Country music cemented its position in American music in the 1920s. It is one of the most popular music genres. Typically accompanied by instruments like banjos, fiddles, harmonicas, and guitars. The roots of country music are primarily in American folk music. Several artists became country legends with their dedication to the genre. Well, today we are going to discuss the Black Country Music Artists.
These artists broke the racial barriers and established themselves as prominent country artists. From pioneers like Ray Charles, and Charley Pride to young artists like Shy Carter, Breland, and Mickey Guyton made waves in the country genre. Also, you must know about the best Country music singers and artists from the 90s.
Explore the best Black Country Music Artists you might know. Here is the list, check it out.
1- Ray Charles
Born in Albany and raised in Greenville. Ray Charles is considered the pioneer of popularizing the soul music genre, he also made a significant contribution to country music. He lost his vision at seven due to glaucoma.
The artist cited that his greatest losses were the deaths of his mother and brother.
Charles combined Latin music, gospel, jazz, and blues in the song “What’d I Say” and rose to international prominence. The song peaked at the Billboard pop and R&B charts.
Coming to his achievements, he won numerous honors and awards. He received 18 Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts, the Polar Music Prize, and multiple Halls of Fame for his contribution to music.
2- Darius Rucker
One of the most popular black country artists Darius Rucker hails from Charleston, U.S. The singer became the first Black American to receive the New Artist Award from the Country Music Association.
Rucker rose to popularity as the vocalist and guitarist of the band Hootie & the Blowfish. His solo career made him a successful country artist.
Single “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” from his second album Learn to Live topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart. The album got gold certification from RIAA.
His third album Charleston, SC 1966 spawned top country singles This and Come Back Song. Furthermore, Rucker also released a book Life’s Too Short: A Memoir in 2024. It tells the story of Rucker’s life.
3- Petrella
Born Petrella Ann Bonner in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Before singing, she worked as an administrative assistant for different companies. Petrella became a member of the Los Angeles Songwriters Showcase.
Her song I Found Somebody ranked her as the #1 Indie at #53 on Cashbox Top 100 Country Singles.
Petrella got the title of the First Lady of Country Soul. The single Living on a Shoestring earned her the Songwriter of the Year title from the Tennessee Songwriters Association.
Essence magazine included her in the “18 Black Country Singers You Need to Know” list.
4- Charley Pride
Next up is the multi-talented singer Charley Pride. He was a baseball player and a famous guitarist. He was one of the members of the live country music radio broadcast Grand Ole Opry.
Pride liked music since childhood but ultimately aimed to become a pro baseball player. He played for the Memphis Red Sox.
As a singer, he got a break after Chek Atkins of RCA Records heard his music. He signed with the label. It was Just Between You and Me that propelled him to success.
Charley Pride became the first black artist in the country music genre. He received a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male.
5- Jimmie Allen
James Edward Allen was born on 18 June 1985. He appeared in the music show American Idol. His first chart-topper was “Best Shot” and it also made the country music radio playlists.
Singles This Is Us and Freedom Was a Highway received RIAA’s gold certification.
He became the first black solo artist to win New Male Artist of the Year at the Annual Country Music Association Awards.
Allen received a nomination for Best New Artist at the 64th Grammy Awards and won New Artist of the Year at the Country Music Awards.
6- DeFord Bailey
American country singer DeFord Bailey was born in Tennessee. Bailey liked to play harmonica but he had polio. Polio affected him badly, his height remain 4ft 10 in.
The artist earned the title Harmonic Wizard, he was amazing at playing the instrument.
He played harmonica in different styles. One of the artists who appeared in the Nashville radio station Grand Ole Opry.
Bailey was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in the year 2005.
7- Linda Martell
Linda Martell is the first black female country artist. Thelma Bynem was born in Leesville, South Carolina. Martell, her sister, and her cousin formed a music trio Anglos, and released a few R&B songs.
Martell is one of the first female black artists to play the Grand Ole Opry. She performed twelve times in the live radio podcast.
Her solo career began when she signed with Nashville label Plantation. The country cover of Color Him Father became the top ten single on the Billboard charts.
Recently, Martell appeared on Beyoncé’s country studio album Cowboy Carter. She shared, “I am proud that @beyonce is exploring her country music roots. What she is doing is beautiful, and I’m honored to be a part of it. It’s Beyoncé, after all!”
8- Etta Baker
The next one is the black country singer Etta Baker. Born in Caldwell County, North Carolina. She was an excellent Piedmont blues guitarist. Her father was also a guitarist who taught her to play the instrument.
Her best works include Carolina Breakdown, Crow Jane, Careless Love, Criplle Creek, and Broken Hearted Blues.
Baker won several accolades including the North Carolina Award, the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award, and a National Heritage Fellowship.
9- Amythyst Kiah
Amythyst Kiah is a popular country singer born in Chattanooga. Her parents were singers and she learned to play guitar at an early age.
Kiah’s debut album, Dig, was released independently in 2012 and launched her on a career of constant traveling that would last several years.
After her first solo album, she became an international touring act before joining Our Native Daughters, whose debut featured Kiah’s highlight song Black Myself.
“Black Myself” got a Grammy Award nomination. It also won Song of the Year honors and the Folk Alliance International Awards.
10- Shy Carter
Famous singer-songwriter Shy Carter hails from Wisconsin. He pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from the Grand Valley State University. He signed a deal with rapper Nelly and started his music journey.
