While Cash had a somewhat successful solo career, her most prominent success was the work she produced with her husband, male country singer Johnny Cash. His most notable records from the decade were Dreams of the Everyday Housewife, By the Time I Get To Phoenix, and Wichita Lineman.. She started her music career at a young age, participating in violin competitions, and eventually joined the band Union Station. There are many more female singers who were active in the 60s, but these were the most famous and influential. Kris Kristofferson's gem-cut lyrics earned him a reputation as a songwriter's songwriter, country music's answer to Bob Dylan. After being discovered, she achieved instant success, and her 1963 single Its My Party topped the charts. Swifts music is unique, ranging from country to pop to folk. Joplin distilled her life and career into her songs: every time we listen to her, we are reminded to seize the day, just as Janis would want. If you consider the longevity and success of her music career, Shirley Bassey is definitely one of the best 60s female singers. Known for her powerful voice and impactful delivery, Bassey always stood out from the crowd. She can be found on various television shows and is the author of a book of poetry. In an era where many country artists were in the recording studio, Missouri-born Porter Wagoner achieved an extra step up in his career as a popular TV persona. During her rich and durable career, she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award. She famously wrote the song Ring of Fire about their relationship, which he subsequently sang and released. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_female_country_singers Lists of the greatest country bands, artists, and songs, ranked by fans like you. A Tombstone Every Mile - Dick Curless, 91. Gram Parsons pioneered country rock as a member of multiple bands, among them The Flying Burrito Brothers. Many have even crossed over finding audiences in the pop and rock worlds, including women country singers Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, and top selling female Since his first hard-drinking hit in 1959 with "White Lightning," George Jones' operatic voice had a profound impact on listeners. She didnt excel at the fiery ardour of gospel singing, but rather displayed expert control and awareness of her own voice, earning her a scholarship at The Hartt College Of Music. The 60s is hailed as a golden age for rock music, with new frontiers being discovered by artists and bands like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin all male, most of them white. Here are our ten best 60s female singers. This was very different to other women in the music business at the time. Ultimately, this led her to begin recording her songs. She won 18 Grammy Awards, and she was also the first woman to be listed in the Rock and roll Hall of Fame in 1987. One of the most famous country singer-songwriters of all time is June Carter Cash. "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" broke down barriers, proving female country singers were commercially viable and not to be trifled with. Porter Wagoner did more than help introduce Dolly Parton to the world ("I Will Always Love You" was dedicated to him). An icon of the Swinging 60s, Dusty Springfield donned elegant gowns and a bright-blonde bouffant, which gave her a polished, glamorous look, leaving listeners unprepared for her hoarse, soulful renditions of songs like I Only Want To Be With You and Wishin And Hopin. Merle Haggards youth and young adult years were troubled, and he served time as an inmate of the San Quentin State Prison more than once. She was committed to making her dreams of becoming a performer come true. Growing up in California, the girl born Cherilyn Sarkisian often felt out of place. A trail-blazer for female country artists, Lynn was one of the first women to sell 500,000 albums, with her album Dont Come Home A-Drinkin (With Lovin On Your Mind). Stand By Your Man, and D-I-V-O-R-C-E are two of her most famous tunes and show off her powerful mezzo-range belt. Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got) - Leon Ashley, 97. Despite being in his 70s, he still remains active professionally and tours around the country. Her embattled marriage with George Jones made her life as much of a soap opera as her music did. All things considered, its no wonder that many consider Aretha Franklin one of the greatest singers of all time. She first started singing in a church choir, before becoming a 60s star. "Heartaches by the Number" and "Release Me" are among hisbest-knownsongs. Cash released nine studio albums of her own and six albums with her husband. Bobbie did everything. Quickly making a name for herself, Franklin saw the potential to branch out. WebAt eighteen years of age, Tegan Marie is the youngest country female singer currently alive. She started her career in the 60s, and reached peak success in the 70s. That same year, Parton drew the attention of Porter Wagoner, who invited her on his show to replace Norma Jean as a regular performer. 