She developed 27 R&B top 10 hits within seven years. The song also earned her a Grammy Award the following year. the Window. 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. Despite a number of songs in her repertoire prior, Clines first big hit was Walkin After Midnight, which peaked at No. She recorded her first single (which did not chart) when she was 12. Patsy Cline. Menu. She won audiences over with songs like Buttons And Bows, The Gypsy, and The Anniversary Song, which were all no. Nina Simone 1. With a career enduring more than 40 years, Julie London was a well-known torch singer and actress. Terms & Conditions | 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. 1 in the U.S., selling more than one million copies. This is a professional review website. If 1960s country music has now largely faded from the public memory, then 1960 country music by female performers is even more obscure. 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. She won a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1962 and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997, more than 25 years after her death. Often referred to as the Queen of Jazz or First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald was a jazz singer from Virginia. There were plenty of issues, to be sure. After Webbs death, Fitzgerald took over as band leader while performing with the Benny Goodman orchestra and working on her own side project. 1945) sang Tom T. Hall's Harper Valley P.T.A. to No. Older female singers still alive in 2023. Mainly known for her pop and country music, Patti Page topped the charts as one of the best 1950s female singers. 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. 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.. Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. on The Ed Sullivan Show, 25 Best 50s Musicians (Top Artists From The 1950s), 15 Best Female Metal Bands (Or Female Fronted), The best female singers of the 1960s (our picks), The best female singers from the 1970s (70s female singers), Top female singers of all time list (our choices), Our picks for the best black female singers of all time, highest weekly gross of any other musical, The best blues singers of all time (most famous picks). 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North Loretta Lynn (b. Well, no -- but was there a male Aretha Franklin? 2023 Opry. 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. Their I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know reached No. Her debut albumJulie Is Her Namecame out later that year. She gained fame with her 1957 release And That Reminds Me, which sold millions and made the Top 20 pop hits chart. Multifaceted personality, Dolly Parton is a singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, author and businesswoman and is known mainly for her work in country music. Ani DiFranco is probably the most prominent Gen-X folksinger. 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. If Dolly Parton (b. 1940) won a Grammy for her very first single, Don't Touch Me, released in 1966 and written by Hank Cochran, whom she would later marry. 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. Although he's not a traditionalist folk singer, his music blends the tenets of folk with a more mainstream folk-pop style. In the '50s, '60s, and '70s, female solo singers were ever-present on radio, TV and the pop charts -- as they should have been! 1 on both the country and pop charts in 1968 and won a Grammy in the process. 100 Best Female Singers Of The '50s, '60s and '70s - Groovy She also performed at the infamous sixth and twelfth Cavalcade of Jazz concerts at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. Charts), Canadian singer Anne Murray became the first Canadian female solo artist with No. As a writer, she has contributed immensely to publications like The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Seventeen. 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. Because of this, she debuted in the film industry while still in high school in 1944s Nabonga.. Since then, he's become a highly influential songwriter. Vote for Your Favourite Female Country Singers 1 Taylor Swift Among these were The Girl Most Likely, There Never Was a Time, Country Girl, Oh, Singer and Good Enough to Be Your Wife.. He's drawn praise from fellow singer/songwriters and critics alikeand has become a fixture at festivals nationwide since winning the Kerrville New Folk competition in 1984. The 2023 version of "The Exorcist" is a fresh interpretation of the horror classic that will be released in theaters on Oct. 13. Shes the only female vocalist with no. With gospel roots, she embarked on a soul-singing career at the age of 18. WebTop 100 Country Female Artists. 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. Notable artists include Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Bill Haley. His first major hit, I Walk The Line, which was recorded in 1956, bridged the gap between the two genres, suggesting at his widespread appeal in the decades to follow. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973. Brenda Holloway 13. List of country performers by era - Wikipedia Was there a female Elvis or Bob Dylan? 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. Identified with Country Sunshine, the No. 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).. 