Many of them have become as much a part of the Great American Songbook as those written by Ira Gershwin or Johnny Mercer -- classics such as Coat of Many Colors, I Will Always Love You, Jolene and 9 to 5, the theme from her 1980 movie of the same name. When she was 15, Rosemary Clooney decided to remain in her hometown in Kentucky with her father and sister while her mom and brother moved to California after their parents divorce. 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. Patti Page: Best known for her 1950 crossover hit, The Tennessee Waltz, Page (1927-2013) charted various other country singles through 1982, including the 1972 Top 20 duet with Tom T. Hall, Hello We're Lonely. Her recording of The Tennessee Waltz was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. A multi-talented personality, Kramer is also known for her skills as a dancer; she finished fourth after competing in the popular dance competition television series Dancing with the Stars in 2016. 27. of 50. 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. 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. She won audiences over with songs like Buttons And Bows, The Gypsy, and The Anniversary Song, which were all no. The day after graduating from high school, she moved to Nashville. She also made her public debut as a soloist at New Yorks Hotel Astir the following year. The women featured here are standouts in a number of genres. Womens History Month: These Artists Thrived in the '50s and 10 and won a Grammy, making her the first female Grammy winner in country music history. 1 on her own with A Lesson in Leavin' and did it again that same year with Are You Happy Baby? Paired again with Rogers, she topped the charts in 1981 with What Are We Doin' in Love. Her daughter Shelly West followed in her mother's footsteps as a country artist. Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet. Mandy Moore is a popular singer, songwriter, and actress who has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Privacy Policy | Her first chart record, Dumb Blonde, was released in 1967 and she joined the Opry in 1969. 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. Notoriously known for her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland was one of the most famous 1950s female singers and actresses. Identified with Country Sunshine, the No. Norma Deloris Egstrom began singing professionally at the young age of 16 in 1936. Multifaceted personality, Dolly Parton is a singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, author and businesswoman and is known mainly for her work in country music. His classic, "What Did You Learn in School Today?" WebThe Bermudas - Donnie. 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. Bill Anderson, singer who is still a major songwriter of new hits Singer and pianist Dinah Washington was noted as the most famous black female recording artist of the 1950s. The top 50 folk artists of all time, in alphabetical order. She gained fame with her 1957 release And That Reminds Me, which sold millions and made the Top 20 pop hits chart. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973. Regardless, Ochs is considered one of the more gifted songwriters of his generation. Typically made up of trio or quartet of young women, they sang in harmony about the perfect guy, the one that got away or did them wrong. One thing you always hear when people talk about Odetta is the exceptional power of her voice. John Prine is often hailed as one of the best narrative songwriters of his generationand has been compared to fellow great songwriters Paul Simon, Loudon Wainwright, and James Taylor. 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. Admired for her powerful, intense vocals, Connie Smith (b. A contemporary and close friend of Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark is best known and appreciated for his deeply narrative story-songs. At the age of 54, she posed for Playboy magazine, becoming one of the oldest women to do so. 1 singles between 1950 and 1953. In 2006, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He's written some of the most covered tunes in folk history. The 50 best singer/songwriters, artists, and bands in the history of American folk music, from the 1940s through the 60s until today. Aretha Franklin was one of the most talented and influential singers not just in the 60s but the She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1976. Her songs have been used in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Its 1957 in Detroit and two years before Motown would emerge, friends Rosalind Ashford, Annette Beard, Gloria Williams, and Martha Reeves, who would move up as lead singer following Williams departure were finding their voice. Somewhere in the middle of mostly male-dominated doo-wop groups, Elvis Presley swiveling his hips and the emergence of rock and roll with the likes of Little Richard, Bill Haley, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis, and a burgeoning British invasion of the 1960s, there were the women of girl groups. Speaking of proteges, Steve Earle was somewhat of a Townes Van Zandt protegeand has been known to call Townes a better songwriter than Bob Dylan. As the frontman of the North Carolina Ramblers, Poole became an influence on the founding fathers of American bluegrass. This position brought her a visit from Lionel Hampton, who provided Washington with the opportunity to be the female vocalist in his band and perform at the Chicago Regal Theater. Nashville, Tennessee 37214, Ryman Auditorium 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.". Sign up to receive our communications, please fill in the following fields and hit submit. Was there a male Joni Mitchell, or a male Stevie Nicks? 