The most popular singers are blacks. The most famous black actors

Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra- Legend of American music of the 40s - 60s. Frank's songs are included in the golden collection of world music. An unforgettable voice and a special, soft style of performance conquered the whole world. Frank Sinatra was also a very sought after actor and showman.

Ray Charles

Ray Charles- Black American composer and singer. Fate took away Ray's eyesight, but this did not prevent him from becoming the greatest artist of the 20th century. Ray Charles is considered the father of jazz and rhythm and blues. For my creative life he released more than 70 albums that captivated listeners with their energy.

Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry - American singer and composer of the late 50s and early 60s. King of Rhythm and Blues. His super hits were covered by many rock stars, including the Beatles. The most famous hit of Chuck Berry "Maybellene" glorified the singer. Subsequent songs were no less popular and loved by the people.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye- American singer and showman. King of Rhythm and Blues. Glory came after the performance of the hit "Pride and Joy". In 1965, Marvin entered the top ten of the best performers in America. Each of his songs is a masterpiece.

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley- The King of Rock and Roll. World fame brought the song "Heartbreak Hotel". Before the English invasion (The Beatles) did not leave the first places of the charts in Europe and America. The huge popularity of Elvis brought the singer fabulous fees. The concerts were always sold out. Americans still honor Elvis and arrange grandiose shows of the singer's doubles.

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is an outstanding American composer and singer. IN early years did not perform on stage when his songs rose to the top of the charts. Only in 1965 Bob released his first solo album, which won the hearts of rock music lovers. The circulation of his album exceeded one million. Subsequent albums were no less popular.

Little Richard

Little Richard- American singer and songwriter. One of the founding fathers of rock and roll. It was he who came up with the characteristic rhythm of rock and roll, which blew up the musical world of the late 50s and early 60s. All of Richard's super hits were covered by the leading stars of rock and roll and helped them climb to the top of the musical Olympus.

Jimi HendrixJimi Hendrix

Jimi HendrixJimi Hendrix- Singer and virtuoso guitarist. He pioneered new electric guitar timbres and literally paved the way for heavy rock music. The black musician with the band of the same name recorded over 200 hits. Jimmy died of an overdose of sleeping pills in 1970.

Otis Redding

Otis Redding- American singer and guitarist. For his short life span (he died as a result of a plane crash), he managed to become famous throughout the United States for 26 years. Worked in the style of "soul". His songs "These Arms Of Mine", "Pain In My Heart" and others have been at the top of the US charts more than once. Otis is recognized as a classic of the soul style.

Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison- American rock musician and singer, whose special popularity falls on the 60s. One of the pioneers of rock and roll. "Oh Pretty Woman", "Only The Lonely" and other super hits topped the charts in Europe and America in the mid-60s.

Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke - African-American singer - a leader among soul performers. Many consider Sam the progenitor of this style. His single "You Send Me" was the starting point to the heights of fame. Subsequent songs by Sam Cooke were also very popular in the world.

Dean Reed

Dean Reed is an American singer and film actor. Because of his centre-left views, he was blacklisted by US singers and was forced to leave his homeland forever. He was a beloved artist in the USSR. He acted in anti-American films and sang revolutionary songs against genocide and wars.

Black actors have long occupied an important place in modern cinema. The times of racial intolerance are long gone, and today they, along with everyone else, are fighting for the most prestigious film awards in the world. We will talk about the best of them in this article.

Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman is considered the standard among black actors. He became famous thanks to his characteristic calm voice and the skill of the storyteller, which he repeatedly demonstrated in many paintings. He was repeatedly nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe. The actor has one statuette "Oscar" for Best Supporting Actor in Clint Eastwood's sports drama "Million Dollar Baby". In 1990, he won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in Bruce Beresford's 'Driving Miss Daisy'.

Most viewers know him from Frank Darabont's drama The Shawshank Redemption, David Fincher's thriller Seven, and Paul McGuigan's crime thriller. Lucky number Slevin" and Rob Reiner's tragicomedy "Until I Played the Box".

Freeman tried himself as a director. In 1993, he directed the drama "Bopha!". This is a political detective, which takes place in one of the South African cities. Main character is a black cop who faces a difficult choice. Riots begin in the city due to the unjustified aggressiveness of a white officer. The key character will have to decide which side to take: to support his son, who is an ardent supporter of the fight against apartheid, or to choose a job in the importance and justice of which he believes?

Denzel Washington

Another black Hollywood actor is Denzel Washington. On the big screen, he made his debut in 1974 in Michael Winner's detective "Death Wish". The picture is dedicated to rampant crime in New York in the 70s.