1 on theBillboardHot 100. Chelsea X Leeds - Ao Vivo Grtis HD Sem Travar | Futebol Grtis HD Log In. The artistry of their music tells another story and speaks -- or sings -- for itself. Motowns famous act received 12 no. 25 Best 60s Female Singers (1960s Female Singers) - MG - Music Such was her wide vocal appeal and heart-melting songs that Patsy Cline (1932-1963) achieved legendary status in the relatively short six-year period she recorded. In his collaboration with Portland fiddle player Tracy Grammer, the duo managed to sing and play their way into the hearts of folk fans, even in the short time before Carter's death in 2002. She also recorded the infamous holiday song Baby, Its Cold Outside alongside Buddy Clark in 1949. One of Woody Guthrie's most dedicated proteges, Ramblin' Jack earned his reputation as a tall tale teller and folk singer. The Mamas and the Papas were one of the most successful folk-pop groups of the '60s, and Mama Cass was one of the most notable female presences of the folk revival. 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. Only members can comment. 1941) struck gold when Grand Ole Opry star Bill Anderson discovered her in an Ohio talent contest. Her chart debut came in 1958 with Lost to a Geisha Girl. She would chart 40 more singles, including her 1962 crossover hit, The End of the World. as well as Gonna Get Along Without You Now and I Can't Stay Mad at You. She was married to disc jockey Ralph Emery from 1960 to 1964 and to Joey Spampinato of the rock band NRBQ from 1983 to 1996. June Carter Cash: As the daughter of Maybelle Carter, one of country music's founding mothers, the former wife of country star Carl Smith and later the wife and singing partner of Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash (1929-2003) was as close as it comes to being country music royalty. Her embattled marriage with George Jones made Become a member. Kris Kristofferson may be best known for writing Janis Joplin's huge hit "Me and Bobbie McGhee," but he's a favorite among fellow songwriters. Singing seemed to be a family talent. Under the Influence, America's Sweetheart, Good Girls, Different for Girls, Wild Love are some of her other popular songs. Ella Fitzgerald. Wynonna Judd is an American country music singer. Listen to CMT's new music playlist The Roundup in this story. WebKitty Wells made history as the first woman to have a No. Unfortunately, her career was cut short after only eight years. 1 in 1964, sold more than one million copies, and led the way for the groups continued hits throughout the 60s like People Say, You Should Have Seen the Way He Looked at Me, Little Bell, and Iko Iko., Hits: Chapel of Love, People Say, Iko Iko, Addressing all the teen drama and more tragic scenarios of youth, the New York City-bred pop group The Shangri-Las had more edge but still embodied the youthful strains of love and heartbreak with No. The Kendall Sisters - Yea, Yea. 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. Like Kitty Wells' It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels, A Dear John Letter topped the charts for six weeks. She was one of the most popular female folk singers in the '60s folk revival and started her own record company, Wildflower Records. After finishing first multiple times in a contest, Starr received a 15-minute radio show. Her voice is an extraordinary soprano, and she's played everything from classic traditional songs to the work of Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs. One year later, after auditioning for WDAY in Fargo, radio personality Ken Kennedy gave her the stage name Peggy Lee. She sang mostly pop and country songs. Together, they created Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Cole Porter Song Book, the first of eight songbooks Fitzgerald recorded at Verve from 1956 to 1964. 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. Norma Deloris Egstrom began singing professionally at the young age of 16 in 1936. Singer/songwriter Tom Waits is probably one of the contemporary folk artists most well-respected outside of contemporary folk music. Hits: Come See About Me, Stop! Mandy Moore is a popular singer, songwriter, and actress who has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 21 Best 50s Female Singers (1950s Female Singers) - MG - Music Music!" She has been a major influence on artists, such as Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, Linda Ronstadt, and Dottie West. 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.". Arden transferred to Decca Records in the mid-1950s. 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. Her life was depicted in the 1985 movie, Sweet Dreams. Any purchase that a visitor makes for a product mentioned or directed to by Music Grotto, may result in us receiving a commission.As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Richard Shindell started working in music with the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band (with fellow incredible songwriter John Gorka). A contemporary and close friend of Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark is best known and appreciated for his deeply narrative story-songs. 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. Country by the Decade: 1950s | Opry Etta James 2. There are some exceptions- the work of Regardless, Ochs is considered one of the more gifted songwriters of his generation. She's managed to influence an enormous crop of folksingers, including Gillian Welch and Janis Ian. Two-time Grammy-winning country singer Miranda Lambert is known for her hit album Platinum and the track Automatic. In all, Wynette would score 20 No. His gritty voice and dark, dirty songs have almost a punk-rock sensibility. In many ways, the Nashville sound was the traditionalists answer against rockabilly, a fusion of rhythm-and-blues music and hillbilly music that was gaining traction, particularly among younger audiences. 