50s Black Music, 23 of the Best Songs
50s Black music merged soul, gospel, and R&B into rock and roll, a musical style that launched the careers of such well-known musical icons equally Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and Little Richard.
The songs on this list correspond some of the all-time 50s Black music and artists who influenced musical history.
"Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole
Song Year: 1951
This beautiful song appears in popular media yet to this day. Nat King Cole's rich, smooth vocalism made this and all his songs instantly recognizable.
Nat Rex Cole made musical history by becoming one of the most famous Blackness musical artists of all time. He released his first hit, "Sugariness Lorraine," in 1940 and never stopped making fantastic music.
During his career, Cole released over 100 songs that hit the pop charts and gave us the favorite Christmas classic, "The Christmas Song." His 1956 variety evidence, "The Nat 'King' Cole Testify," made history when information technology became the beginning television testify with a Blackness male host.
"I Got a Adult female" past Ray Charles
Song Twelvemonth: 1954
This R&B and soul song became Ray Charles' offset #one hit in the Usa. Ray Charles wrote this song that eventually became favorites by such musical powerhouses as Elvis Presley and The Beatles in the 1960s.
Fellow musicians referred to this soul-music pioneer as Brother Ray. Ray Charles went blind during early on childhood merely didn't let information technology stop him. He went on to become ane of the most well-known singers in the world.
1 of the most popular songs in history is his 1960s version of "Georgia on My Listen."
"I Wanna Be Loved" by Dinah Washington
Song Yr: 1950
This song is one of Dinah Washington's most well-known. Her pure vocals and the jazz, swing, and R&B influence in this song make it memorable.
Washington had 27 height hits in the tiptop x of the R&B chart by 1955, only this song was her start crossover to appear on the pop chart. Dinah Washington could sing every genre and had her showtime top x pop hitting in 1959 with "What a Deviation a Day Makes."
"Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry
Vocal Yr: 1958
This stone and roll classic and Berry's collection of 50s Black music helped form the genre and earned him the nickname "The Father of Rock and Roll."
Drupe was already a favorite by the time he released this song, but it helped him become an established superstar by the end of the decade. His first hit came in 1955 with the release of "Maybellene."
Berry earns places in all the "all-time of" lists and is considered one of the most influential stone and whorl artists of all time.
"Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry
Vocal Year: 1956
Listed in the Library of Congress every bit the most representative Chuck Drupe song, the recording features Drupe'southward signature rock and ringlet sound with upbeat music and driving guitar.
From his first hit unmarried, "Maybellene," to his hits of the 60s and 70s like "No Item Place to Go" and "My Ding-A-Ling," Berry shaped Black musical history and rock and roll. He influenced all the artists who followed in his footsteps.
"Satin Doll" by Duke Ellington
Song Year: 1953
Not all 50s black music consisted of R&B and emerging stone and roll. Duke Ellington and his orchestra topped charts with jazz and swing since their first appearance in the 1930s and all the same had hits in the 1950s.
"Satin Doll" was a favorite jazz piece he released in 1953. Ellington had multiple popular hits in the previous decades and regularly appeared at The Cotton Club in Harlem.
1 of Ellington's classics was a vocal chosen "It Don't Hateful a Thing (If it Own't Got That Swing)," which earned an induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
"Information technology Don't Mean a Affair (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" past Ella Fitzgerald
Song Year: 1956
Ella Fitzgerald recorded her anthology "Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Knuckles Ellington Songbook" several years after the ii met and became close friends. They performed together often at the Cotton wool Gild.
Her recording of Ellington's classic track is the distinctive version most people think of when they think of the vocal.
Known every bit "The First Lady of Song," Fitzgerald enjoyed a 60-year performing career and collaborated with greats like Ellington, The Ink Spots, and Louis Armstrong.
"Dream a Little Dream of Me" by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Song Yr: 1950
Fitzgerald's song with Armstrong, "Dream a Little Dream of Me," is her near downloaded and streamed rail today. Her clear voice playing off Armstrong'southward rough growl of a singing vocalisation and sweet trumpet licks make this piece of music unforgettable.
