Powerful Presence And Music With A Message

For every genre of music, you will note Black artists spearheading the creation and progression. And Black women have certainly made their mark on the music industry through the centuries. The Black female musicians highlighted here were chosen based on two main factors: a powerful presence and music with a message. With so much rump shaking bordering on pornography and nonsensical lyrics of much of today’s music, it is refreshing to have a reminder of the greatness that paved the way for modern musicians. I am in awe of the barriers these women breached; standards they set; and progress they made, much during very difficult political and historic times. These lovely ladies are presented in order of when they arrived on the scene—their birthday, that is.

Josephine Baker (June 3, 1906-April 12, 1975)

Nicknames: Black Pearl, Creole Goddess, Black Venus, Bronze Venus

Genres: Cabaret, music hall, French pop, French jazz

Best known for being: Vedette, singer, dancer, actress, performer, World War II spy, civil rights activist

Freda Josephine McDonald became Josephine Baker after marrying her second husband, William Baker. A true independent woman, Baker never had a problem leaving a failing relationship. In fact, she married four times and had a life partner after her last marriage. In addition, Josephine Baker had several relationships with many notable women. Josephine Baker rivaled her contemporaries as the most photographed woman in the world. By 1927, Baker was earning more money than any entertainer in Europe. Josephine Baker became one of the most in demand performers due to her unique dancing style and captivating costumes. She even played in several successful major movies released in Europe.

Josephine Baker was a staunch activist and trailblazer. She helped French military officials by passing on secrets she heard while performing. She relayed confidential information by writing with invisible ink on music sheets. She was later awarded the Medal of the Resistance with Rosette and named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor by the French government. The French government honored her with a 21-gun salute, making Josephine Baker the first American woman buried in France with military honors. Josephine Baker often refused to perform for segregated audiences. Her opposition against segregation and discrimination was recognized by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The NAACP honored her dedication and efforts by naming May 20th “Josephine Baker Day”.

Even Baker’s personal life demonstrated her political beliefs and was a testament to her activism. Josephine Baker adopted 13 children from various countries. She affectionately called her family “the rainbow tribe”. Baker took her children on the road with her to prove that racial and cultural harmony was possible. Josephine Baker was definitely ahead of her time. No one in Hollywood today has even come close to Baker’s example.

Hazel Scott (June 11, 1920-October 2, 1981)

Nickname: Darling of Café Society

Genres: Jazz, blues, ballads, Broadway and boogie-woogie songs, classical

Best known for being: Pianist, trumpeter, singer, actor, performing artist, activist

Hazel Dorothy Scott soared as a piano prodigy from the age of three. She was even able to attend Julliard despite being eight years old, when the standard was being 16. Hazel Scott went on to dazzle audiences at Café Society, New York’s first fully integrated nightclub. Scott was best known for her stellar renditions of Chopin, Bach and Rachmaninoff. Most impressive is how Hazel Scott could play two grand pianos at the same time. While still in high school, Hazel Scott hosted her own radio show on WOR. Mainstream recordings of her “Bach to Boogie” collection broke sales records nationwide. Hazel Scott’s 1955 recording of Relaxed Piano Moods with Charlie Mingus and Max Roach was inducted into National Public Radio’s Basic Jazz Record Library.

Scott’s zeal for civil rights was on par with her talent and performances. Hazel Scott was one of the first Black entertainers to refuse to play for segregated audiences. She wrote a forfeiture clause into all her contracts for if there was a dividing line between the races. Scott even took on Hollywood’s standards. She successfully negotiated receiving equal pay to her White counterparts, refused to play the subservient roles, insisted that her name credit in films always read “Hazel Scott as Herself”, and even successfully held a strike to remove the aprons as part of the actors’ costumes. Her freedom of speech and wily nature came at a cost—a short film career.

