Pop
This "King of Pop" is well known for the creation of the robot and moonwalk dances, and is one of the most popular singers of all time. His song "Thriller" is the highest-selling album ever.
Michael Jackson
"Pops" became famous in his 20s (also the 1920s), as a trumpet player and innovator of jazz.
Louis Armstrong
You'd better give some R-E-S-P-E-C-T to this singer, one of the most popular female artists ever. Especially since she's ranked as Rolling Stone Magazine's greatest singer of all time.
Aretha Franklin
Though mostly known as a jazz musician, this piano player also played hundreds of classical concerts in his lifetime, truly showing off his Royal-sounding first name.
Duke Ellington
This "Father of Reggae" was a Jamaican musician, born in the 1940s and heavily influenced by the Rastafarian movement.
Bob Marley
Only 7 years older than Mr. Meyer, this singer is also a songwriter and actress. She was the lead singer of the super-group "Destiny's Child," and is ranked as the highest-payed black musician in history.
Beyonce
Born in 1917, the "First Lady of Song" was a singer with outstanding range and a soulful voice. She was well-known for performing the music of the Great American Songbook.
Ella Fitzgerald
This blind singer, songwriter, and piano player signed his first record deal when he was only 11 (in 1961), and is one of the most popular artists of all time.
Stevie Wonder
This self-taught piano player, born in 1868, wrote two of the most popular ragtime pieces of music ever.
Scott Joplin
This popular jazz singer and pianist was one of the first African-Americans to host a national TV show. He was beloved for his smooth voice, and is still widely listened to around Christmas time even though he died in 1965.
Nat "King" Cole
One of the very first people inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this guitarist, singer, songwriter, and pioneer of Rock music was born in 1926.
Chuck Berry
Born in 1915, "Lady Day" was one of the first black singers to perform with a white jazz band, and influenced countless other jazz musicians.
Billie Holiday
A pioneer of soul music, this top-10 musician of all time (according to Rolling Stone Magazine) died in 2004.
Ray Charles
This trumpet player started as a classical musician, but quickly became a pioneer of the Bebop style of jazz. His album, "Kind of Blue," is one of the most popular jazz albums ever.
Miles Davis
This "King of Blues" died just after his 90th birthday, but still performed 250-300 concerts per year well into his 70s. His guitar was named Lucille.
B.B. King
The "Queen of Rock and Roll," this musician has sold more concert tickets than any other solo act, and has been performing since the mid-1950s!
Tina Turner
Ranked #22 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the greatest singers of all time, this woman bridged the gap between R&B and Rock Music.
Etta James
A trumpet player known for blowing so hard he would get light-headed, this musician bridged the gap between jazz and soul as an instrumentalist.
John "Dizzy" Gillespie
With a voice described as "Just Enormous," this musician was one of the world's most respected opera singers. She was especially well known for her performances of Wagner's music.
Jessye Norman
Born in 1942, "Buster" was a musician, guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He died when he was only 27 years old, and is still known as one of the best guitar players to ever live.
Jimi Hendrix
Known for his creation of "The Banana Boat Song," a true one-hit wonder, this musician was one of the first black pop musicians embraced by a white audience.
Harry Belafonte
This saxophone player was known for collaborating with Miles Davis on multiple albums. He is one of the best saxophone players to ever live.
Charlie Parker
The "Godfather of Soul" had a career that spread across 6 decades, and included blues and gospel music. He was a pioneer of Soul, and is known as the creator of Funk music.
James Brown
One of the very first black musicians to perform at the Metropolitan Opera, this "Queen" has been honored more than any other classical singer.
Leontyne Price
"I Will Always Love You," sang this ridiculously famous singer, actress, producer, and model.
Whitney Houston