black music month

Expanding Black Music

Randy Jackson
Way before he became a household name judging aspiring singers on 'American Idol,' the Baton Rouge, Louisiana native was a musical director/producer for Mariah Carey. But before then, he was a session musician for the likesof Bruce Springsteen, George Michael, Richard Marx, Bob Dylan, Bon Jovi, Billie Joel and Journey. (Photo: Wire Image)

Shirley Bassey
Shirley Bassey may be known for singing pop songs, but she is far more than a pop singer. The Cardif, Wales-born diva has pipes that rivals many singers of many generations and because of that, she can virtually sing any style of music. An acquired taste for upper crust American music aficionados, Bassey is the best-selling singer in the United Kingdom. Not Madonna. And definitely not Amy Winehouse! Historically, she holds the distinction of being the only singer to be tapped to sing a record four theme songs for James Bond movies, most notably 'Goldfinger' which her signature tune. (Photo: Getty Images)

Tracey Chapman
With her deep alto and understated androgynous appearance, the Cleveland, Ohio native garnered a cult-like following by street-performing and playing guitar in coffeehouses in Cambridge, Massachusetts. With her hit songs 'Fast Car' and 'Give Me One Reason,' she became a multiple platinum selling, multiple Grammy Award winning success. (Photo: Getty Images)

Darius Rucker
As the frontman of 1990s band Hootie & The Blowfish, the Charleston, South Carolina native became an overnight sensation with chart-topping songs such as 'Hold My Hand,' 'Let Her Cry' and 'Only Wanna Be With You.' The group's debut opus 'Cracked Rear View' sold over 16 million copies and netted the group a Best New Artist Grammy Award. Rucker went on to a solo career performing neo-soul music and starring in a Burger King commercial. He's also embarked on a country musiccareer. (Photos: Getty Images)

Nina Simone
Though a classically trained pianist, the South Carolina born Eunice became one of the most revered song stylists of her generation internationally. Notoriously known for cursing out audience members and screaming bloody racism, Simone's musical legacy include songs of liberation and love that have become standard fare in the pop music lexicon; her songs ('Feeling Good,' 'Put A Little Sugar In My Bowl') have been covered by everyone from Cyndi Lauper and Natalie Coleto Queen Latifah and The Pussycat Dolls. (Photos: Getty Images)

Rissi Palmer
Surprisingly, not too many black performers if any have been able the traverse the terrain of country music considered the best-selling music in the United States. The Pittsburg, Pennsylvania born beauty joined a short list of African-American singers in the genre. Her debut single 'Country Girl' made a mark on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts making Palmer the first African-American woman to chart a country song since Dona Mason in 1987.(Photo: Wire Image)

Youssou N'Dour
The son of a griot, the Senegalese native was taught to sing as a child. By the time he reached his teens, he joined the popular group Star Band of Dakar and within two years, he had assumed leadership of the group, which he renamed Super E'toile De Dakar. Upon signing with Spike Lee's Columbia-distributed 40 Acres & a Mule record label, N'Dour scored a Grammy nomination in 1991 with his first effort or the imprint, 'Eye's Open.' In addition to recording as a soloist, N'Dour collaborated with a list of artists including Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, Neneh Cherry, and Branford Marsalis.(Photo: Getty Images)

Charlie Pride
One of the few black country musicians to have considerable success in the largely white country music industry, Pride reportedly had thirty-six number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Born in Sledge, Mississippi, the country crooner began to play guitar in his teens with hopes of playing professional baseball. Good thing his singing talents prevailed. To date, Pride reportedly sold more than 70 million records. His biggest hit; 1971's 'Kiss An Angel Good Morning.'(Photo: Getty Images)

Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Primarily influenced by late electric blues rocker Stevie Ray Vaughan, Randolph was also inspired by funk bands Earth, Wind & Fire and Sly & The Family Stone. A native of Irvington, New Jersey, the former House of God Church guitarist and his band of soul brothers attracted the attention of Eric Clapton, and have subsequently toured as a supporting act with the British blues legend. Now they have become a draw on the rock circuit with their infectious style of jamming for the masses.(Photo: Getty Images)

Denyce Graves
Though she grew up singing gospel, the southwest Washington, DC become one of the finest mezzo-sopranos in the world. Graves began vocal training at the Duke Ellington School of Arts in Washington in the 1980s and also studied at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory. She made her professional debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1995 and has appeared at many opera house with signature parts in 'Carmen' and 'Samson et Dalila.'(Photo: Image Direct)