In the United States, the introduction of new styles of music came during the Transatlantic Slave Trade era. The genres of music include, but are not limited to, blues, rock, gospel music, jazz, bluegrass, and Hip-hop. Black American women in the music industry have made significant contributions over the years.
This legacy starts in the 1870s with the Fisk Jubilee Singers, who performed many different genres of black music including traditional spirituals, blues, classic jazz and rhythm and blues, also commonly referred to as R&B. The Fisk Jubilee Singers became popular throughout the world for singing traditional spirituals during their tours in both the United States and England. Sexist attitudes during the early 20th century made it difficult for African-American women to have a strong presence in mainstream music. Despite this, women were still extremely authoritative in the genres of blues, jazz, and R&B.
Early Music and the Harlem Renaissance
Jazz
African-American women contributed to the genre as both jazz singers and instrumentalists, while also holding prominent positions in the Hip-Hop/Rap genre, even though these genres were dominated by men. The piano was one of the first instruments that women played in jazz music, and this ability granted women a high degree of acceptance in the industry. Women discovered that they could rap the same way, or sometimes even better than men. Rap music is, at a basic level, defined as a genre that includes a recurring beat pattern in the background accompanied by rhythmic speech.
Mary Lou Williams, a popular pianist, is sometimes referred to as one of America's best known and revered jazz women. Williams gained her first spot light in her hometown, Kansas City, where she developed into one of the most "sought after pianists in Kansas City". Through her compositions, Williams is said to have influenced the evolution of the "big band" sound. Because of her innovative writing techniques, Williams gained the opportunity to compose for many well known jazz innovators such as Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. Williams did not move into the New York Area until the early 1940s. It was during this time that a new style, "bebop", was emerging, and she easily transitioned into composing music for this is the sub-genre of jazz. She later went on to lead various women's music groups, and founded one of the first female-owned recording companies.
Due to the treatment of women, most could not make it in the industry as individual performers, but all-female jazz bands and family-based jazz groups were popular. During World War II, many male jazz musicians were drafted to fight in the war; because of this, all-female bands had the opportunity to gain popularity. Some of these bands included Darlings of Rhythm and the International Sweethearts of Rhythm.
In later years, African-American women were able to succeed as individual singers as well as rappers in the industry. Some of the most successful names include Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Lena Horne,Billie Holiday [Lil Kim]], [Queen Latifah]], [MC Lyte]],[Missy Elliot]] , and [Lauryn Hill]]. Ella Fitzgerald, known as "The First Lady of Song", sold over 40 million records and won 13 Grammy Awards.
Blues
The 1920s blues, known as the classic blues, was a genre largely popularized by African-American women. Singers such as Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Alberta Hunter, and Ethel Waters were the most popular. Ma Rainey, referred to as the "Mother of the Blues", became popular in the early 1900s. Rainey was the first popular black female stage entertainer to incorporate authentic blues into her song selection. She is known for the "Jump Blues" which incorporated a racy and theatrical style, whereas Bessie Smith, who was known as the "empress of the blues" showcased the classic blues.
As male-dominated country blues grew in popularity, women fell out of the spotlight slightly. However, during the blues revival, about 30 years later, Mamie Smith became the first black female vocalist to record a blues song. While "Crazy Blues" is cited as the first blues recording, it also represents the emergence of black female singers into popular music culture. Both black and white consumers purchased the record, and record company executives recognized it as a lucrative marketing segment.