3 on theBillboard charts and impressed studio executives. An American actress, singer, songwriter, filmmaker, writer, and YouTuber, Jennette McCurdy is truly an inspiration to several young girls and women; despite suffering from conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia, and bulimia, McCurdy has managed to establish herself as a successful entertainer. 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. He works closely with journalists and other staff to format and publish music content for the Music Grotto website. Ross earned the title of Female Entertainer of the Century, given byBillboardin 1976. Emmylou Harris is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. After Washington left Hamptons band, she embarked on a successful solo career. Her recording debut came later that year, and both that record and its successor made theBillboardHarlem Hit Parade in 1944. First lionized as a teen rock 'n' roll star, Brenda Lee (b. Dusty Springfield 4. 1955; 1956; TOP 40 HOT COUNTRY SONGS OF THE 60s; TOP 40 HOT COUNTRY SONGS OF THE 70s; TOP 40 HOT COUNTRY SONGS OF THE 80s; TOP 40 HOT COUNTRY SONGS OF THE 90s; Sandman, Lollipop, Born to Be With You. Female Singer and pianist Dinah Washington was noted as the most famous black female recording artist of the 1950s. Since then, the Fearless star has not looked back and also made her acting debut in 2009. Utah Phillips has made it his life's work to sing the songs of the working class. She appeared prominently on The Johnny Cash Show from 1969 to 1971. Female Singers In 1955, despite music trends moving toward rock and roll and Carson being a pop singer, she managed a no. However, she didn't reach No. 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. 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. In the last 40 years, he's released more than 50 recordsand has become a rather respected songwriter in the realm of protest song. Next: The top Soprano singers of all time. Many of her songs chronicled the travails of marriage and motherhood and the problems of a straying husband (all true to Lynn's life). List of American female country singers - Wikipedia Hits: Mr. The academy honored her with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. 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.". Legends of Country: Classic Hits from the '50s, '60s & '70s Her personal life has often sparked controversy, especially when she came out as pansexual and talked about use of cannabis. The Almanacs were really the first folk music supergroup and spun off into rather successful careers for Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Josh White, Burl Ives, and various other folks who made up the core of the group or who joined them on occasion. She also made her public debut as a soloist at New Yorks Hotel Astir the following year. Shepard was welcomed into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011. 1 until 1973 when she began duetting with Kenny Rogers. Joan Baez is one of the most remarkable forces in American folk music. Admired for her powerful, intense vocals, Connie Smith (b. Top 10 Female Singers Of The '50s, '60s, And '70s. Music! Though her solo career was phenomenal, her collaborations with trumpeter Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and The Ink Spots formed some of her most famous hits, including Dream a Little Dream of Me, Cheek To Cheek, and Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall. The singer won 13 Grammy Awards along with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. There was no template. She is credited with releasing several chart-busting albums that have sold millions of copies worldwide. [Please note, duets which involve one male and one female performer have been included. The Jewels - Opportunity. Her performance of the song Aba Daba Honeymoon in the 1950 film Two Weeks with Love peaked at no. The Bryants were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1991. Her most famous singles are Right or Wrong and In the Middle of a Heartache.. Nashville, Tennessee 37219. Probably the most prolific female songwriter of them all, Felice Bryant (1925-2003) and her fiddle-playing husband, Boudleaux, moved to Nashville in 1950 to work as full-time composers. In fact, any set that offers Bob Wills' "New San Antonio Rose," Ernest Tubb's "Walking the Floor Over You," Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line," Hank Williams' "Jambalaya Check out the full track listing below: 1. Another hit, Choon Gum, made the top 20 in 1950. Navigation. He's managed to maintain a sort of cult following, bringing his soulful folk stylings to rather biting protest songs and incantations about justice and the human experience. In many ways, what happened in this decade would set the stage for some of country musics biggest moments. He went on to be an instrumental force in the '60s folk revival and helping organize during the Civil Rights movement and the peace movement. Originally the group was formed with Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart, and Georgia Dobbins, who was later replaced by Wanda Young. Formed in 1946 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, The Chordettes initially started out singing more folk-driven songs until they tapped into their harmony. He almost doesn't warrant an explanation as to how and why he deserves to be on this list, but I'll give one, anyway. 