industry Dot Biz:

Absolute Best Black Female Singers of All Time

Who Are the Top Black Female Singers of All Time? – Any way that you look at it black women singers have made an indelible mark on the history of soul music as everything from soul singers, to crossing over to pop music singers. Whatever genre you want to call it, R&B Music, race music, black music or pop music … black singers cannot be denied their own place in its history. These are the women who have taken the industry by storm since the inception of the music industry.

From the Blues to Jazz to R&B the riffs, scats, octaves, and emotion black women singers have mastered over the decades have without a doubt played an integral part in the music industry it’s a rich history. Like “Soul Food” we have, or at least HAD a plethora of Soul Music to choose from.

Black female singers were there during the highs and the lows of our community from the ins and outs of love go through the Civil Rights movement.If we were to close the music history books today and list the best black female singers of all time is this list complete? Absolutely not, you would literally have to write a book on all the great black women in music, but these are our choices in who we think the top ones are. Do you agree or disagree? Well, you can be the judge. Click NEXT below to see the next singer we picked

Whitney Houston

Only a fool could deny the late Whitney Houston’s amazing talent. She had one of the most spectacular voices of the century and sold millions of albums and singles in a career that spanned 30 years. No list would be complete without including her as one of the best black female singers of all time.

Aretha Franklin

The late Aretha Franklin had etched her space in history as the undeniable Queen of Soul decades ago. As one of the pioneering black women in the best singing category, her career spanned more than 50 years.

Nancy Wilson

The late Nancy Wilson was always a bit underrated but made up for it with her Jazz tinged sexy vocals that won fans worldwide and earned her space as a great singer of many genres, including jazz and soul. She was the epitome of class and elegance and one of the few black women on our list that transended musical genres.

Dionne Warwick

Dionne Warwick was the whitney houston of the 60s, teaming up with Burt Bacharach for some of the most memorable hits in the history of music like I Say a Little Prayer and Walk on By. She ranked high as one of the few black women on the pop charts in those days and her legacy continues to be one of the greatest black female singers of all time.

Gladys Knight

Gladys Knight has one of the most recognizable and BEST voices in R&B. She is still going strong today

Chaka Khan

chaka Khan has solidified her space as one of the premier singers in R&B history. Her range and interpretation is second to none.

Natalie Cole

Natalie Cole was a multi-dimensional singer that can do standards, soul, jazz and even Latin music. Her troubled past and her poor relationships fueled her talent to incredible heights. Out of all the women on the list, Natalie and Mariah Carey probably has the best range.

Patti LaBelle

Patti LaBelle was never meant to be a gracious and plastic singer off stage or on. She never had a problem rolling on the floor and kicking off her shoes to the delight of fans and singing her heart out.

Mariah Carey

Mariah is not a soul singer or a pop singer is JUST a GREAT singer. Her unique ability to sing in the whistle register is only matched by Rachelle Ferrell … Mariah is probably the wealthiest woman on the list as wrote MOST of her smash hits so will have a great payday for life.Best Black Female Singers

Phyllis Hyman

Phyllis was so incredibly underrated and deserved SO much more recognition for her amazing voice. ironically her music sounds just as good today as it did 20 years ago RIP.

Sarah Vaughn

Sarah Vaughn was so talented with such great range and wonderful jazzy style that there were times could sing like a man and bridge a baritone key into a soprano with amazing ease. She was truly one of the best singers in the world.

BEST BLACK MALE SINGERS OF ALL TIME

Is there anything that can’t be said about the amazing Ella Fitzgerald?

Too Much is Never Enough

In the song “No Church in the Wild” from the “Watch the Throne” album, Kanye raps the line, “love is cursed by monogamy.” There are obviously many songwriters and artists that either believe in the premise, or have experienced with it in some shape, form, or fashion. Some people actually say that monogamy isn’t natural; some even use the Bible to point out that polygamy is acceptable, and others don’t say anything, they just “make it do what it do baby,” as Ray Charles used to say. With that being said, in no particular order, these are ten songs that speak to the cheater in all of us…ok maybe some of us. (CLICK NEXT FOR NEXT SONG)…………………………………………………………………….