1.2K likes. Not only is she well-known in the country music scene, but she is also well-known in rock, opera, and Latin music, with each genre recognizing her achievements in their field. Margo Smith 28 28. Her most memorable songs include Somebody Love You Baby, You Are My Friend, and If You Only Knew.. While Wilson continues to release music that is popular in the country music scene, none of her work has been quite as successful as Redneck Woman. The song earned her the only award in her career, a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. But she was also educated in music, having studied at the Hartt College of Music. She is a veteran in the industry, providing us with heartfelt songs since 1967. Her and Bob Regan made good music together. Her number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country and Western Sides chart, I Fall to Pieces and Shes Got You, are two of the most iconic early country tunes from this era. But later on Patti LaBelle left the group and joined the Supremes, before embarking on a solo career. Her hit "Don't Touch me" is great country. They include, of course, Elvis Presley, along with Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Shania Twain, The Dixie Chicks and Glen Campbell. Loretta Lynn, arguably country music's biggest star in the 1960s and early 1970s. Barbara Mandrell, first artist to win Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year twice (1980, 1981). Known for highly polished live concerts. Had the last successful prime-time network variety show on NBC 19801982. And her music still lives on her songs Heartbreaker and I Say A Little Prayer are timeless classics. The 60s definitely brought many changes in modern music, and leading figures in this revolution were influential female artists. Recognizable by her incredible, mesmerizing voice, Barbra Streisand is a living music legend and one of the best vocalists of all time. Musgraves has already won Album of the Year five times from various organizations. She also used to appear on her records as Miss Toni Fisher. Willie Nelson) Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson 3:22 2 Coal Miner's Daughter - Single Version Loretta Lynn 3:00 3 Golden Ring George Jones, Tammy Wynette 3:04 4 Delta Dawn Tanya Tucker 2:55 5 L.A. Freeway Guy Clark 4:56 6 Y'all Come Back Saloon The Oak Ridge Boys 2:55 7 Let Your Love Flow The Bellamy Brothers 3:18 8 Honky Our next singer, Faith Hill, is said to be a natural country music singer from birth, and it shows, since her first two studio album releases were chart-topping hits, leading to her continued success. These themes are also seen in her work as an actress. Garth recognized Martina McBrides talent and eagerness and agreed to let her open shows for him on the condition that she get signed by a record label. Mr. Walker it's all over is a great song. 13 Of The Most Famous Country Singers Of The 60s 1. She was a very versatile artist, creating music in various styles including folk, gospel, jazz, pop, and classical. She was a master musician who used brutally honest lyrics to convey the plight of inequality, accompanied by a piano that became an extension of herself. Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line - Waylon Jennings, 12. The Ronettes were really big back then, and they wouldnt be the same without their vocalist Ronnie Spector. Some of the biggest selling and most popular singers in country music are women. But her biggest success came while she was the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. For the next seven years of her life, she gained the interest of various record labels but was continuously rejected. Her TV appearances only built on her musical popularity, boosting her solo career when she famously did strike out on her own. Yes, I want to receive marketing messages with the latest news, events and releases from Dig!. Best known for her timeless Christmas hit Santa Baby, Eartha Kitt is widely regarded as one of the best female singers of the 1960s. He was a multiple Grammy award winner and also received honors from the Country Music Association. Welcome to Hello Music Theory! She started out as the lead singer of the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, and she eventually became one of the best-selling female artists of all time. Her career has gone on for nearly two decades, earning her over a hundred awards from various organizations, which has given Underwood the outstanding title of the most awarded country singer of all time. 10: Brenda Lee Sitting just behind Elvis Presley, Ray Charles and The Beatles, Brenda Lee was one of the most successful Often referred to as the Godmother of Soul, Patti LaBelle is also one of the most influential 1960 female singers. Essential Album:"The Essential Ray Price", Country music's resident satirist is good for more than a laugh. While studying, Warwick began singing background vocals as well as recording demos, but it was in 1962 that she took the most important step of her career: signing with Burt Bacharach and Hal Davids production company. (Margie's At) The Lincoln Park Inn - Bobby Bare, 26. Grand Ole Opry.. Indeed, he wrote a tribute to the victims in 1960 called The Stage (Stars in Heaven).. And she generally became one of the worlds best-selling