Louis Armstrong was a singer and trumpeter who performed from the 1920s until he died in 1971. Though he's an icon of 50s black music, he's all-time known today for his 60s hits "What a Wonderful World" and "Hullo, Dolly!"
"Thinking of You" by Sarah Vaughn
Song Year: 1950
Sarah Vaughn might non be besides known today equally other names from the era, simply she was one of the well-nigh popular 50s Blackness music artists. A jazz singer, Vaughn won four Grammys during her career.
Vaughn's career began when she won the iconic amateur night contest at the Apollo Theater, and the prize included a week's run on its stage. She collected her reward past opening for the powerhouse and now legendary Ella Fitzgerald in 1942.
She remained active in the music industry well into the 1980s.
"I Only Have Eyes For You" by The Flamingos
Vocal Year: 1959
This doo-wop love ballad became a favorite romance and wedding song because of the cute lyrics and melody. This group charted with the track, only it offset appeared in the 1934 picture show "Dames" and the records of several artists that year.
The recording became an iconic doo-wop and signature song for the group. They often appear in lists of the most influential artists of the era.
"Searchin'" past The Coasters
Song Yr: 1956
"The Coasters" had several hits in the 1950s, but this song was one of their earliest and nigh popular along with "Young Blood." The band formed in 1955, only one year before they started putting out one hitting after another.
"Yakety Yak" by The Coasters
Song Twelvemonth: 1958
This song and "Charlie Dark-brown" came out in the same yr, standing The Coasters' runaway success. Other hits past this iconic group include "Poisonous substance Ivy" and "Trivial Egypt (Yin-Yang)."
While many people today might remember of other Blackness groups like The Platters and The Miracles when they recollect of 50s Blackness music, The Coasters were the first group ever inducted into the Stone and Whorl Hall of Fame.
"The Assistant Gunkhole Song (Day-O)" past Harry Belafonte
Song Year: 1956
This song became a signature song for Belafonte, whose album "Calypso" was his breakthrough record.
Y'all can't talk about 50s Black music without mentioning Belafonte and his hits like this vocal and "Jump in the Line."
The starting time Jamaican musical star in the US, he brought calypso music to the mainstream. Belafonte earned the proper name "Rex of Calypso" because of the music'southward popularity. He won iii Grammy Awards during his musical career.
Belafonte likewise earned disquisitional acclaim equally an actor, winning a Tony Award for a supporting part in the Broadway show "John Murray Anderson's Almanac" from 1953-1954.
He starred in several films and televisions shows and won an Emmy Award for his 1959 50s Black music review "Tonight With Belafonte."
His concluding single, 1967'southward "A Strange Vocal," peaked at #5 on the contemporary music chart.
"In the Still of the Nighttime" by Fred Parris and The Satins
Song Year: 1956
"In the Still of the Night" was the defining hit for The Satins, who had just formed every bit a band two years earlier. The recording became one of the foundational doo-wop songs of its era.
Famous American songwriter and composer Cole Porter wrote the vocal, and other artists such equally Tommy Dorsey recorded it every bit early on every bit the 1930s.
This grouping began with half dozen members and went through several name changes during its run simply ended up as The Five Satins. They earned an consecration into the Song Group Hall of Fame.
The Five Satins' version of this iconic song became the definitive recording and their most well-known melody.
"Huckleberry Hill" by Fats Domino
Song Twelvemonth: 1956
Fats Domino helped create the genre of stone and roll with songs similar "Blueberry Hill." Other artists like Gene Autry and Louis Armstrong had recorded it previously, but none became likewise-loved as Domino's version.
The recording of this 1940 vocal became his virtually popular single, though he followed it up with the next track on the list and created another classic.
"I'm Walkin'" by Fats Domino
Song Twelvemonth: 1957
Another striking of 50s Black music, "I'one thousand Walkin'," hit #1 on the R&B and #four on the popular chart. It helped secure Domino's place in the register of musical history.