10. As We Lay – Shirley Murdock

This song made many appearances on my slow jam mixtapes back in the day. When Shirley started with the classic lines, “It’s morning, and we slept the night away, It happened, now we can’t turn back the hands of time…,” we all knew what this song was about. (CLICK NEXT FOR NEXT SONG)…………………………………………………………………….

9. Creep – TLC

“So I creep, yeah I just keep it on the down low…” This classic TLC joint helped them to achieve stardom and also served as the anthem for many cheaters out there. The song was written and produced by Dallas Austin. That is irony in itself based on the relationship he had with Chilli.(CLICK NEXT FOR NEXT SONG)…………………………………………………………………….

8. O.P.P – Naughty By Nature

“You down with O.P.P? Yeah, you know me” is still a club favorite. If you play this song right now, watch what happens. This was one of the all time cheater anthems that spelled it out plain and simple. (CLICK NEXT FOR NEXT SONG)…………………………………………………………………….

7. Next Lifetime – Erykah Badu

I knew a young lady that absolutely hated this song because her cheating boyfriend and his side chick played this song all the time as their anthem behind my friend’s back. She may have hated the song but many people love this Erykah Badu classic.

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6. Somebody Else’s Guy – Jocelyn Brown

I actually witnessed Jocelyn Brown perform this song live years ago but at the time I really didn’t understand the song but I knew I liked the record. Once I got a little older I understood what was saying because I have heard so many female friends of mine express these same feelings.

“What am I supposed to do when I’m hooked so on you and realize that you’re somebody else’s guy…”(CLICK NEXT FOR NEXT SONG)…………………………………………………………………….

5. You’re the One – SWV

“What your girl don’t know won’t hurt her, anything to make this love go further.” SWV wasn’t playing any games with this one. (CLICK NEXT FOR NEXT SONG)…………………………………………………………………….

4. Confessions Part II – r here” href=”https://radiofacts.com/tag/ur/”>Ur

It seems like so many NBA players, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and various musicians can relate to this song. At the time it dropped many people thought it was Ur’s true confessions to Chilli of TLC. Written by Ur, Jermaine Dupri, and Bryan-Michael Cox, this joint stayed on the Billboard charts at number one for two weeks but the feelings of this song will last a lifetime for many.

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3. Down Low Remix – R. Kelly

This may be thee absolute cheater anthem. When R. Kelly got with Ron Isley on this song this actually launched a multitude of songs from the dynamic duo.

This song had characters, a storyline, and of course the catchy hook to put it over the top. (CLICK NEXT FOR NEXT SONG)…………………………………………………………………….

2. You, Me, & He – Mtume

This is an old school classic. “You, me, and he, what we gonna do baby?” Need I say anymore.

The title says it all. “You, Me and He” was actually the 1984 album by R&B group Mtume. This was their fourth album released on the Epic Records label.

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1. Part Time Lover – Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder is one the pinnacle songwriters of all time and he didn’t half step with this classic cheater’s anthem. Every line in this song is pretty much an ode to the classic role of the “side piece.” The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, ( his last number one song on Billboard), R&B, dance and adult contemporary charts. The song’s simultaneous chart success made him the first artist to score a number-one hit on four different Billboard charts. The song also reached number three on the UK singles chart. (CLICK NEXT FOR NEXT SONG)  

Best groups of all time? See who we picked and let us know what you think.

10. Frankie Beverly and Maze

RUFUS

The Jackson 5

New Edition

The Supremes

The Commodores

Gladys Knight and the Pips

Earth Wind and Fire

The Temptations

Radio Facts: Radio Facts:

Top Songs of the 90s by Black Female Singers

What was it about the 90’s that made music so dope? Was it the producers, the songwriters, the artists, or the collaborative efforts of all parties involved? Whatever it was, some great songs came out of the classic era where R&B thrived and hip hop ruled. While the men did their thing, the ladies slayed love song after love song that went on to top the charts. Whether it was the whispery yet sultry tone of Janet Jackson or the amazing vocal talents of the late Whitney Houston, love was king back then or should we say love was queen. Check out this top 10 list of love songs that ruled the era that was flawlessly executed by Black women singers.

10. Soon As I Get Home – Faith Evans

“Soon As I Get Home” is an absolute smash and probably one of Faith dopest songs. She executes this song with a vocal presence that breathes of emotion and pain as if she was reliving a moment in her life when she recorded it. The song was written by Faith and Sean Combs for her debut studio album Faith (1995) and released as the album’s second single following her debut single “You Used to Love Me”. The song peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The record has been certified gold by the RIAA.

