11 Comments

1. Emily Mascarenhas-Bennett

   Posted January 30, 2012 at 11:55 AM

   Most of those women didn’t write songs in the 1960s. If they did, those BMI Writers and Publishers checks would be nuts today.

   You should add soul/disco singer Loleatta Holloway. Her voice was crazy.

2. Tonya Gipson

   Posted February 23, 2012 at 6:37 PM

   Jennifer Lopez is not Black and I can’t believe you could compile a list like this and not include Nina Simone. Have you lost your mind?

3. Mike

   Posted March 9, 2012 at 5:18 PM

   Aretha wrote many songs and some of her own hits..”Think”, “Day Dreaming”, “Rock Steady”, “Since You Been Gone”, all sold well over a million copies each plus she wrote “Call Me” and “Dr. Feelgood”..

4. Lynn

   Posted March 20, 2012 at 7:09 AM

   I think Jennifer Hudson and Oleta Adams belong on that list somewhere, although I can’t deny that for the most part it’s a pretty good lineup.

5. Andre Michael Eggelletion

   Posted March 22, 2012 at 8:47 AM

   Great list… much respect to the wonderful singers you’ve listed; I just have to add a few you have overlooked: Ella Fitzgerald (the best female vocalist I’ve ever heard), Billie Holliday, and Sarah Vaughn. Not to mention Lena Horne, Shirley Bassey, Joesphine Baker, Dorothy Dandridge, Ethel Waters, Mahalia Jackson, and Pearl Bailey.

6. mario

   Posted March 29, 2012 at 10:58 PM

   this list is incomplete to me if Anita fuckin Baker aint on it re you crazy!!!!!!!!!! minnie ripperton, kim burrell, Sade, Shirley murdock definitely deserve honorable mentions and teena marie might be white but she aint no punk

7. Tammy Hurt

   Posted May 2, 2012 at 11:48 AM

   Who complied this list? I understand you wish to pay homage to a few legends, where is Mahalia Jackson or Tina Turner if that’s what you’re doing? I read a few comments about those writing their own material….I don’t think that’s what the writer is trying to convey because ‘singer’ is the key word! Are you considering record sales? If so, then Beyonce should be on there (even tho I don’t think she’s a contender but she has paid her dues)! Also HOW IN THE WORLD could you not include Lisa Fisher, Minni Ripperton, Angela Bofill and Heather Headly? When you say undeniable you mean undisputed or incapable of being denied…correct? Well I can dispute a few of your choices. When I think of a black female that sing….I think quality!

8. Tammy Hurt

   Posted May 2, 2012 at 11:49 AM

   Oh yeah and Jennifer Lopez? I’m still scratching my head about that one!

9. Jan

   Posted May 3, 2012 at 9:34 AM

   Angela Winbush, Angela Bofill, Randy Crawford, Sharon Bryant from Atlantic Starr. I never thought of Jennifer Lopez as a singer nor as blaci

10. Kevin Ross

    Posted May 3, 2012 at 12:09 PM

    Jennfer Lopez is the JOKE here folks

11. JKA

    Posted May 8, 2012 at 9:52 AM

    Here we go not reading and only looking at photo’s again lol. The J-Lo addition is a joke.