Domino and frequent writing partner Dave Bartholomew wrote this song together forth with several others that Domino recorded. He and Bartholomew wrote over xl hits together just during the 1950s, including this song.
"Tutti Frutti" by Picayune Richard
Song Twelvemonth: 1955
Picayune Richard's arguably most famous song, "Tutti Frutti," nevertheless appears often in pop culture like movies and television.
Piffling Richard is one of the most iconic artists from 50s Black music who helped create rock and roll. He never won an individual Grammy but received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Honour in 1993.
Three of his songs earned places in the Grammy Hall of Fame: "Lucille," "Long, Tall Sally," and this rails.
"Skilful Golly Miss Molly" by Picayune Richard
Song Year: 1958
Some other of the about popular songs from 50s Blackness music is this i, which Little Richard reportedly wrote after hearing the phrase used by a DJ on the radio.
He recorded this song multiple times, and many other artists covered it, but the definitive version is the original. This track and "Tutti Frutti" listed above appear on all the "best of" lists for top songs of all time in rock and roll and whatsoever other style of music.
"There Goes My Babe" by The Drifters
Song Yr: 1959
The Drifters was a 50s Black music doo-wop and R&B group that rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s.
This vocal is one of the almost famous from their kickoff decade. Their best-known hits from the 1960s include songs still played today like "Save the Concluding Dance for Me" and "Under the Boardwalk."
"Fool, Fool, Fool" by The Clovers
Song Year: 1951
This vocal was one of the earliest hits for the Black R&B and doo-wop grouping The Clovers. They had several hits during the 50s, including their 1959 release of "Honey Potion No. 9."
The group won many awards and recognitions, including an induction into the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame. They're too in the Vocal Grouping Hall of Fame and the R&B Hall of Fame.
"The Great Pretender" by The Platters
Song Year: 1955
Samuel "Buck" Ram wrote this song and many other hits for The Platters. Ram wrote songs for other top Black artists like The Coasters and Ike and Tina Turner but managed and produced The Platters.
This vocal hit #1 on Billboard's Top 100 chart and was far from their only hitting.
"Smoke Gets in Your Optics" by The Platters
Song Year: 1958
One of the nigh enduring love songs from the 1950s by whatever artist is "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" by The Platters. This beautiful rail is used in movies, TV, and advertisement oft. If yous listen to it, you'll empathize why.
The Platters had many other hits many people will recognize. "Simply You (And You Alone)" is another top song of theirs.
This Black group was the get-go grouping in the rock and roll era with an album that reached the top ten in the United states of america.
"Every Day I Have the Blues" by B. B. Rex
Song Yr: 1955
This song was ane of B.B. King's acme hits in the 1950s. Male monarch was an icon of not just 50s Black music but music in general.
His method of playing blues guitar has influenced everyone who came after him, leading him to frequently be called the "most important guitarist in the history of music."
This song is blues with a soul sound and gospel vibe, which shouldn't surprise anyone. Male monarch played all the genres with equal skill and managed guitar solos with his unique fashion of playing that few others could match.
This music legend hailed from a cotton plantation in Mississippi and began playing music at church building. More than than being known for whatever single song, B.B. King is known for his influence on guitarists. His style changed the sound of R&B and stone and scroll.
In 1987, King was inducted into the Stone and Roll Hall of Fame. He released 42 studio albums, the last in 2008, 7 years before his decease.
Best 50s Blackness Music, Terminal Thoughts
The 1950s produced some of the almost memorable music of all time, including music by Blackness artists.
Jazz, swing, soul, gospel, R&B, and rock and curlicue music all benefited from the Black artists who gave united states classic hits and genre-bending music.
We promise you've enjoyed this sampling of the best 50s black music and keep exploring these artists' catalogs for more fun and inspirational songs.
Source: https://www.thatsister.com/50s-black-music-songs/
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