Web101 Female Rock 'n Roll Girls of the '50s - Compilation by Various Artists | Spotify Home Search Your Library Create Playlist Privacy Center Cookies Preview of Spotify Sign up to Georgia Holt is a retired American actress, singer-songwriter, and former model. Hank Williams & Drifting Cowboys - Honky Tonkin' 3. favorites: Heartaches by the Number, Lonely Street 28 Billie Jo Spears Mr. Walker it's all over is a great song. She became the first woman to hit no. One of the most decorated female country singers of her generation, Judd was honored with a star on the Music City Walk of Fame for her contribution to music. She recorded her first single (which did not chart) when she was 12. 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. In the 1950s, country music continued to benefit from commercial success thanks to post-war prosperity. Pictured (L-R): Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton. After the show went off the air, Francis signed up with a record company to no immediate avail. Hits: Heat Wave, Dancing in the Street, Quicksand, Nowhere to Run, Produced by Phil Spector, The Crystals has a steady run of hits from 1961 through 1964 with Hes a Rebel, Uptown, Da Doo Ron Ron, Theres No Other (Like My Baby), Then He Kissed Me, andHes Sure the Boy I Love., Hits: Da Doo Ron Ron, Then He Kissed Me, Hes a Rebel, Ellie Greenwichhad originally written Chapel of Love forThe Ronettes, but the song was ultimately recorded by The Dixie Cups and produced by Phil Spector. Throughout history, there have been many women country singers who have made significant contribution to the field. 1946) isn't already designated as country music's official ambassador to the universe, something is terribly amiss. But there was a lot to celebrate as music evolved from the clean-cut '50s to the free-and-easy '70s. Aretha Franklin - Respect Official Video Winner. 1944) is most famous for writing two quirky hits, the puzzling Ode to Billy Joe, her recording of which now resides in the Grammy Hall of Fame, and the explicit Fancy (Just be nice to the gentlemen, Fancy/and they'll be nice to you.). Dusty Springfield 4. 5 piano tour de force Down Yonder in 1951. With his simple, folksy imagery and tunes inspired by his Midwest hometown, Greg Brown has become one of the most inimitable songwriters around these days. Listen live to the station that made us famous: WSM, broadcasting since 1925! Originally called The Starlets, The New Jersey trio of The Angels first formed in 1958 and became best known for their 1963 hit My Boyfriends Back., Hits: My Boyfriends Back, I Adore Him, Til. Her life was depicted in the 1985 movie, Sweet Dreams. 1945) sang Tom T. Hall's Harper Valley P.T.A. to No. 1 country single with her 1952 breakout hit It Wasnt God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels. Controversial and searing, the A hardcore country traditionalist, Jean Shepard (1933-2016) played bass in an all-woman band called The Melody Ranch Girls before setting out on a solo career. A multi-talented personality, Kramer is also known for her skills as a dancer; she finished fourth after competing in the popular dance competition television series Dancing with the Stars in 2016. Seely scored a hit Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You with fellow Opry member Jack Greene in 1969 and a solo hit Can I Sleep in Your Arms in 1973. Skeeter Davis: Davis (1931-2004) first came to public notice in 1953 as half of the Davis Sisters (although she and Betty Jack Davis were not related). The group dwindled to four members by the following year. Her 1938 rendition of the nursery rhyme A-Tisket, A-Tasket brought them into the spotlight. The song also earned her a Grammy Award the following year. Tina Benitez-Eves 2. Her first chart record, Dumb Blonde, was released in 1967 and she joined the Opry in 1969. She charmed generations of movie viewers in the blockbuster film Grease. Only members can comment. His dark, spiritual love songs have been frequently covered by artists of all sorts. Her Top 5 country hits with Cash were It Ain't Me Babe, If I Were a Carpenter and Jackson, the last-named of which won her and Cash a Grammy as best vocal duo. Ian & Sylvia were one of the most successful folk duos of the 1960s and '70s. Kelsea Ballerini will appear on Saturday Night Live this Saturday. Stafford signed to a label as a solo artist in 1944. Sandman, Lollipop, Born to Be With You. Was there a female Elvis or Bob Dylan? 1 and stayed there for a remarkable eight weeks. 1 on the U.S. If we get 1,000 pre-saves on this today, I'll share a little bit of the song with you", Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles To Appear In New Version of "The Exorcist". Emmylou Harris 14. This success ended up being too late for her label, which doubted her contract renewal until the debut of Whos Sorry Now? on Dick Clarks American Bandstand. This song became Francis breakthrough hit. Aretha Franklin. After having performed in the shadow of her husband Johnny Wright and his singing partner Jack Anglin, Kitty Wells (1919-2012) blew that duo out of the water in 1952 with her massive hit, It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels. It was her first record to chart and an answer song to Hank Thompson's Wild Side of Life, which lamented I didn't know God made honky tonky angels/I might have known you'd never make a wife., To this, Wells' tune responded, It wasn't God who made honky tonk angels/as you said in the words of your song/Too many times married men think they're still single/That