Top Ten Black Singers of the 80s

The Top Ten
1 Michael Jackson Michael Jackson (Michael Joseph Jackson; August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by a propofol and benzodiazepine overdose on June 25, 2009. He donated (at least) a remarkable 500,000,000 dollars to charity. Michael is also known as The King of Pop (a title given to him by Elizabeth Taylor) or under the initials MJ. Dubbed the King of Pop, he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. ...read more.

A superstar unlike any other.

2 Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, Guinness World Records cited her as the most awarded female act of all time. Houston is one of pop music's best-selling music artists of all-time, with an estimated 170–200 million records sold worldwide. She released seven studio albums and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which have diamond, multi-platinum, platinum or gold certification.

Whitney Houston’s voice is incredibly beautiful. I love to listen to it every day and always wished I could meet her she really is a wonderful icon

She was phenomenal. She's an icon and a legend.

3 Rick James Rick James was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, James began his musical career in his teen years in various bands and groups before entering the U.S. Navy to avoid being drafted in the early 1960s.

One of the Greatest Entertainers ever! he invented his own kind of music that many artists copied-PUNK FUNK!

Rick in the 80s was Lil Wayne in the 2000s

Saved Motown Records

Truly underrated

4 Billy Ocean

What a true legend, a great solid voice, subtle but unique, consummate performer live and consistently in the charts. Under rated in the UK for too long.

5 Gladys Knight Gladys Maria Knight, known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian and author.
6 Lionel Richie Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and actor. Beginning in 1968, he was a member of the funk and soul band the Commodores and then launched a solo career in 1982.
7 James Brown James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. A progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century popular music and dance, he is often referred to as the "Godfather of Soul".
8 Prince Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 - April 21st, 2016) was an American musician, best known for being one of the most popular and influential artists from the 80s, with songs such as "Purple Rain", "Little Red Corvette", "1999", and "When Doves Cry" .

Multi talented. Wins hands down purely for the fact the guy played, wrote, sang and danced his way to the top! Legend!

This man...he was everything!

9 Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. He died on 18 March 2017.
10 Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris, known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist.

The best and most creative, by far!

The Contenders
11 Marvin Gaye Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American singer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of hits, earning him the nicknames "Prince of Motown" and ...read more.
12 Luther Vandross Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Throughout his career, Vandross was an in-demand background vocalist for several different artists.
13 Diana Ross Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, actress, and record producer. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Ross rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes.

The boss, this lady raised the bar, made men take notice and only now so many have realised this lady crossed more boundaries than the USA going into war! USA sadly only now have realised this lady is a legend.

One of the most success singers/trailblazers of American music/entertainer. Diana Ross has been the inspiration for most Black American women of the last 50 years.

14 Ralph Tresvant

Was confused with Michael Jackson as a teenager when making songs with new edition such as Candy Girl and Popcorn Love

15 Tina Turner Tina Turner, née Anna Mae Bullock, was a singer, dancer, actress and author, whose career spanned more than half a century, earning her widespread recognition and numerous awards.

She literally ruled the 80's
it's a crime to put her this low on the list

16 Aretha Franklin
17 Sade Adu
18 Bobby Brown Robert Barisford Brown is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, actor and rapper. Brown started his career in the R&B and pop group New Edition, from its inception in 1978 until his exit from the group in 1985.

Sold 12 million copies! That don't Be Cruel album in 1989 was crazy

19 Janet Jackson Janet Jackson is a singer and dancer who is well known for her sexually graphic records, iconic performances, and slightly weak voice. She is regarded as a sex symbol through her songs and videos.
20 Johnny Gill Johnny Gill started out as a solo artist in the 1980s, releasing two albums that didn't garner much attention. It was not until later, when Gill became a member of the r&b/pop group New Edition, that people started to take notice of his music and his talent. He went on to release his most successful album, 'Johnny Gill', in 1990, giving him his biggest hits with songs like "My, My, My", "Rub You the Right Way", "Fairweather Friend", and "Rap My Body Tight." He went on to release two more albums in the 90's, but then took a long break from his solo career, not releasing another solo album until 2011's "Still Winning." Throughout the late 90's and early 2000's, he was part of the r&b group LSG, ...read more.

The other Luther Vandross

21 Chaka Khan Chaka Khan is an American singer-songwriter whose career has spanned more than five decades, beginning in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus.
22 Errol Brown
23 Anita Baker Anita Denise Baker is a retired American singer-songwriter. Starting her career in the late 1970s with the funk band Chapter 8, Baker eventually released her first solo album, The Songstress, in 1983. In 1986, she rose to stardom following the release of her platinum-selling second album, Rapture, which included the Grammy-winning single "Sweet Love".

Soft elegance supreme

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