music artists. It all began when she formed the group Patti LaBelle & The Bluebells the group had several hits throughout the decade. Some of the best songs came from the 1950's and the 1970's as well. Today, she has sold over 100 million records, making her the best-selling female country artist of all time. Wynettes career included 20 number singles on the Billboard country chart during this era. Kasey Musgraves is another Nashville Star alum, placing seventh in the fifth season in 2007. In the 60s, Simone provided a direct voice for the civil-rights movement, with a warm and raspy singing style reminiscent of old blues singers. "Evil on your Mind" is a fun song. Her talent was quickly noticed, and she was signed to Columbia Nashville almost immediately. Many would agree that Diana Ross is one of the best vocalists of the 60s. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alison Krauss (@alisonkrauss) 2. Many of the legends of the country genre are ladies who helped paved the way for today's top female country singers. If 1960s country music has now largely faded from the public memory, then 1960 country music by female performers is even more obscure. There are some exceptions- the work of Patsy Cline, Bobby Gentrie, and Loretta Lynn have achieved lasting renown- but overall the women on this list receive few plaudits these days. His clean-cut persona brought new fans to country music with the help of frontier classics such as "Back in the Saddle Again" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds.". She is also remembered as an actress she starred as Catwoman in the Batman series, for instance. Beginning with performing with her parents and siblings under the name the Carter Family, at the age of 10, Cash went on to have a career that spanned nearly seven decades. After Rogers died of tuberculosis at 35, he became known as the Father of Country Music. Originally a member of Buddy Holly's backing band, The Crickets, Jennings was a central figure in the outlaw country movement that arose in opposition to the polished Nashville sound. 1 hits "Wichita Lineman," "Galveston," and "Rhinestone Cowboy. Born to an Irish father and an African-American/Cherokee mother, Ronnie Spectors appearance complimented her distinct vocals. With his simple, folksy imagery and tunes inspired by his Midwest hometown, Greg Brown has become one of the most inimitable songwriters around these days. Table of Contents 1. Essential Album:"Complete Sun Recordings 1955-1958". Like many of her soul contemporaries, Warwick began singing in the church choir. In 1960, she gained unprecedented success in the pop charts with Im Sorry, for which she was backed by the typical Nashville sound arrangements of orchestra and intricate background vocals, making her voice synonymous with ballads. During her career, Turner won countless awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Country music gave us memorable traditionalists like Ray Price and Faron Young, then saw an outlaw rebellion, with Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings leading the charge. She was a member of the singing group the Mamas & the Papas, and after the group broke up, she embarked on a solo career. Send Me The Pillow You Dream On - Johnny Tillotson, 75. When thinking about the greatest female singers of all time, Nina Simone immediately comes to mind. If you choose to Reject all, we will not use cookies for these additional purposes. She continued to make music in the following years, and she is now mostly remembered for her 60s hits Judys Turn to Cry and You Dont Own Me.. Most of her works received critical acclaim, especially her 1968 album Eli and the Thirteenth Confession. But during a decade also known for its gender restrictions and racial inequality, a swathe of female musicians broke down barriers and paved the way for more women to follow. Her music was also characterized by her feminist attitude and strong messages. ", Essential Album:"Glen Campbell: The Capitol Years 1965-1977". Ernest Tubb's folksy delivery and lead guitar put him in the lineage of Jimmie Rodgers. Web60s music videos DaveDaShrubber 703 videos 282,870 views Last updated on Jan 19, 2023 enjoyable music from the 60s Play all Shuffle 1 2:53 John Fred and his Playboy She soon caught the attention of her family and peers as a natural prodigy, leading her to begin her professional career as a gospel singer. She gained more popularity and recognition after recording James Bond theme songs for films Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, and Moonraker. Jennings had given up his seat on the plane and always felt guilty about his survival. It is their first collaborative album together, though they have been going strong together since the 90s. Celebrating inclusivity, she was a pioneer of the R&B sound in the UK, and is even credited with officially introducing Motown to British audiences: as host of The Motown Sound, a special 1965 edition of the pop show Ready Steady Go!, she featured groups like The Supremes, Little Stevie Wonder and The Miracles. However, she is not the youngest ever to start her career. https://www.ranker.com/list/best-60s-country-songs/ranker-music