has caused many a good girl to go wrong. Wells (real name: Muriel Deason) became known as the Queen of Country Music and would score two more No. She performed there for eight weeks and earned herself a record label. Hits: Mr. Barbara Lynn 19. ], Carmel by the Sea / The Man I Used to Know, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkiJgm6MWA8, When Two Worlds Collide / I Want to Be Where You're Gonna Be, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rww6Sqqzi4g, I Still Believe in Love / Life's That Way, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRnli0d-Gas, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQkm3I2BNgo, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vlZjLUkd9s, Keeping Up With the Joneses / No Thanks, I Just Had One, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSphfySIfKw, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9iLt8sXbu4, My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy / 'Til Death Do Us Part, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDcoKbX_zBM, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o02f4ArNcWA, The French Song (Quand le soleil) / Sit Down and Write a Letter to Me, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35WLFvVL2Sg. 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. 1 on the charts for 10 weeks. Old time banjo player Charlie Poole was one of the earliest stars of the old-time scene back in the 1920s. She also made her public debut as a soloist at New Yorks Hotel Astir the following year. In 2003, she was named in Country Music Television's 40 Greatest Women of Country Music list. Her songs were (and are) deep, compassionate and insightful. Seely remains one of the Opry's most applauded performers. American singer, Elle King, made her mark in showbiz when her debut single Good To Be A Man was released in March 2012 as a digital download. John Gorka's literary, poetic folk songs are among some of the most well-written around these days. If Dolly Parton (b. Also a philanthropist, Judd joined hands with Habitat for Humanity and helped raise more than $90 million to aid victims of natural disasters. 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. He had a very low bass voiceand was renowned for bringing some classic African-American spirituals like "Go Down Moses" to national and international attention. She created her biggest-selling record there, which reached no. In the Ken Burns PBS series on country music, producer Billy Sherrill recalls how he gave Virginia Wynette Pugh the name Tammy and how, later on, she and her former husband and singing partner George Jones interacted like wounded animals. She did not, as Sherrill promised her, make history with her first single, Apartment #9, which was released in late 1966 and rose only to No. Brenda Holloway 13. She has also worked in several movies and is a prolific songwriter. He's also quite the accomplished actor, having appeared in several films, including "A Star is Born" with Barbra Streisand. She started off singing gospel and playing piano in church. She recorded nearly 600 songs and was honored with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. The Blossoms - Son-In-Law. The daughter of musician Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash followed in the footsteps of her father. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1976. Wynonna Judd is an American country music singer. His own Red House Records has produced a number of successful artists like Eliza Gilkyson and others. She wouldnt be recognized for her vocals until she performed in an L.A. jazz club in early 1955. She also performed in Annie Get Your Gun, Woman Of The Year, and The Unmistakable Molly Brown.. The music of the Carter Family helped inspire folks like Bob Dylan. Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. This would also be the period when the music was battered by the advent of rock 'n' roll but would ultimately find renewed vigor through outlets as disparate as bluegrass festivals and crowd-appealing network TV shows. After beginning her career as a child singer, Holt started appearing on popular TV shows which increased her popularity. Nashville, Tennessee 37219. Brenda Lee is a singer best-known for performing country music and pop. by is one of the best topical tunes about the American educational system. Loretta Lynn is an American singer known for her groundbreaking contribution to country music. WebHer and Bob Regan made good music together. 1 on the R&B chart. 27. of 50. Her solo act took off successfully with numerous top 10 hits on theBillboardcharts. Due to his innovative blend of hard rock guitars with folky, rootsy lyrics and themes, Young has become one of the most influential artists in contemporary folk-rock. Since then, he's become a highly influential songwriter. Singer and pianist Dinah Washington was noted as the most famous black female recording artist of the 1950s. Baby Jane and the Rockabyes - How Much is That Doggie in. Charts), Canadian singer Anne Murray became the first Canadian female solo artist with No. 100 Best Female Singers Of The '50s, '60s and '70s - Groovy She is known for her best-selling platinum-certified album, (The First Canadian Female Solo Singer to Reach No. WebHere's a playlist of Holler's Best Country Songs of the 1950s. 