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. Their songs captured a moment in time, of naivete and love and loss and remain classics today. Circa 1955: American singer and actor Rosemary Clooney (1928 - 2002) sings and dances in a ballroom or on a stage, accompanied by a pianist and a band. She began her solo career in 1949, recording for a major label, Columbia Records. Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line 4. The Poppies - Lullaby of Love. Del Wood: Wood (1920-1989) had only one chart hit -- the No. Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. Female Country Singers: The Top 45 Singers of All Time - Wide She led the fund drive for building the original Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, was instrumental in creating the annual CMA Awards Show, which launched in 1967, and oversaw Fan Fair, which started in 1972 and has since morphed into the CMA Music Festival. He was a great fan of traditional music, and often performed traditional spiritual songs and the like in his performances with wife June Carter. WebHer and Bob Regan made good music together. If any songwriter could be called "prolific" or "influential," those terms would certainly apply to Woody Guthrie. 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. Dusty Springfield 4. Ernest Tubb - Waltz Across Texas 5. While the 50s were generally regarded as a feel-good era in America, country music was ironically dominated by tear-in-my-beer honky-tonk songs in the first portion of the decade. 1s, including her duets with Jones, before tapering off, chartwise, in the mid-1970s. Although both Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon have had careers since the duo split up, and although Paul Simon has become a rather influential, prolific songwriter, it's hard to deny the level of artistry they were able to achieve as a pair. They've released more than 40 albums in the last 50 years, and have become somewhat of an institution in contemporary folk music. She has also been a board member of an organization called Center To Prevent Youth Violence, which works towards preventing gun violence. Cass Elliot 8. Her organization MuttNation Foundation works for rehabilitation of rescue animals. Pictured (L-R): Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton. A talent agent discovered her while she worked as an elevator operator in a clothing store on Hollywood Boulevard. The academy inducted her version of You Belong to Me and The Pied Pipers Ill Never Smile Again into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, her career was cut short after only eight years. | Americanpopandcountry musicsinger-songwriter, Taylor Swift is a multiple Grammy award winning artist who has inspired a number of hopeful musicians. Her first no. The chatter surrounding the song -- including Riley being forced to wear a miniskirt when accepting her CMA award for single of the year -- dimmed the fact that she scored several Top 10s after her glittery debut. 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. Dionne Warwick 6. The song reached no. 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. Well, no -- but was there a male Aretha Franklin? 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).. But there was a lot to celebrate as music evolved from the clean-cut '50s to the free-and-easy '70s. She is credited with releasing several chart-busting albums that have sold millions of copies worldwide. 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). Holly Near's staunch activism and feminist political protest songs have earned her a place among the greatest American folk singers of all time. After winning a talent contest when she was only 15, she began to perform in clubs. Her 1938 rendition of the nursery rhyme A-Tisket, A-Tasket brought them into the spotlight. Hits: Heat Wave, Dancing in the Street, Quicksand, Nowhere to Run, Produced by Phil Spector, The Crystals has a steady run of hits from 1961 through 1964 with Hes a Rebel, Uptown, Da Doo Ron Ron, Theres No Other (Like My Baby), Then He Kissed Me, andHes Sure the Boy I Love., Hits: Da Doo Ron Ron, Then He Kissed Me, Hes a Rebel, Ellie Greenwichhad originally written Chapel of Love forThe Ronettes, but the song was ultimately recorded by The Dixie Cups and produced by Phil Spector. What list of folk music greats would be complete without a nod to Mr. Bob Dylan? Log In. Get up close to where country music stars and legendsmake history every week,live on the Opry. Many of the best Black female singers have reached the top of the charts with their catchy tunes. Uncommonly witty, ambitious and market-savvy despite having been born dirt poor, she has built an empire that embraces performing, music publishing, recording, conventional and television movies, the Dollywood theme park in her native east Tennessee and a worldwide books-to-children charity. Only members can comment. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1995. Brenda Holloway 13. Even though they were pieced together with the intention of being an ideal folk-pop money-making supergroup, there's not a lot about Peter, Paul & Mary that was contrived. Vote for Your Favourite Female Country Singers 1 Taylor Swift Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team, first generation of female country artists. She recorded her first single (which did not chart) when she was 12. Old time banjo player Charlie Poole was one of the earliest stars of the old-time scene back in the 1920s. Earle's brand of country-folk protest music sets him apart from his peers. He became so popular and influential that he managed to get his own U.S. postal stampnot something with which many folksingers have been honored. Hank Williams & Drifting Cowboys - Honky Tonkin' 3. 