Celebrating Womens History Month: Women in Music

As we celebrate women's history month, we honor women and their contributions to music.

Aretha Franklin also known as “Queen of Soul”, was the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father was Baptist preacher Reverend Clarence La Vaughan "C. L." Franklin, and her mother was a gospel singer by the name of Barbara Siggers Franklin. As a talented pianist with a powerful voice, Franklin started singing at an early age in front of her father's congregation. Many of her achievements include winning a record of eight consecutive Grammys for best R&B vocal performance from 1967 to 1974, and singing at historic events, including the memorial for Martin Luther King Jr. and the 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama. Franklin also topped Rolling Stone’s list of 100 greatest singers of all time. 

Cher, also known as the “Goddess of Pop”, promoted female autonomy and strength through her music and character. In the 1960’s it was a time when the music industry was mostly dominated by men. Since then, by breaking out as a female artist, she's become an influence for many musicians. Not to mention, she is also considered a fashion icon and is notably known for her jet-black hair, and bell-bottom look with a bare midriff. In doing so, she embraced a genderless fashion that both men and women could (and did) imitate. This was something that was uncommon during the time, and where women were mostly seen dressed in skirts/dresses.

 At the same time, Dolly Parton helped pave the way for many           country singers including Carrie Underwood, Deana Carter, and       Jennifer Nettles.  Similar to Cher, Parton also had to overcome          gender barriers within the country music industry. Releasing her first  single, 'Just Because I'm a Woman,' addressed the issues women     were facing (and still are). In doing so, she brought stories about       women to the surface and raised awareness on the problems          women had to endure. Just like Cher, Parton demonstrated that a      woman could flourish in a "male" industry.

Fast forward to the 1980’s-1990’s, “The Queen of Pop” Madonna helped paved the way for pop culture today. As a pop icon, Madonna often broke down social barriers during her time (and still is). Growing up in multi-racial Detroit, she often promoted diversity in her music videos by featuring black and Latino characters. At the time, the LGBTIQQ community was not as pronounced as it is now. However, in 1986, Madonna allowed gay and lesbian characters to appear in her videos, where she proudly paraded with them and danced. By showing support, Madonna welcomed those that were not so welcomed in the 1980’s-1990’s. Madonna influenced very well-known artists such as Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Beyonce and Britney Spears.