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. While the man who would later become known as The King had a hard time catching a break in Nashville, one rockabilly artist signed under the same record label would capture the hearts of country enthusiasts and rock n roll fans alike: Johnny Cash. 1 singles on theBillboardHot 100 as a solo artist, half of a duet, a member of a trio, and a member of an ensemble. Kelsea Ballerini is an American singer and songwriter. Under the Influence, America's Sweetheart, Good Girls, Different for Girls, Wild Love are some of her other popular songs. In 2006, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 21 Best 50s Female Singers. She won audiences over with songs like Buttons And Bows, The Gypsy, and The Anniversary Song, which were all no. Leonard Cohen is one of the most distinguished songwriters in contemporary folk music. Her personal life has often sparked controversy, especially when she came out as pansexual and talked about use of cannabis. In 1955, despite music trends moving toward rock and roll and Carson being a pop singer, she managed a no. Cat Stevens (a.k.a. Bill Anderson, singer who is still a major songwriter of new hits She also recorded the infamous holiday song Baby, Its Cold Outside alongside Buddy Clark in 1949. Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team, first generation of female country artists. After a tough experience during adolescence and a rough start to her career, she took comfort in performing with Chick Webb And His Orchestra. 2023 Opry. Jeannie Seely: A gifted singer and songwriter, Seely (b. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973. They've released more than 40 albums in the last 50 years, and have become somewhat of an institution in contemporary folk music. Barbra Streisand 15. He was an activist and a songwriter, a Merchant Marine, and a former member of a barbershop quartet. The Primettes formed in 1959 and signed to Motown by 1961 as The Supremes. Two years passed before she hit the charts, peaking at 93 on theBillboardHot 100. She has received various accolades and awards in her very successful singing career spanning several decades and has composed over 3,000 songs. 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. She also performed at the infamous sixth and twelfth Cavalcade of Jazz concerts at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. Here are some more great female folk singers from the 1970s: Joan Baez Judy Collins Sandy Denny Janis Ian Emmylou Harris Odetta Vashti Bunyan Buffy Sainte-Marie Linda Ronstadt Judee Sill Female Disco Singers of the 70s People often mistake disco for a mans world, but that couldnt be further from the truth. Music! Surprisingly, the B-side was a smash hit, selling over a million copies and becoming Brewers signature song. Motowns famous act received 12 no. 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. A frequent performer on the Grand Ole Opry, Atkins got to know many fellow artists, who he would handpick for recording sessions. She has been a major influence on artists, such as Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, Linda Ronstadt, and Dottie West. She was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992. Jeannie C. Riley: Riley (b. First discovered as a calypso artist, Harry Belafonte became most popular for his "Banana Boat Song." She appeared prominently on The Johnny Cash Show from 1969 to 1971. Many of her songs chronicled the travails of marriage and motherhood and the problems of a straying husband (all true to Lynn's life). Apart from her entertainment career, Moore is a known philanthropist who endorses the philosophy of effective altruism. This earned her a slot in her best-known film, Singin In The Rain., She debuted on Broadway 20 years later in the revival of Irene. The show broke the record for the highest weekly gross of any other musical and earned Reynolds a Tony nomination. And while female singers were prominent, there were almost never any women playing instruments in the band. 1 singles between 1950 and 1953. Richard Shindell started working in music with the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band (with fellow incredible songwriter John Gorka). Music!" Because of this, she debuted in the film industry while still in high school in 1944s Nabonga.. 1 in the U.S., selling more than one million copies. Carole King, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Loretta Lynn all wrote songs from the heart about love and life, and became commercial successes in the process. 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. Hear New Tracks from Macklemore, Boygenius, Jeff Goldblum, and More, American Songwriter: a Savage Ventures Brand. Cline's singles continued to chart intermittently until 1999. 2 on theBillboardHot Country and Western Charts. 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 influenced the future of country music. 1937) charted country songs from 1964 to 1974, generally in the lower regions. Well, no -- but was there a male Aretha Franklin? Originally the group was formed with Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart, and Georgia Dobbins, who was later replaced by Wanda Young. 