Ella FitzgeraldElla remains today one of the great icons of jazz. Her voice was a rare instrument, opening up be-bop for the masses. She was the first black artist to headline New York’s Copacabana, and her scatting predates the multi-octive formula used by today’s divas.

Run DMCNo group has been more responsible for bringing hip-hop and rap to the mainstream than this New York trio.

Miles DavisBrilliant Jazz trumpeter Davis had a restless genius that allowed him to produce some of the most influential and technically remarkable music of the 20th century. He was among the first to incorporate rock and funk rhythms into jazz, and did so without watering down his own wildly distinctive style. He remained relevant throughout the 1980s until his 1991 death.

Bob MarleyMarley’s raw charisma and brilliant song writing made him the biggest reggae star ever. His “Legend” album is one of the most durable best-sellers of all time. Before his death of cancer at age 36 in 1981, Marley was honored with the UN Peace Prize.

Tina Turner Tina started out as a breakthrough soul-blues singer along with husband, Ike, and maturing into glossy pop star 20 years later. Turner’s career has been both remarkable and inspiring. Though the pair made unforgettable music, Ike and Tina’s marriage was destroyed by Ike’s abusiveness. Tina escaped and staged one of the most impressive comebacks in pop music history, as she became a best-seller in the 1980s and has continued to perform into her late 60’s.

The underrated D’Arby brought grit and soul back to the 1980s R+B with his classic “Introducing the Hardline According to...” That album was a commercial triumph that demonstrated D’Arby’s sonic range and depth. His subsequent work never has sold as well as his debut, but his albums have always been eclectically creative gems.

Terence Trent D’Arby

B.B. KingNo other bluesman has entered the American culture as much as King. A revolutionary guitar player, he changed the way the electric guitar was played. With his growl of a voice and beloved guitar, “Lucille”, any blues-based electric guitarist owes a considerable debt to King.

Billie “Lady Day” HolidayBillie was the “Mother of Lullaby”. Her amazing voice and distinctive vocal style marked a marriage between old-time blues and the swing-jazz era. A tall, beautiful woman, she personified glamour and poise during her exquisite live shows. Heroin addiction and alcoholism cut her life short at the young age of 44 in 1959, but her remarkable singing style lives on forty years after her death. An example of her influence can be heard through the music of Erykah Badu. A movie was made of her life in 1980 and starred Diana Ross.

Aretha FranklinBlending soul and gospel, Franklin used her powerful pipes to rack up a string of #1 hits in the 1960s and 70s. She overcame a pregnancy at 15 to record 58 albums and win 15 Grammies, and continues to record today.

Bessie SmithBessie Smith is one of those artists many people regret never being able to hear her perform live. She died over 61 years ago. Her grave reads, “The Greatest Blues Singer of All Time”, and few people will argue. With a voice that raged up from the pit of her being, Smith is an inspiration for blues singers (especially Janis Joplin, who modeled her voice after Smith). She was the

most successful black entertainer in the first part of the 20th century, and she died at 41 following a car wreck. The story goes that she was turned away from a white hospital, where doctors may have been able to save her life. She lived life to the fullest and died penniless, but her consistently powerful body of work remains her legacy.

Louis ArmstrongOne of the giants of 20th century music, Armstrong (1901-1971) was a top-par vocalist, horn player, and entertainer. A talented jazz improvisationalist, his gruff voice could wring emotion from any jazz, blues, and pop song. Armstrong put it all together with a unparalleled technical mastery that overshadowed his contemporaries.

Since her memorable hit, “Nasty” in 1985, Janet has remained one of pop’s most enduring and reliable artists. Her exquisite “Rhythm Nation 1814” album is a modern day classic, and her singles have always been catchy and full of memories.

Michael JacksonDespite recent problems and controversy in his career, Michael is still a very talented pop star. “Thriller”, his 1984 classic, is one of the best pop albums ever recorded, and he’s been reasonably reliable since. He’s been in the limelight for 30 years, starting out as a member of the Jackson 5 and continuing on to be one of the world’s most recognized artists.

Janet Jackson

A blues mama in the grandest tradition, her soaring voice makes her soul-blues some of the best ever recorded. She continues to record wonderful works today in her 70s.

Etta James

Laura Love, a little-known Seattle musician, has broken musical boundaries with her uniquely eclectic blend of folk, jazz, rock, Celtic, and African rhythms. Included on her bewitched sophomore album is a haunting cover of Nirvana’s “Come As You Are”, with Love accompanied only by bass.

Jimi HendrixRock ‘n’ Roll would not be what it is today without Hendrix’s influence. An electric guitar virtuoso, strong proponent of sound song structure, and ideology. A major contributor to both socially conscious rock and psychedelia. His amazing sense of style and musicianship is perhaps best captured in the rock classic, “Electric Ladyland”.

The SupremesThis motown trio remains one of the most successful and prolific groups of all time. Their charming harmonies created many memorable hits in the 1960s including “Baby Love” and “Stop (in the name of love)”.

Laura Love

Salt n PepaThis trio has persevered and become some of the most powerful women in music. Their raps have always been marked by sassy girl appeal and, more recently, a compelling social consciousness.

John ColtranePerhaps the most influential jazz instrumentalist of all time, Coltrane’s work had a profound effect on every jazz and fusion artist after him. His music’s beauty and appeal are utterly timeless.

Brandford MarsalisThis MSU favorite has had an extensive and successful musical career. Born into a musical family, he started playing the piano, clarinet, and then the saxophone. He continued his saxophone career becoming a world-wide jazz musician, touring with the Greatful Dead, and becoming the band leader of Jay Leno’s, The Tonight Show. MSU is proud to have Brandford return to campus as a lecturer and musical professor.

Alicia KeysHas won numerous awards, including eleven Grammy Awards, seventeen Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards, and fourteen NAACP Image Awards. Her debut album, “Songs in A Minor” was a worldwide success and received the record of five Grammy Awards in a single night in 2002.

John LegendHis debut studio album, the multiplatinum selling Get Lifted, was released in late 2004, and features collaborations with rapper and producer Kanye West as well as Snoop Dogg. Legend has won five Grammy Awards. His career gained momentum through a series of successful collaborations with multiple established artists.

Diana RossThrough the mid 1980s, Ross was the most successful female artist of the rock era, while crossing over into film, television and Broadway winning a Tony Award for her one-woman show, An Evening with Diana Ross in 1977, and being nominated for twelve Grammy Awards and an Academy Award for Best Actress for her 1972 role as Billie Holiday.

Thelonious MonkThis influential jazz artist has enjoyed a long and successful career in jazz. His delectable instrumentation has inspired many artists.

Tony RichRecalling Marvin Gaye, Tony released a compelling debut album “Words” in 1996. The Detroit-based musician played every instrument on the album, which combined 70s’ soul and 90s’ R+B with often poetic lyrics. Tony will doubtlessly be a force in pop music for years to come.

Erykah BaduWith her ethereal beauty and jazzy voice, Badu recalls Billie Holiday in more ways than one. However, her sense of style and musical diversity makes her one of the most talented debuts of the 90s.

Musi cians

Musi cians