Hazel Scott continued to endure despite her politics being the source of complications for her career. But in 1950, Scott became one of the early pioneers of commercial television, by being the first Black performer to host her own nationally syndicated television show. She was literally the star of the show and performed piano and vocals in one of the seven languages she spoke. The combination of Hazel Scott’s early connection with Café Society and her civil rights activism made her the target of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Basically, the American government suspected Scott of being a Communist. But she took the charges head on and successfully defended herself.

Eartha Kitt (January 17, 1927-December 25, 2008)

Nicknames: Kitty Charles, Mother Eartha, Miss Kitt, Catwoman

Genres: Vocal jazz, cabaret, dance, torch

Best known for being: Singer, actress, dancer, voice actress, comedienne, activist, author, songwriter

Born Eartha Mae Keith, by the 1950s, Kitt brought herself out of poverty through song and dance. Eartha Kitt had a true domineering spirit. And even Orson Welles called her "the most exciting girl in the world". There are two distinct points in Eartha Kitt’s career that I absolutely adore. First, is her pithy rendition of “Santa Baby”. Second, is her role as Catwoman for the final season of Batman in 1966. Kitt was nominated twice for Broadway's Tony Award. And Eartha Kitt was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Eartha Kitt’s charm spanned to 2010 through voice acting in Disney films and animated series. Always a winner, Kitt won two Daytime Emmy Awards and one posthumous Emmy in for her guest performance on Wonder Pets!.

Eartha Kitt always spoke her mind and was a no holds barred activist. In 1968, Kitt told it like it was at a White House luncheon, which severely impacted her career. According to reports, Eartha Kitt made First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, cry when Kitt said, "You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed. They rebel in the street. They don't want to go to school because they're going to be snatched off from their mothers to be shot in Vietnam." In 1978 Jimmy Carter welcomed Eartha Kitt back to the White House.

Kitt’s vocal political views and activism with social issues never ended. Her outspoken nature on many national shortcomings made her the subject of surveillance by the CIA, starting in 1956. Eartha Kitt eventually became a prominent advocate for LGBT (all the other letters were not included yet) rights and same-sex marriage, which she deemed a civil right. Even though Kitt was heterosexual, she saw similarities in the disparities in her own life because of her race and barriers she had to contend with and rights that were denied.

Nina Simone (February 21, 1933-April 22, 2003)

Nickname: High Priestess of Soul

Genres: Jazz, folk, show tunes, pop, R&B, gospel, classical

Best known for being: Pianist, singer, songwriter, musical arranger, civil rights activist

Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon, she changed her name to Nina Simone to keep her mother from discovering where she was playing music to earn money. Nina Simone had a natural talent for piano at the age of three. Simone’s life was one with extreme high and low notes. But in 1987, only a year after she was sent to a hospital for mental illness, her 1959 recording of “My Baby Just Cares for Me” was used by Chanel for its international television advertising campaign. Rereleased, the record went gold in France and platinum in England. Nina Simone is considered one of the most influential recording artists of the 20th century. And Rolling Stone magazine listed Simone as the 29th greatest singer of all time.

Nina Simone’s road to activism was star-studded. She spent time in camaraderie and mentorship with the likes of James Baldwin, Langston Hughes and Lorraine Hansberry. Simone’s way of expressing her sentiments and inspiring others was through the pen (like her counterparts), but in lyric form. Her songs were as heavy hitting as her presence and outspoken nature. Nina Simone demanded respect at her performances starting from her first recital—she demanded that her parents get their front row seats back from a White couple that arrived later; and, she had no problem confronting disrespect head on.

Simone’s career seemed punctuated with many instances of experiencing new heights at the same time as new lows for the African-American community. For example, while playing a solo concert, she later found out Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other protesters were arrested. And Nina Simone was still rehearsing for a club date when she learned of the bombing of a Baptist church that killed four little Black girls. The more injustice she witnessed, the more Simone realized she needed to be more vocal. Ultimately, Nina Simone became a symbol of the civil rights movement, but then a relic and vestige of that same movement when it morphed from its origins and dissolved.