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)[/caption]

9. No Ordinary Love – Sade

We all know the legend that is Sade. Just saying her name will send chills through the spines of those who adore her. When she came out with “No Ordinary Love.” That adoration was no different if not elevated for the queen of sultry soul. “No Ordinary Love” was released as the lead single from Sade’s fourth studio album, Love Deluxe (1992).

8. Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here – Deborah Cox

“How did you get here, nobody’s supposed to here,” are the lyrics from the classic smash song, “Nobody’s Supposed to be Here” by Deborah Cox. The song was featured on her second studio album One Wish (1998). It is Cox’s most successful song, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks, and spending a then-record fourteen weeks at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In 2017, Billboard ranked the song at number five on its “Greatest of All Time Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs” chart. It is written and produced by Anthony “Shep” Crawford and the song resonated with women across the world and beyond.

 

7. Angel of Mine – Monica

I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Monica twice and I can confirm she is one the sweetest yet realest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of speaking with. We all know she possesses a powerful voice so it was no surprise that her version of “Angel of Mine” performed so well as it did around the world. Monica released her version on November 17, 1998, as the third single from her second studio album The Boy Is Mine (1998). Following the success of her previous singles, “The Boy Is Mine” and “The First Night”, the song became the album’s third release to reach the top of the US Billboard Hot 100..

 

6. That’s the Way Love Goes – Janet Jackson

No her first name ain’t baby, It’s Janet, Ms. Jackson if you’re nasty. Now those are the famous lines from Janet’s classic hit, “Nasty Boy,” but we are not here to talk about that particular groove. This is all about “That’s The Way Love Goes.” Written by Janet, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis, this iconic joint is one of Jackson’s biggest hits in the United States. It was one of the longest-reigning hits of 1993, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks, To date, it is the longest-running number-one single of any member of the Jackson family on the Hot 100. It also topped the Hot 100 Airplay for ten weeks, as well as spending multiple weeks at number one on several of Billboard’s other component charts. The song became the first and only single in history to debut at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.

 

Mary J Blige “Not Gon Cry”

How many women felt this song with all their heart and soul? That was really a rhetorical question however, the answer is probably something like countless. When this joint came out as part of the Waiting To Exhale film, it hit hard. The song is also featured on Mary J. Blige’s 1997 album, Share My World. The song was written and produced by none other than Babyface and became a major hit for Blige in the US, where it peaked at number one and two on the Billboard’s R&B Singles and Hot 100 charts respectively. Mary was also nominated for a Grammy for this song.

 

4. Always Be My Baby – Mariah Carey

“Always Be My Baby” is a song about letting someone fly for now but knowing that they will return to you later. This happens so much in relationships everywhere which is why people truly relate to this song. The song is from Mariah Carey’s fifth studio album Daydream (1995). It was released by Columbia Records on March 9, 1996, as the third US single and fourth overall. The song was written by Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Manuel Seal.

 

3. Weak – SWV

“I get so weak in the knees, I can hardly speak, I lose all control and something takes over me.” Who doesn’t know these lyrics… This song by SWV has the 90’s written all over it. This is a classic groove that keeps the party going until this day. their debut studio album It’s About Time (1992). It was written and produced by Brian Alexander Morgan. Word on the street is he composed the lyrics based upon his feelings towards singer Chanté Moore. “Weak” was released as the third single from It’s About Time, following the commercial success of “I’m So into You”. It topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in July 1993, ending the two-month-long reign of Janet Jackson’s “That’s the Way Love Goes,” which is also on our list. It sold over one million copies domestically and was awarded Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

 

2. Un-Break My Heart – Toni Braxton

1. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston

What can we even say about one of the greatest voices of all time…Whitney Houston is the quintessential voice of a generation that was taken too soon. “I Will Always Love You” is a song written and originally recorded in 1973 by Dolly Parton. The song reached astronomical levels once Whitney Houston put her stamp on it for the “Bodyguard” soundtrack. Whitney’s version spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is one of the best-selling singles of all time. It also holds the record for being the best-selling single by a woman in music history. Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You” re-entered the charts in 2012 after her death, making it the second single ever to reach the top three on the Billboard Hot 100 in separate chart runs.