In honor of this issue’s theme, HERstory, below are five female artists/groups who influenced the industry of music in the genres of R&B, Rock and Roll, Country, Rap & Hip Hop, and Latin.
1. R&B - Aretha Franklin - The Queen of Soul
Aretha Franklin was a singer, songwriter, pianist, and activist. Born in 1942, she began singing in her father’s choir at their church in Detroit, the New Bethel Baptist Church. From an early age, she traveled all over the US to major cities and was recognized as a prodigy. She eventually moved to New York, where she signed with Atlantic Records in 1966. During this time, she made her first major seller, “I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)” (1967). Shortly after, she covered the song “Respect” (1967), originally sung by Otis Redding. Her cover became an anthem of the civil rights movements and the women’s rights movements. She originally heard the song while she was touring with Martin Luther King Jr. when she was a young activist. The original song was about giving the working man of the household respect from his wife and kids, but Aretha Franklin turned it into something empowering by switching the narrative and demanding that same respect. Her song became #1 on the Billboard charts and stayed there for almost four months, and in 1987, she was the first woman to be included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She also sang at President Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009. Aretha Franklin passed away in 2018, but her memory stays strong in the incredible music she created. She set the standard for women, especially women of color, to be able to have a voice in an industry dominated by white men. Aretha Franklin R.E.S.P.E.C.T LIVE 1991
2. Rock - The Runaways - Queens of Noise
Formed by guitarist Joan Jett and drummer Sandy West in the 1970s, the Runaways began as a rock group of 15 and 16-year-olds. Jett and West had gone to producer Kim Fowley who paired them with Cherie Curie (singer), Lita Ford (singer and guitarist), and Jackie Fox (bassist). At the time, rock and roll was especially male-dominated, so this group was revolutionary. Women were usually only singers, but the Runaways brought change with female musicians. Rock and roll was all about sex appeal and confidence. The Runaways nailed it right off the bat with their first album, The Runaways, which contained the most popular song they would ever create, “Cherry Bomb” (1976). Each member of the band had a strong stage presence, especially for such young ages. They already had to deal with so much backlash because they were women, and their age made it even more difficult for them to be taken seriously by the rest of the rock and roll community. This backlash also had to do with the fact that Fowley controlled their image to be “sleazy jailbait.” However, they soon proved their worth with their success. The band was short-lived and disbanded in 1979, but some of the members went on to have successful solo careers, especially Joan Jett and Lita Ford. Jett joined multiple bands including Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and The Pretenders. Her top hit, “I Love Rock and Roll,'' sold over 10 million copies. In 1989, Ford duetted the song "Close My Eyes Forever" with Ozzy Osbourne which reached #8 on the US Billboard Hot 100. They both continue to perform now, even in their sixties, with the same energy as when they were teenagers. We cannot ignore the fact that the Runaways were just teenagers when they were introduced to the rock and roll lifestyle of drugs and exploitation, but we can look at their achievements as a huge step for women in rock music. They influenced other all-girl bands like the Bangles, the Go-Go’s, and the Donnas, who made music that continues to inspire women rockers today. The Runaways Queens Of Noise Live in Japan 1977 HQ Audio
3. Country - Dolly Parton - Queen of Country
Dolly Parton is a classic story of “rags to rhinestones.” Born in 1946, she was the fourth of twelve children growing up in Appalachia. Her family was very poor, and her experiences are reflected in songs like “Coat of Many Colors” (1971), which recalls the humiliation she faced as a kid, coming to school in patchwork clothes. From the early ages of 10 to 13, she landed guest appearances on TV. After high school, she moved to Nashville to follow her passion for music. It was here where she started gaining recognition through the TV show of another country star, Porter Wagoner. Parton got the attention of the music industry, and soon signed with RCA Records where she released hit songs including “Jolene” (1974), which would be her top song for decades to come. She also crossed over into pop music, winning a Grammy for “Here You Come Again” in 1978. Dolly Parton expanded her career into acting, starring in the films Nine to Five featuring her famous song “9 to 5,” and The Best of Little Whorehouse in Texas, where she revived her hit “I Will Always Love You” which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and later covered by Whitney Houston. In addition to her stellar musical career, she opened Dollywood, an amusement park centered around Appalachian customs. She also created the Dollywood Foundation which provides resources such as education to children, and she published an autobiography, among other books. Dolly Parton exemplifies that you can truly make something out of yourself no matter where you start off. She continues to create music well into her seventies, collaborating with musicians like Miley Cyrus. She is recognized in the Country Music Hall of Fame as of 1999.
4. Hip Hop & Rap - Salt-N-Pepa - The Showstoppers
Cheryl James and Sandra Denton became known as Salt-N-Pepa around 1985 when they were asked to record a song for their friend’s class project. The song “The Show Stopper” turned into a hit and solidified them as Salt-N-Pepa. Shortly after, DJ Spinderella joined, and the trio blazed trails across a male-dominated rap industry along with other women rappers like MC Lyte and Queen Latifah. Not only did Salt-N-Pepa’s songs preach feminist values, but they also encouraged the representation of sexuality in music, something that had been taboo for women to express. Their sex-positive songs included “Let’s Talk About Sex” (1990) and “Push It” (1986), which became a Grammy contender. Their album Very Necessary (1993) produced some of their other biggest hits including “Shoop” and “Whatta Man.” The group disbanded in 2007 to pursue separate interests, but their influence on hip-hop culture was undeniable. Not only did they promote female empowerment in their music, but they also proved that women can sing about their sexuality, too. “None of Your Business,” also on the Very Necessary album, stresses that people do not have a right to judge how women express themselves sexually. Salt-N-Pepa Whatta Man on Letterman 1994
5. Latin - Selena Quintanilla - La Reina de Tejano Musica
Born in 1971, Selena Quintanilla broke musical barriers by winning the first Grammy for Tejano Music at the age of 23. Heavily influenced by her musician father, Selena was the lead singer in her family band by the time she was 10. The family played in clubs around Texas for most of her childhood. Her dad would write songs in Spanish, and singing them was how Selena learned the language. When her family’s restaurant closed, they moved back to her dad’s hometown, and, along the trip, their band kept performing music. In order to expand to a larger fan base, the family branched out to learning other types of music including Tejano, a type of music that incorporates dance rhythms from a multitude of cultures: Spanish vocals, German polka and waltz, and Czech dance beats. Tejano music was male-dominated, but Selena would break that mold for future women in the music industry. She earned the title Queen of Tejano music. For seven years in a row, she won the Tejano Music Awards. With EMI records (1989), she would release “Buenos Amigos” (1991) and “Donde Quiero Que Estes” (1994), growing her popularity in Mexico and the US and spreading her music to more markets. In 1994, she won a Grammy for her album Selena Live. After other major hits including "No Me Queda Más" and "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” her career skyrocketed. Tragically, in 1995 she was shot by her manager, Yolanda Saldivar, who was embezzling money. Selena was only 24 years old. In her short time, Selena Quintanilla left a profound impact on the music industry including the upsurge in Latin music popularity around the US, especially Tejano music. Selena - Si Una Vez (Live From Astrodome)
These five influential artists/groups only scratch the surface of the many female artists who have made revolutionary contributions to the music industry. They made it possible for women today to express themselves through music in an industry that constantly puts them down simply for being women. Modern artists draw their inspiration from these women, and it’s necessary to understand how deep those roots go.
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