Whitney Houston (August 9, 1963-February 11, 2012)

Nicknames: Nippy

Genres: R&B, pop, soul, gospel, dance

Best known for being: Singer, actress, film producer, model

Whitney Houston is literally not only the most awarded Black female artist, but also the most awarded female artist period. She had over 200 million records sold, 5 Grammys, 19 American Music Awards, 7 NAACP Image Awards and more. As such, Whitney Houston set the Guinness Book world record as the most awarded female artist.

How can you not get blown away by Whitney Houston’s powerful range? She could belt out popular songs to pump you up. And she could just as easily envelope you in an angelic version of any gospel song. Houston’s image was just as unique. Whitney Houston was the first African American cover model for Seventeen magazine. A true triple threat, Whitney Houston also played many movie roles. The Body Guard (1992) was her acting debut. On top of it all, Whitney Houston was a philanthropist; she donated to Black colleges and founded a children’s charity.

Whitney Houston’s powerful presence and music with a message is summed up in her rendition of the National Anthem at the 1991 Super Bowl. Of note is how patriotism was fostered at a pivotal point through song at the start of the Persian Gulf War. Her powerful, flawless, effortless performance set a new standard that still demands the very best of every artist since. Continuing with her giving nature, her single of the National Anthem was rereleased, with all the proceeds being donated after September 11th.

My mother would always say, “Whitney and Janet can do no wrong” when it came to music. She still collects memorabilia of Whitney Houston. With Whitney Houston’s magical range and powerhouse list of recordings, it is tough to pick a short list of her songs that resonate with me most. But I always find myself playing “Didn’t We Almost Have It All”, “So Emotional”, and “Run to You”.

Janelle Monáe (December 1, 1985)

Alter ego: Cindi Mayweather

Genres: R&B, pop, funk, psychedelic soul, hip hop and progressive soul

Best known for being: Singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, record producer, actress, model

Janelle Monáe Robinson is a true powerhouse. Monáe rounds out this short list of Black female artists that have made substantial imprints on music history, because to me she represents a culmination of reaping the rewards of the doors opened by female artist before her. But Janelle Monáe does not rest on their laurels or hers. She represents the now and the future. I can rock with anyone who dedicates a song to yoga. But my favorite song of Janelle Monáe’s is “PrimeTime” featuring Miguel.

Monáe has a wide range of honors, awards and nominations to her credit. She has received 8 Grammy Award nominations, an MTV Video Music Award, and the ASCAP Vanguard Award. Janelle Monáe was also honored with the Billboard Women in Music Rising Star Award in 2015 and the Trailblazer of the Year Award in 2018. In 2012, Monáe became a Cover Girl spokesperson. In recognition of her artistry and social leadership, Boston, Massachusetts made October 16 "Janelle Monáe Day" in 2013. In February of 2015, Monáe signed a joint venture partnership between her independent label, Wondaland Arts Society, and Epic Records to create Wondaland Records. This move made Monáe one of the few black women who run their own independent record label in conjunction with a major record label.

Janelle Monáe literally has a strong visual presence. Monáe is most often found in black and white outfits ranging from classic to daring and striking. Her signature look remains different versions of a tuxedo. In 2016, Janelle Monáe made her film debut in two major movies; Monáe starred in Hidden Figures as NASA mathematician and aerospace engineer Mary Jackson. I wonder when we will see adaptations of the musicals she wrote as a teenager.

There is a major progressive nature to Janelle Monáe that is woven into an unsung activism. She has taken on the alter ego of Cindi Mayweather, an android who is the figurehead of a new era and revolution. Janelle Monáe loves the concept of the android because they represent the new "other". She aptly addresses how people are afraid of the other. Monáe is noted as distributing the Ten Droid Commandments, which encourages her followers to be individuals, free and transformed. Janelle Monáe takes her stance all the way by stating she only dates androids and identifies with bisexuality, pansexuality and being nonbinary.

While not a historian or history buff, Stephanie appreciates history as a means of understanding one’s past to appreciate the present and make wise decisions for the future.

Stephanie is an educator and consultant. To learn more, please visit stephaniebradberry.com.

Thanks for reading!