African American Female Singers

The African American community has produced individuals who have achieved fame in diverse fields against all odds. Here are some famous African American female singers who made it to the top with their sheer determination and love for music.

Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer, born in Long Island, New York. Born on March 27, 1970, Mariah initially started her career as a backup singer for Brenda Starr, a Puerto Rican free style singer. In 1998, she met Columbia Records Executive, Tommy Mottola and gave him her demo tape. Mottola was so impressed with her singing that he immediately signed her for a recording contract. Mariah won five Grammies in her career. She was the first recording artist whose first five singles topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. She holds the record for most #1 singles for a solo artist; 18 of her singles topping the charts. Billboard magazine declared her as the most successful artist of the 90s in the United States. She was named as the best-selling female pop artist of the millennium at the World Music Awards, 2000.

Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill is a Grammy Award winning American singer and a film actress. She was born on May 25, 1975 in Orange County, New Jersey. In 1988, she appeared on 'It's Showtime at the Apollo' as an amateur night contestant at the age of 13. Lauryn was the lone female member of 'The Fugees', a hip hop group from New Jersey. Her solo career kicked off with the album titled 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill' in 1998. In 1999, she became the first female artist ever, to be nominated for ten categories for Grammy Awards in a single year. She won in five categories, becoming the first woman to win five Grammies in one night. She has also been active in social causes like wellbuilding projects in Uganda and Kenya. She organized a rap concert in Harlem to promote voter registration. In 1999, Lauryn Hill was enlisted as one of the "100+ Most Influential Black Americans" by Ebony, a monthly magazine for the African American market.

Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer, regarded as "The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll". She was born on November 26, 1939 in Tennessee, United States, as Anna Mae Bullock. Tina started her music career with 'Rhythm and Blues' musician Ike Turner. At the age of 18, she started singing for Ike's shows occasionally. Later, both of them got married and formed 'Ike & Tina Turner Revue'. In 1960, "A Fool in Love" became a huge R&B hit. "Proud Mary", in 1968, won a Grammy for the Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo. In 1984, "What's Love Got to Do with it" made it to the top of Billboard Hot 100. Tina has won 8 Grammies in her career.

Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright, more popular as Erykah Badu, is an American soul singer and a song writer. She was born in Texas, United States on February 26, 1971. A core member of 'Soulquarians', Erykah was known as the 'First Lady of Neo-Soul' - a sub-genre of contemporary R&B. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in the Performing and Visual Arts. Her 19 song demo, 'Country Cousins', caught the attention of Kedar Massenburg. She was given an opportunity to record a duet - "Your precious love" with D'Angelo. Her talent very soon earned her a contract with Universal Records. In 1997, her debut album, titled 'Baduizm', was released. It debuted at number 2 on the Billboard charts. Of the 19 Grammy nominations Erykah got in her life, she won 6.

Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston is an American recording artist and a fashion model. She was born on August 9, 1963 in New Jersey, United States. At the age of 11, Whitney was a member of a junior gospel choir. She signed a contract with Arista Records in 1983. Her duet "Hold Me" with Teddy Pendergrass, in 1984, became one of the Top 5 R&B hits. In 1985, she launched her debut album, titled 'Whitney Houston'. It went on to become the best-selling debut by a female singer. That was not the end; her second album titled 'Whitney' became the first one by a female singer to debut at the top position on the Billboard 200 chart. She was listed as one of The 100 Greatest Singers of All Times by the Rolling Stone magazine. Whitney Houston won 6 Grammy Awards in her career.

These were some of the African American female singers who have won the hearts of thousands of people around the world.