1945) sang Tom T. Hall's Harper Valley P.T.A. to No. The daughter of musician Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash followed in the footsteps of her father. Among these were The Girl Most Likely, There Never Was a Time, Country Girl, Oh, Singer and Good Enough to Be Your Wife.. In the 1950s, she made regular appearances in movie musicals. After Webbs death, Fitzgerald took over as band leader while performing with the Benny Goodman orchestra and working on her own side project. A Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Lee is the only female performer to be inducted into both the Country Music and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame. Lees rise to fame took several years. The group dwindled to four members by the following year. The Glories - I Stand Accused (Of Loving You) The Simon Sisters - Winkin', Blinkin' and Nod. Liams lifelong love for music makes his role at Music Grotto such a rewarding one. Their tune "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" became a country-folk standard in the late '20s. She came to light as a solo singer in the early 1950s with her first hit song, Come On-A My House. Some additional hits include This Ole House, Hey There, and Half As Much.. Discovered by fellow gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, Della Reese had her breakthrough upon winning a contest allowing her to perform at a popular Detroit bar for a week straight. He's also become a star of the big screen, lending his talents to more than 50 films. Presley certainly wasn't the first to sing what's now considered rock 'n' roll; other notable artists WebHere's a playlist of Holler's Best Country Songs of the 1950s. Stay Up-To-Date with The Opry. Additional no. Aside from being a master flat-picker, Doc Watson has helped inspire a number of other influential folk artists, including Bob Dylan. Barbra Streisand 15. Opry House Billboardawarded her the most popular female vocalist in 1955, 1956, and 1957. Pop hits, country ballads, punk bangers and jazz standards, the best female singers' work is essential listening. Sheryl Crow is an American musician, actress, and singer-songwriter. She hasn't stopped pushing the envelope sinceand is still releasing excellent records. This would also be the period when the music was battered by the advent of rock 'n' roll but would ultimately find renewed vigor through outlets as disparate as bluegrass festivals and crowd-appealing network TV shows. Here's a look at the best singers, songwriters, artists, and bands in the history of American folk music. Although he's not a traditionalist folk singer, his music blends the tenets of folk with a more mainstream folk-pop style. Singing seemed to be a family talent. the Window. Dottie West was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2018. Shirley Bassey 3. First discovered as a calypso artist, Harry Belafonte became most popular for his "Banana Boat Song." WebSheffield Utd X Tottenham - Ao Vivo Grtis HD Sem Travar | Futebol Grtis HD. His song "Wild World" has frequently been covered by artists of various genres. However, this isn't just about country music. You can't really argue with a folksinger so good that his song managed to get him out of jail for murder. She was another one of the female vocalists of the 1950s to get a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Etta James 2. But she would not return to the country rankings again until 1969, after which many hits would follow into the 1980s, such as her rendition of Kris Kristofferson's "Nobody Wins.". 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. Lefty Frizzell - If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time 6. Page attained a unique sound that most pop singers didnt adapt to in the 1950s. She influenced the future of country music. She is also the Community Manager for the folk music magazine NoDepression. She performed primarily as a jazz artist, incorporating blues, R&B, and pop styles into her music. Kitty Wells made history as the first woman to have a No. Hits: Please Mr. Postman, Beechwood 4-5789, Dont Mess With Bill, Playboy. In 1960, the girls auditioned for Berry Gordy who told them they needed to write an original song. 7. Cat Stevens (a.k.a. She has charted 25 No. The scene was shifting and the female voice was getting more airplay and beginning to dominate the charts. Eventually, she would gravitate more toward country tunes, finding better success in that genre. The Beatles were arguably the greatest group of the period -- but many would say that their biggest chart rival wasn't the Rolling Stones or the Beach Boys, but the Supremes. Nashville, Tennessee 37219. Her subsequent 47 chart singles included such Top 5 hits as Then and Only Then, If I Talk to Him, Nobody But a Fool (Would Love You), Ain't Had No Lovin' and The Hurtin's All Over. She joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1965 and in 1997 married Marty Stuart. Guthrie wrote thousands of songs in his lifetime, many of which are still being found. List of older women in pop, soul and country with black female vocalists from the 50s, 60s and 70s who are still alive in 2023. Subscribe for updates, events, offers and more. 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 Her most famous singles are Right or Wrong and In the Middle of a Heartache.. Hits: One Fine Day, Hes So Fine, Sweet-Talking Guy. His songs are deeply personal narratives about life, and they've been performed by countless other artists. Dierks Bentley's 28-city musical journey will run from June through August. He's received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Folk Alliance and continues to tour nationwide. 