Yvette Devereaux performing with an ensemble. She is playing the violin and wearing a green dress (or extended blouse) with long, flared sleeves. She is also wearing a number of bracelets, heart shaped earrings, and a short hairstyle. Her expression is neutral.

#BHM Black Women in Music: Yvette Devereaux

#YvetteDevereaux was the first Black American woman to attain a conductor's degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music and to conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/YvetteDevere...

The String Queens, from left: Élise Sharp, Kendall Isadore, Dawn Johnson. They are posed in front of a white backdrop. Élise is wearing a simmering dark blue formal jumpsuit. She is seated on the upper back of a char, smiling, and holding the bow to her cello. She is wearing a large jeweled necklace and has a short hairstyle. Kendall is wearing a yellow dress with feathered plumes from the knee down. She is standing to the right of Élise and holding up her violin while smiling. She is wearing a straight, flowing shoulder-length hairstyle with a part down the middle. Dawn is hearing a pink dress with a split over her left leg and light feathered plumes around the waist. She is standing to the right of Kendall, holding her viola in her right hand and the bow in her left. She is smiling and wearing a long braided hairstyle reaching down to her waist.

#BHM Black Women in Music: The String Queens

Dedicated to music education and possessing a mastery of their chosen instruments, #TheStringQueens bring style, class, & professional expertise to every room they enter!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/TheStringQue...

Jean Grae posed in front of a black and white decorative background. She has her hand up to her right ear, making visible an ornate black, white, and gold earring. Her hair is black, long and slightly curly, pulled to one side over her left shoulder. She is wearing a black shirt with light colored dots and white buttons down the front. She has visible tattoos on her right arm, neck, and on either side of her eyes. Her facial expression is neutral.

#BHM Black Women in Music: Jean Grae

Creative, boundless, original, interdisciplinary, free, brilliant, and joyful #JeanGrae. As one of the best rappers ever, Jean remains undeniable in her written & sonic contributions!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/JeanGrae-BHM

American country singer Linda Martell (1969, Black and white). She is smiling and turned to look at the camera over her left shoulder. She is wearing a mid-toned vest with stitched decor and a blouse with a paisley pattern. She is wearing a hairstyle similar to the 60's era beehive.

#BHM Black Women in Music: Linda Martell

To be a pioneer is to be brave & innovative. And #LindaMartell is just that. Breaking on to the Country music charts was no small feat for the first Black woman to do so!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/LindaMartell...

Publicity photo of The Shirelles. Clockwise from left: Doris Coley, Addie "Micki" Harris (top), Shirley Owens, and Beverly Lee. They are all wearing 1960s era hairstyles and light-colored dresses with wide shoulder straps. (1962, Black and white)

#BHM Black Women in Music: The Shirelles

Being the first "girl group" to hit number one, #TheShirelles held their own and made a habbit out of staying on the charts!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/TheShirelles...

Alice Coltrane in a publicity photo for promoting her album World Galaxy (1972, Black and white). She is wearing a dress with long geometric patterns in varying shades. One shoulder of the dress is exposed. She is also wearing a scarf around her neck and a large beaded necklace. Her hair is voluminous in a natural style with a part down the middle. She is looking off in the distance to her right.

#BHM Black Women in Music: Alice Coltrane

#AliceColtrane graced the world with incredible compositions, jazz innovationa, and inspired performance. She perfectly represents what it means to be a musical visionary!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/AliceColtran...

Margaret Allison Bonds (1913–1972). She is seated in a chair in front of curtain with her legs crossed and her hands folded across her knees. She is wearing a dark colored skirt, a mid-tone blouse, and soft light colored hat. Her expression is neutral.

#BHM Black Women in Music: Margaret Bonds

Composing her first song at just age five, #MargaretBonds would to on to build an award winning career and even opening a school dedicated to ballet and music!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/MargaretBond...

MC Lyte at the Essence Festival of Culture 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana in July 2025. She is smiling and wearing a white blouse with a white blazer, gold necklace and earrings, with a short, curly hairstyle

#BHM Black Women in Music: MC Lyte

With a musical resume that just keeps going and going, #MCLyte exemplifies her role as a pioneer in hip-hop music and continues to shine with her craft excellence!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/MCLyte-BHM

The Crystals (1965). The photo is of four of the members of the group (L Patsy Wright, 2L Dolores Kenniebrew, 2R Dolores Brooks, R Barbara Alston). They are smiling and wearing dark colored spaghetti strap tops with lace designs on the front with 1960s era hairstyles. (Black and white)

#BHM Black Women in Music: The Crystals

#TheCrystals were unfortunate victims of the music industry's history of "less than honest representation," but that didn't stop them from being hard working & amazing artists!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/TheCrystals-...