4 on the U.S Pop chart. Though shes more famously known as an actress, Marilyn Monroe gained popularity through movie musicals and singing films. Vote for Your Favourite Female Country Singers, (Pop Icon & One of the Best-Selling Musicians of All Time), (Singer-Songwriter and Actress, Primarily Known for Her Work in Country Music), (Singer Known for Her Album 'Come On Over'), (Country Singer-Songwriter Known for Her Hits You Ain't Woman Enough' and 'Fist City'), (One of the Most Popular Female Country Vocal Artists of the Late 20th Century), (Country Singer-Songwriter Best Known for Her Albums: Kerosene, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and 'Platinum), (One of the Most Influential Vocalists of the 20th Century), (American Music Artist Who is Known as the First Lady of Country Music), (Filmmaker, Podcaster and Former Actress Best Known for Her Role as Sam Puckett in the Nickelodeon Sitcom iCarly), (One of the Best-selling Artists, Who Starred in the Musical 'Grease'), (Country Singer, Five-Time Grammy Award-Winner), (Pop Artist who Has the Most US Billboard 200 Top-5 Albums in the 21st Century by a Female), (Country Music Singer Who Topped the Charts at age 13 for Her Single Blue), Country singer Kacey Musgraves has won six, (American Singer-Songwriter & Multi-Instrumentalist), (One of the Best Selling Pop, Rock Singer-Songwriter with Nine Grammy Awards), (One of the Most Successful Country Music Artists of All Time), Country music legend Faith Hill is best known for her hits, (Actress and Singer Best Known for Her Song 'These Boots Are Made for Walkin'), (Country Pop Singer Known for Her Single 'Love Me Like You Mean It'), (Country Singer Best Known for Her Hit single She's in Love with the Boy), (Country Singer and Actress Known for Her Role as 'Alex Dupre' on the Television Series 'One Tree Hill'), (Country Singer-Songwriter Best Known for Her 1977 Hit Single 'Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue'), Country-pop crossover singer Crystal Gayle is best known for her, (One of the Best-Selling Country Artists of All Time), (Country Singer-Songwriter Known for Her Breakout Single 'Seven Year Ache'), Model Barbi Benton is best known for her stint with, (Singer-Songwriter Known for Her 1960 Hit 'Im Sorry' and 1958s 'Rockin around the Christmas Tree'), Loretta Morgan, daughter of country singer George Morgan, began her career as a singer at age 13. Lesley Gore 12. Jackson went on to release one of her biggest songs, Dont You Know, peaking at no. Leonard Cohen is one of the most distinguished songwriters in contemporary folk music. She has also worked in several movies and is a prolific songwriter. Certainly, her early records were very folky. See his full schedule! Although she passed away in 1962, Monroes stardom lives on. 2 on the pop charts. Peggy Lee. Eventually, she would gravitate more toward country tunes, finding better success in that genre. Presley certainly wasn't the first to sing what's now considered rock 'n' roll; other notable artists Her elegant voice was only part of her legacy. Janis Joplin 5. With a career spanning nearly 70 years, Debbie Reynolds was a singer, actress, and businesswoman. The classic song hit No. Hits: Please Mr. Postman, Beechwood 4-5789, Dont Mess With Bill, Playboy. 1946) isn't already designated as country music's official ambassador to the universe, something is terribly amiss. Betty Jack was killed in a car wreck that same year, after which Skeeter moved on as a solo act. Web Accessibility. 1 country single with her 1952 breakout hit It Wasnt God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels. Controversial and searing, the In 1993, she joined Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton for the album Honky Tonk Angels. Joan Baez 7. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998. Her 1977 cover of You Light Up My Life peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for ten weeks. Kelsea Ballerini is the recipient of several prestigious awards, such as CMT Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, and Teen Choice Awards. Bobbie Gentry: Smoky-voiced Gentry (b. He's written some of the most covered tunes in folk history. Her top hits were My Heart Cries For You and Sweet Violets, both reaching no. 4 on the U.S. charts. Groups of the '50s and '60s That year,Billboardvoted her The Most Promising Singer. She charmed generations of movie viewers in the blockbuster film Grease. In the Name of Love, Where Did Our Love Go, Baby Love, I Hear a Symphony, You Cant Hurry Love, You Keep Me Hangin On, Love Child, Someday Well Be Together. After being diagnosed with intraductal carcinoma, a form of breast cancer, Sheryl Crow opened the Sheryl Crow Imaging Center by joining hands with her surgeon Kristi Funk. Kelsea Ballerini Announces Third Leg of Heartfirst Tour. She placed six singles on the country charts between 1967 and 1970, three of them duets with Glen Campbell, and co-hosted the first CMA Awards show with Sonny James. WebThe Bermudas - Donnie. 13 Of The Most Famous Country Singers Of The 50s - Hello Music Laura Nyro 17. Country Singers One of the earliest pop singers to enjoy a contemporary international following, Lee was among the most-charted singers during the 1960s. 44. 1 and stayed there for a remarkable eight weeks. She's also been a constant voice for peace and social justice. Stand By Your Man, the 1968 No. His classic, "What Did You Learn in School Today?" And while female singers were prominent, there were almost never any women playing instruments in the band. A woman of many talents, June Carter Cash was an American singer-songwriter, author, comedian, actress, and dancer. 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. The music industry, like most occupational fields in history, had its own harmful gender roles, and the gist of it was that women were pretty singers and men were serious musicians. | Cass Elliot 8. These songbooks became her most significant and successful pieces. That's a shame as there are some outstanding performers here who deserve more attention. 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.