As a songwriter, he wrote for prominent artists like Charlie Puth, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Keith Urban.
Carter became successful as a solo artist. He released Bring It Back ft. Aleon Craft which debuted at Sirius XM Hits 1 Radio and reached the Top 40 of Billboard’s Rhythmic chart.
The artist also appeared on the Gloria Trevi’s top song Habla Blah Blah.
11- Mickey Guyton
American artist Mickey Guyton was bitten by a music bug in her childhood. Her musical style includes country, hip-hop, R&B, pop, and gospel elements.
Guyton released the tune Black Like Me, following the George Floyd marches and the Black Lives Matter movement. The song addresses her experiences as a Black woman in country music.
It earned her first Grammy Award nomination, making her the first Black woman nominated for Best Country Solo Performance.
“Heartbreak Song” and “Better Than You Left Me” are her best singles. She collaborated with Dean Brody for the song “Boys” which topped the Billboard Canada Country chart.
12- Lesley Riddle
Lesley Riddle is not a popular name in country music, but he was among the pioneers of country music. African-American musician Riddle influenced the Carter Family to popularize country music.
Born in Burnsville, North Carolina. He began his music career after a leg injury.
He retired from his musical career in the 1940s but made a comeback in 1965.
Lesley Riddle composed several songs for The Carter Family. Some best-known tracks include Bear Creek Blues, I Know What It Means To Be Lonesome, Cannonball Blues, and Hello Stranger.
13- Cleve Francis
Country music singer Cleve Francis was born in Jennings, U.S. A cardiologist turned successful country artist. He followed his passion for music. He released the album Last Call for Love under Playback Records.
Francis signed with Liberty Records and released albums like Tourist in Paradise, Walkin’, and You’ve Got Me Now.
Afterward, Cleve Francis resumed his profession as Mount Vernon Cardiology Associates President.
In 2006, Francis recorded a live album Storytime at the concert hall The Birchmere of Alexandria.
14- Allison Russell
Canadian singer-songwriter Allison Russell was born to a Grenadian father and a teenage mother. She eloped from her home due to his abusive stepfather.
Her music career began with the Celtic folk band Fear of Drinking. She formed several bands along with other artists and released several studio albums.
Russell embarked on a solo career with the album Outside Child. She appeared in the live country radio broadcast, Grand Ole Opry in 2021.
Furthermore, Allison Russell is one of the artists to perform in Black Opry, a revue focused on black country music artists.
15- Aaron Neville
Country singer Aaron Neville was born in New Orleans. Being a Catholic and a devotee of St. Jude, he credits his success to him. He recorded music along with his brothers The Neville Brothers.
The artist began his solo career with the hit single Tell It Like It Is. The single became a chart-topper and got a gold certification.
Aaron Neville sang the US Enthem in the sports psychological thriller movie The Fan.
The country artist released hit singles such as Everybody Plays the Fool, Close Your Eyes, Don’t Take Away My Heaven, The Grand Tour, and Somewhere Somebody.
16- Yola
English artist Yola was born Yolanda Claire Quartey. Raised by a single mother, Yola wants to follow her passion for music. But her mother didn’t allow her.
She used the education loan to fuel his passion. After dropping out of university, she joined the Bristol band Phantom Limb.
Her debut album Walk Through Fire(2019) got immense appraise and received three Grammy nominations.
The country singer made her acting debut with the biopic Elvis where she portrayed the “godmother of rock n roll” Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
17- O.B. McClinton
O.B. McClinton was a talented black country music artist. He became interested in country music after listening to legendary American singer Hank Williams.
After working as a disc jockey at Memphis radio station WDIA, he pursued a career as a songwriter.
He wrote several songs for James Carr, including the lead tracks from Carr’s albums A Man Needs a Woman and You Got My Mind Messed Up.
Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You, I Wish It Would Rain, Yours and Mine, Soap, and Natural Love are some of his most notable singles.
18- Britney Spencer
American country singer Britney Spencer was born in Baltimore. She gained notoriety after a viral Twitter video of her singing a version of the Highwomen’s song.
Spencer received vocal training from a coach, who taught her how to sing in a recording studio.
She began performing backup vocals for R&B and gospel musicians.
At the 55th Annual Country Music Association Awards, she performed alongside Madeline Edwards and Mickey Guyton.
19- Tina Turner
One of the best-selling artists, Tina Turner established herself as a successful music artist. The artist became famous as the duo Ike and Tina Turner alongside Ike Turner.
The duo released hit singles Proud Mary, Nutbush City Limits, and It’s Gonna Work Out Fine.
Tina Turner started her solo career with the album Tina Turns the Country On! She is also known as Queen of Rock n Roll.
Moreover, Turner was the first woman and Black artist on Rolling Stone’s cover. She earned a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame and Hollywood Walk of Fame.
20- Breland
American singer Breland started his career as a songwriter. He penned songs for popular artists such as YK Osiris, Ann Marie, and Elhae. His debut single My Truck was released under Atlantic Records.
The song went viral and reached the Billboard Hot Country chart. It defines rural America’s truck culture.
His album Cross Country received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.
Breland made guest appearances on DJ Luke Nasty’s “Ol Girl Interlude”, Gary LeVox’s “All I See”, and Jimmie Allen’s “Somebody”.