Vocalist and pianist Hazel Scott (1956, Black and white). She is smiling and wearing a light colored blouse and a hairstyle that is curly on top with short or "pulled-back" sides.

#BHM Black Women in Music: Hazel Scott

A musical prodigy accepted to Juilliard at age eight makes #HazelScott truly one of a kind. Her resume includes being the first Black American to have her own television show!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/HazelScott-BHM

Janet Jackson at a benefit appearance for Boys and girls club in 1998. She is wearing a red zip-up athletic top with white stripes or hood drawstrings. She is smiling with long curly hair that hangs past her shoulders

#BHM Black Women in Music: Janet Jackson

Getting an early start in television, Janet Jackson took "Control" of her music career and rose to the top of pop and R&B!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/JanetJackson...

Odetta (Burg Waldeck-Festival 1968, Germany). She is standing near a wooded area. She is wearing a colorful striped muumuu with a ruffled collar. Her hair is styled in an afro and she's smiling while holding a tote bag with a yellow folded blanket in her right hand and sunglasses in her left hand

#BHM Black Women in Music: Odetta

A lightning rod who's famed live shows were rumored much better than her recordings, Odetta embodied the events and politics of her era on her way to becoming a folk legend!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/Odetta-BHM

Nina Simone (1965) sitting in a white chair in front of a brick wall with a painting on it and a plant to her left. She is smiling and wearing white gloves, a white dress, with a dark colored fishnet style dress over the top. She is wearing small loop earrings and her hair is styled in a short afro. (Black and white)

#BHM Black Women in Music: Nina Simone

Coming from being forced to sing or be fired, Nina Simone went from jazz & cabaret to protest music and maintained a high standard for her performances and artistry.

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/NinaSimone-BHM

Queen Latifah speaking at the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. She is wearing a peach colored shirt, thin-rimmed glasses, and gold looping earrings, with her hair styled in a pony tail. She's holding and speaking into a microphone.

#BHM Black Women in Music: Queen Latifah

Before expanding to film, television, and endorsements, Queen Latifah lit up stages and moved the crowd via her songwriting and music making her a hip-hop legend!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/QueenLatifah...

The Blossoms in 1966 (clockwise from top: Fanita James, Jean King, and Darlene Love). They are wearing 60s era hair styles and matching light colored, patterned blazers

#BHM Black Women in Music: The Blossoms

The Blossoms fought long and hard to make their way in the music industry. Singing backing vocals for some of music's biggest hits even when credit eluded them.

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/TheBlossoms-...

Merry Clayton at a ceremony for Carole King to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012. She is wearing a black leather coat with 2 patterned scarves, a pair of large sunglasses with a red-ish tint, and a short feathered hairstyle.

Merry Clayton made the most of her powerful, soulful voice and brought emotional weight to lift up some of the greatest artists in music!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/MerryClayton...

Patrice Rushen appearing on stage in 2010, looking across the stage and smiling. She is wearing a decorative patterned blouse with yellow, orange, black, and white colors. She is also wearing a black scarf around her neck and a braided hairstyle.

#BHM Black Women in Music: Patrice Rushen

Nothing short of a musical deity, Patrice Rushen is everything. Composer, recording artist, classically-trained jazz pianist, and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master.
#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/PatriceRushe...

Gertrude Pridgett “Ma” Rainey. (circa 1920s). She is wearing a headband over short, styled hair. She has what resembles a pearl necklace and a 1920s era sleeveless dress. (black and white)

#BHM Black Women in Music: Ma Rainey

Ma Rainey built a rock solid legacy as "Mother of the Blues" expanding the popularity of and setting the standard for Blues singers for generations to come!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/MaRainey-BHM

Donna Summer (1977 Casablanca publicity headshot). She is wearing a flirtatious smile and a decorative white blouse with sheer fabric around the shoulders and slightly open in the center. Her hair is voluminous and curly reaching down below her shoulders.

#BHM Black Women in Music: Donna Summer

Standing atop the world of Disco was no small feat. And Donna Summer did it without breaking a sweat on the way to 18 Grammy nominations and five wins!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/DonnaSummer-...