Washington received his first Oscar nomination in 1988. In the biographical drama Cry for Freedom, he played the role of Steve Biko. This is a real-life fighter for the rights of blacks. The action of the picture takes place in the 1970s in Republic of South Africa. The film details the struggle against the ruling regime, which is pursuing an aggressive policy of racial segregation. At the same time, almost the entire tape was filmed in Zimbabwe.

He did not receive the award that year. The statuette was awarded for his role in Brian de Palma's crime drama The Untouchables. Washington received his first Oscar in 1990 for his portrayal of Private Trip in Edward Zwick's historical military drama Glory. In 2000, the black actor won a Golden Globe and a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival for his role as boxer Rubin Carter in Norman Jewison's sports drama The Hurricane.

Samuel Leroy Jackson

Among black male actors, one of the leaders in the number of film roles is Samuel Leroy Jackson. He has more than 120 films to his credit. He first appeared in films in 1972. It was a little-known tape "Together Forever". Universal recognition for the black actor came in 1991 after Spike Lee's drama Tropical Fever. Jackson became a superstar after playing in Quentin Tarantino's black comedy Pulp Fiction. For this work, he received the BAFTA Award and the Independent Spirit Award.

Jackson has since collaborated regularly with Tarantino. He played in his films "Django Unchained", "Jackie Brown", "The Hateful Eight".

Laurence Fishburne

The list of black actors who have earned fame and recognition includes Laurence Fishburne. In the history of world cinema, he left his name by playing in the film adaptation of Shakespeare's drama "Othello" in 1995. Most viewers remember his name after filming in the Wachowski brothers' sci-fi action movie The Matrix. For his role in this cult tape, he received an MTV award in the nomination "Best Fight".

In 1994, Fishburne was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of American blues musician Ike Turner in the film What Love Can Do. As a result, the award went to Tom Hanks for the legal drama Philadelphia. He also has many theater roles in his career.

Wing Rhames

Among the black actors in Hollywood (men), Ving Rhames plays a prominent role. He began his career with Broadway productions. In the mid-80s he came to television. His first notable work was the role of the father of the writer James Baldwin, which he performed in the autobiographical drama Go Speak from the Mountain. Rhames often starred in Vietnamese westerns. He played in the dramatic mystical thriller by Adrian Lyne "Jacob's Ladder".

Glory to him, like to Jackson, came after "Pulp Fiction" by Quentin Tarantino. Perhaps Rhames' most notable starring role is as Luther Stickell in the Mission: Impossible action film series. In total, the actor has more than a hundred film roles. It is still active to this day. In 2017, he starred in Lawrence Sher's comedy Who's Our Dad, Dude? and James Gunn's sci-fi action movie Guardians of the Galaxy.

Eddie Murphy

Not a single selection of photos of black actors is complete without a mention. He came out at the peak of his popularity in the 80s. His first big screen success was Martin Brest's action comedy Beverly Hills Cop. General love brought him roles in John Landis's comedy Trading Places, Tom Shadyak's comedy melodrama The Nutty Professor, Betty Thomas' comedy Doctor Dolittle, Ron Underwood's fantasy action movie The Adventures of Pluto Nash, Bill Condon's dramatic musical Dreamgirls, family comedy fantasy Rob Minkoff "Haunted Mansion".

Perhaps this is the most famous black man. In addition to successes, there were many failures in his career. The actor was repeatedly nominated for the Golden Raspberry Award. Even became its owner. For example, in 2008 he received an award for the worst male role in Brian Robinska's comedy melodrama Norbit's Tricks. And in 2010 he got the "Golden Raspberry" in the nomination of the decade "for a series of unsuccessful works.

Will Smith

Another successful black actor is Will Smith. He was twice nominated for an Oscar in his career. In 2002, Smith was nominated for the best actor award in Michael Mann's biographical sports drama Ali, dedicated to boxer Cassius Clay. But the victory that year went to Denzel Washington for the dramatic thriller Training Day.

In 2007, Smith once again claimed an Oscar for his work in Gabriele Muccino's drama The Pursuit of Happyness. But even then, he didn't get the award. won for leading role in Kevin Macdonald's historical drama The Last King of Scotland. Will Smith won national love after the release of Barry Sonnefeld's fantastic action comedy "Men in Black". And then the second part of this film. Since then, many have known him as an agent for James Darrell Edwards.

Since I've been talking about African continent, it is worth saying what he did for the opera. Namely, he gave the world amazing African-American artists who sing with great skill and knowledge of the matter.

