In this article, we acknowledge rock and popular music’s 11 most influential and significant Black artists and figures who started their music careers from the late 1940s through the mid-50s. We begin with Little Richard and take you up to Aretha Franklin.

In this article, we will 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 blues, folk, jazz, and gospel. You will find these inspirations in most of the artists listed below. 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.

Find out which is better: group music lessons or private music lessons, and discover the best way to learn to play an instrument with School of Rock.

Discover how music skills affect cognitive development in early childhood and more with this timeline from School of Rock. Read about the benefits of music in the early years—and how the effects can be seen well into adulthood.