0
Thomas A. Dorsey
American musician, composer, and Christian evangelist influential in the development of early blues and 20th-century gospel music
1
Willie Mae Ford Smith
American singer
2
Bessie Griffin
American singer (1922–1989)
3
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
American gospel musician
4
Clara Ward
American gospel artist; singer, music arranger, songwriter
5
Albertina Walker
American singer (1929-2010)
6
Mavis Staples
American singer
7
Big Mama Thornton
American rhythm and blues singer and songwriter
8
Lorez Alexandria
American musician
9
The Roberta Martin Singers
10
The Soul Stirrers
band
11
Dinah Washington
American singer, songwriter, pianist
12
Jeanie Tracy
American musician
13
The Barrett Sisters
14
Dottie Peoples
American musician
15
Ledisi
American R&B and jazz recording artist, songwriter and actress.
16
Aretha Franklin
American singer, songwriter, and pianist
17
Irma Thomas
American soul and rhythm and blues singer
18
James Cleveland
American musician
19
Roberta Martin
American musician
20
The Davis Sisters
American gospel group, founded in 1945
21
Lucky Peterson
American musician
22
Marion Williams
American singer
23
Ernestine Anderson
American jazz and blues singer
24
Kelly Price
American songwriter, singer
25
Linda Hopkins
African American actress and blues and gospel singer
26
Alberta Hunter
American blues singer, songwriter, and nurse
27
Billie Holiday
American jazz singer
28
Jennifer Holliday
American actress and singer
29
Cleophus Robinson
American gospel singer and preacher
30
Inez Andrews
American singer
31
Doris Akers
Music composer, arranger and singer
32
Liz McComb
American musician
33
Ella Fitzgerald
American jazz singer
34
Ann Peebles
American singer and songwriter
35
Helen Humes
American jazz and blues singer
36
Little Richard
American pianist, singer and songwriter
37
Arnold Moore
American singer
38
Sam Cooke
American recording artist; singer-songwriter and entrepreneur
39
Della Reese
American actress and singer
40
Memphis Minnie
American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter
41
Stefanie Minatee
American singer/songwriter, recording artist and minister
42
Etta James
American recording artist; singer
43
Sarah Vaughan
American jazz singer
44
Nat King Cole
American singer and jazz pianist (1919-1965)
45
Ruth Brown
American singer-songwriter (1928-2006)
46
Lucille Hegamin
American singer and entertainer
47
Miriam Makeba
South African singer and civil rights activist
48
Sippie Wallace
American blues and jazz singer
49
Lil Green
American blues singer and songwriter
50
Simphiwe Dana
South African musician
51
Al Jolson
American entertainer, actor, and singer (1886-1950)
52
Ma Rainey
African-American blues singer
53
Viola Gertrude Wells
American singer
54
Fontella Bass
American singer
55
Holle Thee Maxwell
American singer
