Black Music Month: Celebs Pick Fave Female Artist

By Darlene Donloe

 June is Black Music Month, a great time to celebrate its rich history. 

Black musicians, singers, writers, and producers have made incredible contributions to the music industry for centuries.

This month is set aside to pay homage to all those individuals who, through their music, have made us smile, laugh, cry dance, tap our feet, clap our hands, and swivel our hips.

President Jimmy Carter officially designated Black Music Month on June 7, 1979. It was during a reception at the White House, which featured performances by Chuck Berry, Billy Eckstine, Little Richard, and Andre Crouch.

On May 31, 2016, President Barack Obama declared the month of June 2016 – ‘African American Music Appreciation Month’ in a presidential proclamation.

June was first deemed ‘Black Music Month’ by Jimmy Carter and campaigned for by songwriter and producer Kenneth Gamble back in 1979. The month was bought forth by Gamble, Cleveland radio DJ Ed Wright, and media strategist Dyana Williams.

As the nation’s first Black president, Obama felt strongly that an official proclamation was more appropriate than just ‘Black Music Month’.

His proclamation calls Black music, “Among the most innovative and powerful art the world has ever known.” President Obama also called upon “Public officials, educators, and people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate activities and programs that raise awareness and foster an appreciation of music that is composed, arranged, or performed by African Americans.”

This year (2024) President Joe Biden will once again celebrate Black Music Month with a Juneteenth concert featuring Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Charlie Wilson, Kirk Franklin, Anthony Hamilton, Brittney Spencer, Trombone Shorty, and more.

I caught up with some celebrities and asked them the following question.

Who are the three best female singers of all time?

Keith David

KEITH DAVID (actor, singer) Ella Fitzgerald, and Leontyne Price. There are a lot of really wonderful singers. There is a sista I’ve been listening to named Samara Joy. She has a wonderful voice. 

Glynn Turman

GLYNN TURMAN I was married to the queen - Aretha. Also, Dinah Washington and Billie Holiday.

KiKi Shepard

KEKE SHEPARD (Television host) Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Sarah Vaughn. I’m torn. There are so many like Billie Holiday.

Erica Gimpel

ERICA GIMPEL: (FAME, God Friended Me, The Night Agent) Billie Holiday, Rachelle Farrell, and  Lalah Hathaway.

Florence LaRue

FLORENCE LARUE (The 5th Dimension) That's hard. I'll say Aretha, Whitney Houston, and CeCe Winans.

Tarell Alvin McCraney

TARELL ALVIN MCCRANEY  (Geffen artistic director, Oscar winner (Moonlight) and Peabody winner.

It's Sarah Vaughn, Aretha Franklin, and Chaka Khan.

Desean K. Terry

DESEAN K TERRY (The MORNING SHOW) Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Nina Simone. 

Shanice

SHANICE - OMG! Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Chaka Khan.

Malachi McCaskill

MALACHI MCCASKILL (A Strange Loop) Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Jazmine Sullivan.

Claude McKnight

CLAUDE MCKNIGHT (Take 6) There is no such thing as the best. Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, and Whitney Houston. 

Michael W. Twitty

MICHAEL W. TWITTY (food historian, author) I'll say Mahalia Jackson, Chaka Khan, and Aretha.

T.J. Wilkins

T.J. WILKINS (singer) Wow, Aretha, Ella Fitzgerald, and Whitney Houston.

James IJames

JAMES IJAMES (Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright) That's hard. I'll say Sarah Vaughn, Whitney, and Aretha.

Eriq La Salle

ERIQ LA SALLE (ER) Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Leela James.

Gerald Ramsey

GERALD RAMSEY (Mufasa – The Lion King) - Whitney Houston, she’s on the playlist every day. Ella Fitzgerald – there is always joy and light in every song she sings. The Yandall Sisters – a sister group that sings old-school Samoan songs. I keep a playlist on my phone. 

Michael Feinstein

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN (singer) Ethel Waters, Rosemary Clooney, and Tina Turner.

Kent Gash

KENT GASH (director ‘Jelly’s Last Jam’): You’re trying to get me killed. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Billie Holiday. I chose all three because none of them are similar. But the second you hear two notes, you know it’s them. They can all swing like no one’s business. Ella was a friend of the family.