Mr. Louis Armstrong, Ms. Aretha Franklin, and Ms. Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter are three Black artists whose music careers have transformed the music industry. In fact, their contributions go beyond creating hit songs. They have also inspired many Black artists popular today. Despite coming from different backgrounds, these musicians have found a common love for music by redefining genres and influencing social movements. These artists have showcased the power of music and its ability to connect people, according to towerphs.com.
Mr. Armstrong, born in August 1901, developed a love for music in his early teenage years. He grew up in poverty and used the cornet as an escape from his violent neighborhood, according to britannica.com. At 11 years old, he received his first opportunity to explore music. From there, he continued to grow, marching in marching bands and performing alongside his musical idols, such as Mr. King Oliver. Mr. Armstrong then moved to Chicago, where he recorded records Hot Five and Hot Seven. These recordings blew up, giving him the reputation of the first great soloist in jazz, according to sdpb.org. Despite this fame, Mr. Armstrong still faced racial criticism from all over the United States (US), including an incident where a white announcer refused to introduce him because of his race. However, Mr. Armstrong did not let these incidents define him and would often take the high road, according to louisarmstronghouse.org. Because of that has had a huge impact on many musicians, including artists such as Mr. Frank Sinatra and Mr. Billie Holiday, according to tidal.com.
Ms. Franklin was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1942. She began performing in her teenage years alongside her father, a gospel singer, which led to them traveling throughout the US. At 18 years old, she moved to New York City (NYC) where executive producer John Hammond, a part of Columbia records, signed her to a recording contract. There, she produced famous records such as “Today I sing the Blues,” which remains a classic today. However, her talent did not receive recognition until she moved to Atlantic Records. Producer Mr. Jerry Wexler encouraged Ms. Franklin to embrace her own music identity by returning back to her gospel-blues roots. From there, her career skyrocketed as she performed across the US, received numerous awards, and became the first woman ever inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, according to britannica.com. Along with these accomplishments, she also used her voice to advocate for civil rights. She fought for equal rights for Black Americans in the US by touring with fellow activist Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and fellow singer Mr. Harry Belafonte, according to time.com. Her talents left a lasting impact on many, not just through her music but also because of her activism and engagement in the equal rights movement. She connected people to their own emotions and allowed them to feel seen through her lyrics and melodies, according to nmaahc.si.edu.
Beyoncé, born September fourth, 1981 in Houston Texas, has easily become one of the biggest names in music history. At the age of nine, Beyoncé formed her first group, Destiny’s Child, with some of her childhood friends. Columbia recording signed this group, and they won two Grammys, according to britannica.com and grammy.com. Eventually, the group parted ways, and Beyoncé decided to use her talent to start up her solo career. She proved herself to the music industry when her albums began winning multiple Grammys, according to time.com. Most recently, her 2024 album Cowboy Carter won two Grammys, album of the year and best country album, according to The New York Times. Beyoncé used her fame to speak out on topics such as racial discrimination. She even expressed gratitude toward the protesters that were using their voices by saying “thank you for using your collective voice and letting the world know that Black lives matter,” according to vanityfair.com. Beyoncé challenged the music world by taking a huge leap, using unique strategies to become more successful. These strategies such as the visual release of albums or surprising fans with an unexpected album drop created a shift in the music industry inspiring artist such as Ms. Taylor Swift and Mr. Aubrey Drake Graham, according to time.com. Mrs. Eva Carrasquero, Lower School Music Teacher, commented on the importance of these three musicians.
“Armstrong, Franklin, and Beyoncé have all set the stage for future artists to be more expressive, more intentional, and more empowered, both in their art and in their personal lives,” Mrs. Carrasquero said. “They showed that music can transcend boundaries, whether cultural, racial, or personal, and that artists can shape change through their voices and their platforms.”
Featured Image by Eloise Liggitt ’26
