These 9 Black musicians, through years of dedication and passion, have made the music industry what it is today. Find out more with School of Rock!

At School of Rock, we celebrate some of rock music’s earliest artists and influencers. Many of these artists were inspired by musicians that came from other genres, such as Latin rhythms, Blues Rock, and Mexican Folk. You will find these inspirations in most of the artists listed in this article. In addition to their biographies, be sure to check out their notable songs and what popular artists or bands they are known to have directly influenced.

Check out some of the greatest songwriters of all time, and learn how to rock out to their music (or write your own) at School of Rock now!