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. The Beatles were arguably the greatest group of the period -- but many would say that their biggest chart rival wasn't the Rolling Stones or the Beach Boys, but the Supremes. Originally from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, he spent five years living at the Mount Baldy Zen Center in Los Angeles. She's also an award-winning artist in her own rightand has recorded album after album of incredible folk, gospel, and blues songs. Leadbelly's influence has been felt across the musical spectrum, and his tunes spanned the old folk-blues and contemporary folk music. Earle's brand of country-folk protest music sets him apart from his peers. STREAM THE SHOWTIME ORIGINAL SERIES GEORGE AND TAMMY, Read About Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Kitty Wells, Tammy Wynette, and More, Dierks Bentley Announces Summer Gravel & Gold Tour with Jordan Davis, Elle King and More. The academy inducted her version of You Belong to Me and The Pied Pipers Ill Never Smile Again into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Among them were love songs, songs of praise, silly children's songs, songs about nature, and topical protest songs. But in the 70s, together with Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Jr., Jennings started the Outlaw Country Movement as an attempt to break away from the more traditional Nashville Sound. She was one of the most popular female folk singers in the '60s folk revivaland started her own record company, Wildflower Records. Ballerini became the first female artist since Carrie Underwood in 2006 to have her debut single top the Country Airplay chart. 1 on both the country and pop charts in 1968 and won a Grammy in the process. 3 on theBillboard charts and impressed studio executives. She gained fame with her 1957 release And That Reminds Me, which sold millions and made the Top 20 pop hits chart. LaVern BakerConnie FrancisBrenda LeeDinah WashingtonDella ReeseAretha FranklinEtta JamesKaren CarpenterDusty SpringfieldPatti LabelleMore items 2. 1 country single with her 1952 breakout hit It Wasnt God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels. Controversial and searing, the song was a response to Hank Thompsons Wild Side of Life and set the trend for answer songs. One part old-school country, one part gospel spirituals, the Carter Family's influence on contemporary folk music is certainly felt. Over the years, Crow has contributed to several film soundtracks, including the iconic theme song for the popular James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies. John Prine is often hailed as one of the best narrative songwriters of his generationand has been compared to fellow great songwriters Paul Simon, Loudon Wainwright, and James Taylor. Most might gravitate towards Elvis Presley or Chuck Berry, who laid the foundation for rock and roll during that time. Jana Kramer is an American singer and actress who was adjudged Top New Female Artist at the 2013 Academy of Country Music Awards. A [ edit] Kay Adams Julien Aklei Lauren Alaina Daniele Alexander Jessi Alexander Susie Allanson Deborah Allen Rosalie Allen Amy Allison Liz Anderson Lynn Anderson Jessica Andrews Sheila Andrews Lisa Angelle Susan Anton Katie Armiger Susan Ashton Patti Austin B [ edit] Joan Baez Katherine Bailess Born out of Washington Heights, New York, Veronica Bennett(Ronnie Spector), her older sisterEstelle Bennett, and their cousinNedra Talley made up The Ronettes. Shores legacy was honored with a dedicated street name in her hometown as well as a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. 1 in 1955, and a follow-up chart topper Lollipop which peaked at No. Navigation. With their prodigious instrumental skills, the trio blended jazz, folk, rock, and bluegrass on originals and covers alike. 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.". These classics include such semi-sermons as You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man), Don't Come Home A' Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind) and Rated X. She raised the hackles of radio censors -- while delighting other women -- with The Pill, a song she didn't write but which echoed her approval of birth control pills. 4 on the U.S Pop chart. Johnny Cash is another one of those artists who's often looked at as a country singer, although his earliest influences were folk artists like the Carter family. The evolution of the genre in the 1950s was perhaps best captured at the Opry, where it wasnt uncommon to see honky-tonk, bluegrass, and rockabilly artists perform in succession of each other. Their tune "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" became a country-folk standard in the late '20s. the Window. As a writer, she has contributed immensely to publications like The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Seventeen. Discover our 2022 Class of Country's Rising Sound. Even though they were pieced together with the intention of being an ideal folk-pop money-making supergroup, there's not a lot about Peter, Paul & Mary that was contrived. 2 on the pop charts. 1941) struck gold when Grand Ole Opry star Bill Anderson discovered her in an Ohio talent contest. Her first no. Pop hits, country ballads, punk bangers and jazz standards, the best female singers' work is essential listening. Born as Clara Ann Fowler in Oklahoma in 1927, Patti Page was known as the top-charting and best-selling female singer in the 50s, selling at least 100 million records 1/10 SLIDES Circa 1955: American singer and actor Rosemary Clooney (1928 - 2002) sings and dances in a In 2013, Georgia Holt became the subject of a documentary titled Dear Mom, Love Cher, which also featured her famous daughter Cher. WebKitty Wells made history as the first woman to have a No. Music! As the frontman of the North Carolina Ramblers, Poole became an influence on the founding fathers of American bluegrass. The brother-and-sisters act The Browns first charted in 1954 with Looking Back to See, a song Jim Ed Brown (1934-2015) and Maxine Brown (1931-2019) wrote.