3 on theBillboard charts and impressed studio executives. She blended country music with pop. His dark, spiritual love songs have been frequently covered by artists of all sorts. 2. With their prodigious instrumental skills, the trio blended jazz, folk, rock, and bluegrass on originals and covers alike. 1 and stayed there for a remarkable eight weeks. She was initially heard by agent Richie Lisella, who soon had her signed with London Records. Although they started out as more of a bluegrass group, Nickel Creek evolved, over the course of their 20 years, into more of a generalized folk group. Her 2014 single Ex's & Oh's became one of the top songs in US. Kelsea Ballerini Announces Third Leg of Heartfirst Tour. Patsy Cline. One of the earliest pop singers to enjoy a contemporary international following, Lee was among the most-charted singers during the 1960s. Her first million-selling single was With My Eyes Wide Open, Im Dreaming. Page followed this up with Tennessee Waltz in 1950, which spent 13 weeks as a no. In terms of topical and protest songwriting, Tom Paxton is one of the best there is. Cline suddenly passed away during a plane crash in 1963, but she left a legacy behind, earning herself a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Among Shepard's Top 5 hits were Satisfied Mind and Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar). In 1960 she married singer Hawkshaw Hawkins, who, three years later, was killed in the plane crash that took Patsy Cline's life. Who is the greatest female country singer of all time?Carrie Underwood. Born in March 1983, Carrie Underwood claims the first spot for the best country female singers of all time.Dolly Parton.Shania Twain.Patsy Cline.Martina McBride.Taylor Swift.Miranda Lambert.Reba McEntire. 1 single Somebody Else Is Taking My Place was released in 1942, quickly followed by Why Dont You Do Right? a year later, which sold over a million copies, spurring her to stardom. In the last 40 years, he's released more than 50 recordsand has become a rather respected songwriter in the realm of protest song. He's also quite the accomplished actor, having appeared in several films, including "A Star is Born" with Barbra Streisand. Sandman, Lollipop, Born to Be With You. WebSera Cahoone; Cam; Ashley Campbell; Laura Cantrell; Irene Cara; Lindsey Cardinale; Brandi Carlile; Paulette Carlson; Kim Carnes; Mary Chapin Carpenter; Jenny Lou Carson But the blockbusters came soon after that, with Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad, My Elusive Dreams (a duet with David Houston), and the Grammy-winning I Don't Wanna Play House.. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998. Carrie Underwood is an American singer-songwriter and one of the best female country music singers of all time. 1 on the R&B chart. Rose Lee Maphis just may be the oldest country singer still alive. ], Carmel by the Sea / The Man I Used to Know, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkiJgm6MWA8, When Two Worlds Collide / I Want to Be Where You're Gonna Be, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rww6Sqqzi4g, I Still Believe in Love / Life's That Way, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRnli0d-Gas, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQkm3I2BNgo, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vlZjLUkd9s, Keeping Up With the Joneses / No Thanks, I Just Had One, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSphfySIfKw, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9iLt8sXbu4, My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy / 'Til Death Do Us Part, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDcoKbX_zBM, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o02f4ArNcWA, The French Song (Quand le soleil) / Sit Down and Write a Letter to Me, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35WLFvVL2Sg. Jeannie Seely: A gifted singer and songwriter, Seely (b. Indeed, there aren't a lot of songwriters working these days who don't feel some reverence towards his work. 13 hit, Wake The Town and Tell The People., Diana Ross gained glory as the lead vocalist for the best-selling girl group, The Supremes. Just as Patsy Cline had mentored her career, Lynn did the same for her younger sister, who achieved fame as Crystal Gayle. The oldest daughter of Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra established herself as a popular singer and actress during the 1960s and 1970s. 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. Joan Baez is one of the most remarkable forces in American folk music. According to Billboard, Shania Twain is the 13th Greatest Music Video Female Solo Artist ever. The film The Ballad of Ramblin' Jack was made about his life. Betty Clooney briefly touched stardom alongside her sister, Rosemary. March 31, 2022, 8:55 am. Miley Cyrus, the American singer-songwriter and actress, is known for her wide range in music, spanning from pop and country pop to hip hop. 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. If we get 1,000 pre-saves on this today, I'll share a little bit of the song with you", Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles To Appear In New Version of "The Exorcist". 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. Emmylou Harris is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. Kelsea Ballerini will appear on Saturday Night Live this Saturday. Nina Simone 1. When she was 19, she toured the U.S. with a band led by Jimmy Joy. The Marvelettes were the first all-female group on the Motown label. 1937) charted country songs from 1964 to 1974, generally in the lower regions. 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.