Making great music means breaking boundaries. And that’s exactly what Mary J. Blige. Making her mark during the era of the Hip Hop and R&B cross over, Blige, with her feminine touch and great vocals, added a whole lotta soul, to what was quickly becoming a sub-genre of new urban music.
The singer’s music about survival and heartache deeply affected a generation, ultimately landing her the title of Queen of Hip-Hop-Soul. The singer managed to forge a career that was both mainstream and also appealing to R&B purists.
Regina Spektor
Another multi-talent we have here. A true songbird, the Russian-born artist has some interesting roots and as a child, was hugely influenced by Russian bard music, a unique kind of poetic folk music. Of course, growing up in America, she was also exposed to rock, pop, and blues. All of these musical ingredients make a lot of sense when listening to her intricate, even theatrical yet extremely catchy music.
With her 2006 hit "Fidelity" she completely blew up on charts everywhere. Since then the singer has gained worldwide fame, and though she hasn't won a Grammy, her music has appeared in several film soundtracks.
Fiona Apple
Moving onto the slightly more eccentric, Fiona Apple gave a voice to the real alternative girl in the '90s. While everyone was bopping their little heads to the Spice Girls, Fiona Apple came out with "Criminal" an intimate and hypnotic song that probably filled the rooms and headphones of many brooding teen girls.
Of course, since then she's only grown, with her recent album "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" being a massive success. The talented singer and musician plays the piano, though on hearing songs like "Every Single Night" you'll find that her greatest instrument is quite simply, her vocals.
Chaka Khan
Dubbed as the official Queen of Funk, Chaka Khan burst onto the Chicago music scene when she was discovered by the funk band and Rock n Roll Hall of Famers "Rufus." From then on it was only up. She even caught the attention of the notorious Ike Turner who asked her to become an Ikette. She declined and stuck to her own path.
The ten-time Grammy Award Winning vocalist is responsible for songs such as "I'm Every Woman" Tell Me Something Good, "Sweet Thing," "Tell Me Something Good," and much more.
Dionne Warwick
Thie dynamite singer that was hugely popular during the 60s caused waves in the music industry. As a frequent collaborator with legendary musician Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick brought us countless hits such as "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Walk on By."
Warwick is considered one of the greatest female singers in history, and her legacy continues to this day. According to the charts, she is ranked among the 40 biggest hitmakers between the years 1955 and 1999, based on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Charts. That is an impressive career.