Close up of Anita Baker in 1998. She is smiling with a short hairstyle and rounded silver earrings with a black shirt or blouse.

#BHM Black Women in Music: Anita Baker

Proving the talent never leaves, Anita Baker remained through personal challenges and multiple breaks in her musical timeline to build an undeniable Grammy-winning career.

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/AnitaBaker-BHM

(Black and white) Ethel Waters in 1943. She is smiling while wearing a decorative gown with intricate patterns and an attached headdress, exposing the front of her hair.

#BHM Black Women in Music: Ethel Waters

Starting at just age 17, Ethel Waters, built a grand career as a blues singer that spanned nightclub stages, Broadway, film, and television!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/EthelWaters-...

Kodachrome photo of Marian Anderson taken by Carl Van Vechten on January 14, 1940. She is wearing a dark red blouse with large jeweled buttons down the front and the collar, bottom border, cuffs and sleeves are set with decorative lining inlaid with jeweled studs. She is wearing a short hair style with a part on her right side and seated in front of an orange background with a tiger skin draped over it.

#BHM Black Women in Music: Marian Anderson

Refusing to let American racism keep her from her dream, Marian Anderson took her great vocal ability around the world on the way to becoming the world's finest contralto!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/MarianAnders...

(Black and white) Miriam Makeba sitting at a dressing room table in front of a mirror, turned to face the camera. She is wearing a decorative dress, a ring on each hand, a bracelet, and earrings with a tall sufi/dervish style hat.

#BHM Black Women in Music: Miriam Makeba

Unintentionally becoming the voice and image of Africa made Miriam Makeba a world-renowned symbol of grace, creativity, and influence!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/MiriamMakeba...

Meet Goapele: The First Black Woman to Break YouTube’s Music Video Barrier Goapele Mohlabane, known professionally as Goapele, has carved a unique place in music history as the first Black woman to have a… The post Meet Goapele: The First Black Woman to Break YouTube’s Music Video Barrier appeared first on Shine My Crown.

Meet Goapele: The First Black Woman to Break YouTube’s Music Video Barrier: Goapele Mohlabane, known professionally as Goapele, has carved a unique place in music history as the first Black woman to have a…

The post Meet… #Goapele #BlackWomenInMusic #YouTubeMilestone #MusicHistory #BreakingBarriers

LaVern Baker 1956 (black and white). Smiling and looking off in the distance in front of a plain background. Her hair is styled in a braid that wraps behind her head and she is wearing rectangular jeweled earrings and a thin jeweled headband

#BHM Black Women in Music: LaVern Baker

Despite racist stagehands, segregated rooms, and song-stealing vultures, LaVern Baker overcame mid-century strife to light up the charts!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/LaVernBaker-...

Fefe Dobson's SLUMADIAN tour at Danforth Music Hall. Fefe is sitting behind a dark colored Korg keyboard under a blue light while performing on stage. She is wearing black pants, a fur-like top, and red decorative glasses. Photos by Drew Yorke.

#BHM Black Women in Music: Fefe Dobson

Building her own star quality while holding the talent to create for others makes Fefe Dobson a songwriting powerhouse!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/FefeDobson-BHM

BHM Black Women in Music: Siedah Garrett Reaching across both genres and decades, Siedah Garrett is a singular talent and a gift to the world of songwriting!

#BHM Black Women in Music: Siedah Garrett

Reaching across both genres and decades, Siedah Garrett is a singular talent and a gift to the world of songwriting!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾 kielenki.ng/SiedahGarret...

American composer, Florence Price

#BHM Black Women in Music: Florence Price

Crafting musical excellence in a world unwilling to recognize her brilliance, we have composer, Florence Price!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

kielenki.ng/FlorencePric...

Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1938 publicity photo with guitar)

#BHM Black Women in Music: Sister Rosetta Tharpe

The originator. The matriarch. The innovator! Sister Rosetta Tharpe Sparks Rock-N-Roll with Flair

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMusic #BlackWomenInMusic

✊🏾https://utc.kielenking.com/post/bwim-rosetta-tharpe

A glorious photo of Samara Joy wearing a tight sequined red gown with a puffy see-through top that puffs out to her elbows. Her hair is down and curly and thick. She exudes joy.

Samara Joy is coming to SLC and I can't afford it. 😭😭😭
#Jazz #Music #BlackWomenInMusic #Soul #Crooner #SamaraJoy