women in music history

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Billie HolidayIn spite of having no formal musical training, 'Lady Day' became possibly the most influential jazz singer ever, thanks to her pioneering phrasing and tempo. Frank Sinatra said she was his biggest influence.

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Ella FitzgeraldThe ‘First Lady of Song’ achieved an incredible amount during her career (including 14 Grammy awards) and was famed for her amazing vocal range and ability to improvise.


Patsy ClineFemale country music singers might be the norm now, but that wasn’t so until Patsy Cline came along and changed the game, eventually becoming the first female artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Sadly, she died at the age of just 30 in a plane crash.


The ShirellesThe foursome were the first African American girl group to hit number 1 in the US with "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", paving the way for all the incredible girl groups of the 60s.


Tina TurnerOne of the great survivors in music, with a career spanning more than 50 years, Tina first found success with Ike before breaking away from him and going on to even bigger things in the 80s as a solo artist.


Diana RossNamed ‘Female Entertainer of the 20th Century’ by Billboard, Ross scored 70 hit singles as a member of one of the great girl groups, The Supremes, and as a solo artist.


Carole King

King is possibly the most successful female songwriter ever, penning "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" and "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" amongst over two dozen hits.


Aretha Franklin

The Queen of Soul achieved huge success with the feminist anthem ‘Respect’ in the mid-sixties and went on to become the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987..


Connie FrancisIn 1958, Cashbox and Billboard named Connie Francis as the #1 Female Vocalist. She was named Top Female Vocalist by all the trades for six consecutive years – a record never surpassed. Despite several severe interruptions in her career, she is still active as a recording and performing artist.


Linda RonstadtLinda Ronstadt has been involved in so many different genres of music. She has earned 11 Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, and numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums.


Whitney HoustonOne of the greatest vocalists of the 20th Century, Whitney was also one of the most successful, selling around 180m records. She was also the first black woman to have her videos played regularly on MTV. She sadly passed away in 2012, but her legacy continues to inspire artists today.


women in music history

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