These are real stars that have traveled the world, but I'm willing to bet that many experts simply do not know them. So here are a few names that are worth remembering ... or remembering.

This Ohio native has performed at La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera, as well as in Berlin, Paris, Rome and London. Critics remember him for the Barber of Seville, Polk's Daughter. He performed with René Fleming - the "gold standard soprano".

The owner of this powerful soprano was born in India, but has since successfully toured everywhere. She has performed in New York and at the Cape Town South African Opera. I love her, if only because she prefers Verdi.

Here is her performance in Paris in 2007.

When he was in high school in New York, he was invited to sing along with Mariah Carey. But he chose the classical direction. Considers opera a mirror of society and Hollywood. He believes that representatives of all nationalities and races should perform on the opera stage.

He says that everyone who visits the opera for the first time is surprised that no one sings with a microphone. He often travels to Harlem, and also performs in American and European theaters. Spent two months in South Africa, where he played Don Jose in Carmen. All the actors in the production were Africans.

Beautiful soprano with West coast USA. She performed in Melbourne, San Francisco, Carnegie Hall. Played Desdemona in Othello. Recorded Verdi's Requiem.

Here is an interesting guy. Born and raised in New Orleans - an unfortunate region, almost destroyed by natural disasters. He graduated from several universities and now works in New York at the Metropolitan Opera. And before that, he sang right in Switzerland at the Basel Opera House. Played Mephistopheles in Faust.

And here he is in Hades. Sorry for so many Verdi.

She came to the opera thanks to the Metropolitan Opera's program to help young artists. Extremely popular in Germany. She even received the title of "Chamber Singer" (Kammersängerin). Performed in Finland. On the CDs you can listen to her performances of Wagner's operas. She made her debut in Porgy and Bess Gershwin at the Metropolitan Opera. She worked with Rostropovich and even with Bobby McFerrin.

Ave Maria performed by her.

Here's another little video.

There are many more interesting and talented performers that we don't know much about. So if you have any other interesting new names - share, don't be secret!

Tina Turner

Born November 26, 1939 in Tennessee. No wonder Rolling Stone magazine called her one of the greatest singers of our time. Anna May Bullock (real name Tina Turner) has been singing since childhood. Winner of eight Grammy awards. For her artistry, temperament and stage expressiveness, she bears the title of "Queen of Rock and Roll", is listed in the top ten best dancers in the world.

In 1956, guitarist Ike Turner noticed her and invited her to his band. After the wedding, they formed a duet - Ike & Tina Turner, which was very popular. In 1975, during a joint tour, Tina left Ike - both personally and professionally. She later admitted that all these years her husband used drugs and beat her. Tina Turner's career as a solo artist did not begin until 1983. On January 16, 1988, Turner entered the Guinness Book of Records by performing in front of the largest paid audience - more than 188 thousand people at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. It was later reported that Turner re-entered the Guinness Book of Records by selling more concert tickets than any other solo artist in music history.

Released in 1995 New film about James Bond "Goldeneye", the soundtrack to which was performed by Tina Turner. At the end of October 1999, Tina Turner returned to the UK Top 10 - her song ""When The Heartache Is Over"" took first place. Now Turner lives in Switzerland, on July 15, 2013 she married music producer Erwin Bach, whom she dated for 27 years.

Pearl Bailey

Born March 29, 1918 in Virginia. A great actress and singer, winner of the prestigious Tony Theater Award for the Negro version of the musical Hello, Dolly! At the age of 15, she already began performing with musical numbers, and after her brother Bill Bailey took up dancing, they organized an amateur theater with him in Philadelphia. In 1946, Bailey made her Broadway debut in the musical The Woman from St. Louis. She played in the musical films "Carmen Jones", "Porgy and Bess", "St. Louis Blues".

In 1964, Bailey and Cab Coloway appeared in the lead roles in an all-Negro version of the famous musical Hello, Dolly! Then Pearl recorded a music album with numbers from the musical. She was married to jazz drummer Lou Bellson, in 1961 they had a daughter, DJ DJ Bellson, who died in July 2009, 5 months after the death of her father.

Sara Vaughn

Born March 27, 1924 in California. This is one of the greatest jazz vocalists of the 20th century. The Won star rose in 1942. Over the next three years, she worked in big bands, then embarked on a solo career. Starting in the 1950s, along with the classical jazz repertoire, she recorded popular hits that brought her wide recognition outside the jazz world. Vaughn objected when she was called a jazz singer: she believed that her range was wider. An outstanding singer fell victim to her addiction to smoking: she died at the age of 66 from lung cancer.

Janet Jackson

Janet is the youngest in the legendary Jackson family. When Jackson was just learning to walk, her older brothers - Jackie, Tito, Germain, Marlon and Michael - already performed musical numbers in nightclubs and theaters, called The Jackson 5. She first hit the stage at the age of 7, at the age of 16 Jackson signed a contract with record label A&M, who released an eponymous album in 1982. While she was criticized for modest vocal abilities and a "star" family, she worked on her third album, Control, which brought her fame. The subsequent album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, became a huge success in her career. Virgin Records, becoming one of the highest paid female performers in the world and a real sex symbol.

Now Janet is actively acting in films, hosts various shows on television and, of course, continues to sing.

Eartha Kitt

She was born on January 17, 1927. She is called a cabaret star, and she became famous thanks to her "purring" vocals and the corresponding image (for which she received the nickname "sex kitten"). Kitt made her Broadway debut in New Faces Of 1952, after which she gained worldwide fame with the Christmas hit "Santa Baby" (1953). Kitt enjoyed cult following; She has been cited as one of her main influences by many female pop and rock artists. Director Orson Welles called Kitt "the most exciting woman in the world."

Natalie Maria Cole

She was born on February 6, 1950. Singer, songwriter and actress, daughter of popular jazz pianist and singer Nat "King" Cole. She achieved great success at the very beginning of her career, thanks to her R&B compositions, and by the early 1990s she gradually changed her repertoire towards pop music and jazz. Over the years of her career, Cole was nominated 19 times for the prestigious Grammy Music Award and won it nine times. In addition to her musical career, Natalie Cole has performed a number of roles on television and in big movies.

Diane Carroll

Actress and singer, winner of Tony and Golden Globe awards, as well as multiple Emmy and Oscar nominees. She starred in the films "Carmen Jones", "Porgy and Bess", "Paris Blues".

She became the first African-American actress on American television with her own television show "Julia", where, unlike her predecessors, she was the main character, and not a servant or maid. In addition, the role in "Julia" brought her the "Golden Globe" in 1969. In 1975, the actress was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the movie Claudine. In 1984, Carroll played in the television series Dynasty and Dynasty 2: The Colby Family. She passed successful course treatment for breast cancer, becoming an activist in the fight against this disease.

Diana Ross

Diane Ernestine Earl Ross ( full name listen)) was born March 26, 1944 in Michigan. She is rightfully considered one of the most popular American singers (soul styles, rhythm and blues, pop, disco, jazz, rock and roll), an actress, music producer. She has been nominated multiple times for Grammy, Oscar, Golden Globe, American Music Awards…

Ross is one of the few who has 2 stars at once on Hollywood alley fame (one for solo career, the second - for a career in the "The Supremes"). In total, for all musical career Diana Ross has recorded 57 studio albums and has sold over 150 million discs worldwide. In 1999, the music channel VH1 listed Diana Ross in the list of 100

In the film Lady Sings the Blues, she played the famous black jazz singer Billie Holiday. In 1973, Ross was nominated for an Oscar for her role (she lost to her friend Liza Minnelli). Now Diana is still successful, she has

Born December 31, 1948 in Boston. American singer who performed compositions in the musical directions of rhythm and blues and disco. Her dance recordings from the second half of the 1970s to the early 1980s enjoyed the greatest success, changing the face of popular music. Donna Summer has been called the "queen of disco".

Donna Summer holds the record for the number of double albums released in a row, which occupied the first line on the Billboard 200. She also became the first singer in music history, whose singles made it to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart 4 times in a year. More than 130 have been sold throughout her career. million records. She has performed both in the US and abroad. The singer gave 7 successful world tours in Europe , Latin America , Asia and Australia . With great success, Summer's concerts were held in the UK, Brazil, Germany and other countries. He is the owner of 6 Grammy awards. She died at the age of 64 in Florida on May 17, 2012 after a long battle with lung cancer, in 2013 she was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. By the way, once she was included in the list of performers banned in the USSR with the wording - eroticism.

In continuation of our column “The most beautiful women in the world”, we decided to make a selection of the most beautiful girls with chocolate skin.

Black women have always amazed with their beauty: plump lips, velvety skin, athletic figure and perfect proportions. But it's no secret that their path to the top of fame was not easy, and even today a girl with dark color skins can be met in a modeling agency with the words: "We already have one dark-skinned model."

41 years old, supermodel and TV presenter

One of the first African American women to hit the catwalks in Paris. She began her career at the age of 15 and became the first black woman to appear on the covers of GQ magazines, Sports Illustrated and the Victoria's Secret catalog. She is also the creator and producer of one of the most popular American Top Model shows.

Naomi Campbell

44 years old supermodel

An icon of the 90s: not a single fashion show, not a single fashion party and another scandal could do without her. Naomi became the first black model to receive one of the highest paid contracts with a modeling agency. And now, 10 years later, she looks amazing and has not changed a bit.

33 years old, singer and actress

A girl from Houston (Texas) has become the most popular pop and r "n" b-singer in the world. She has 20 Grammy awards to her credit and has made history as the only woman to have been nominated for this award 52 times.

26 years old, singer

The Barbados singer was spotted by an American agent, and soon she signed a contract with the production center of rapper Jay-Z (45). Today she is the highest paid singer and her single Umbrella became the biggest selling hit in the world.

Lola Monroe

28 years old, rapper and model

The American performer was born in Ethiopia, but moved to Washington DC as a child, where she grew up. Her debut single Boss Bitch was the first step on the road to popularity.

Dorothy Dandridge

1922-1956, actress, singer and dancer

One of the first black women to achieve recognition on the American stage. She also became the first black woman to be nominated for an Oscar.

Whitney Houston

1963-2012, singer and actress

American singer, performer of the most touching love song I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston entered the Guinness Book of Records as the woman with the most awards. She won the hearts of the generation of the 90s, starring in the movie "The Bodyguard".

48 years old, actress

In 2002, Holly received an Academy Award for " Best Actress". We know her from the movie "X-Men" and as a Bond girl in the movie "Die Another Day".

Diana Ross

70 years old, singer, producer and actress

The performer of the hits Ain't No Mountain High Enough and Love Hangover was one of the beautiful women of his time. She entered the Guinness Book of Records as the most successful performer in history.

Iman Abdulmajid

59 years old, model, actress and businesswoman

Originally from Somalia, Iman started her career as a model but then opened the world's first cosmetics company with a line of foundations for black women. Iman is married to David Bowie (68).

Vanessa Williams

51 years old, singer and actress

She made history as the first African American woman to win the Miss America pageant in 1983. She can be recognized by her roles in the series Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives. It is also in her performance that the song Colors of The Wind sounds in the Disney cartoon Pocahontas.

Janet Jackson

The sister of the legendary Michael Jackson (1958-2009) Janet in her youth was very similar to her famous brother, but she did not remain in his shadow and made a significant contribution to the music industry.

Rissikat Bade

22 years old, model

The Congo-born model gained recognition by moving to the UK and winning the Miss London pageant in 2011. As a child, the girl lived in Ukraine, so she speaks fluent Russian and Ukrainian, and also learns French.

Alek Wek

37 years old, model

A Sudanese-born Dinko, the stunning coffee-black model hit the runway in 1995 at the age of 18.

Lupita Nyong'o

31 years old, actress and director

The Mexican-Kenyan model grew up in America and graduated from Yale University. Success came to her after her role in the film "12 Years a Slave", for which Lupita received an Oscar as "Best Supporting Actress".

Agbani Darego

31 years old, model

She became the first woman of African descent to win the Miss World pageant.

Fatima Siad

28 years old, model

The model is from Somalia. The participant of the 10th season of the show "America's Next Top Model" intends to prove to the whole world that she is not just another participant in the popular show. The girl is actively working on the world catwalks and participated in the shows of Herve Leger, Hermes and Dries Van Noten.

Alicia Keys

34 years old, singer, composer and producer

Her debut album Songs In A Minor sold 12 million copies, making her the most successful female artist of 2001. She starred in such successful films as "Trump Aces" and "The Nanny Diaries".

Noémie Lenoir

35 years old, model and actress

The model, originally from France, became popular, appearing in Elle and Sports Illustrated magazines. She also collaborated with fashion houses such as Gucci, L "Oréal, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria's Secret and Marks and Spencer. She is best known for her role in Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra.

Zoe Saldana

36 years old, actress and dancer

Her debut films were "Proscenium" and "Crossroads", but the worldwide popularity was brought to her by an episodic role in the film "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl".

Melody Monrose

22 years old, model

Melody began her career at 18 when she was spotted by an agent in her hometown on the island of Martinique. The girl was invited to New York and Paris, and she has already been a model for Vogue Italia and Harper's Bazaar.

Anais Mali

24 years old, model

A French model, her father was from Chad and her mother from Poland. The girl's career began in 2009, and in 2011 she participated in the Victoria's Secret show.

Naomie Harris

38 years old, actress

The British actress, best known for her role as the voodoo witch Calypso in Pirates of the Caribbean, also starred in 007: Skyfall and took part in the sequel to the James Bond story 007: Spectre.