this is my take on the 25 best african american rock and roll artists.  you can find amazing bios here.  in addition, here’s a cool spin magazine article called black rock: an oral history from 2008 which includes a bit of anecdotal info on the resurgence of indie black rock and a great article from the root called rock is black music, too from 2009.  and lest you think this post has no sense of humor, here’s the top 10 rock songs black people love, a post written by a black person.  that makes it ok.

rock is a bit expanded…  pop, soul, blues, motown, and funk are all ok, as long as it rocks.  more guys get away with it because of the deeper, rockier voices than the ladies… who were awesome in their own right but not rockettes – more temptresses…

the top 25 black rock musicians (in no particular order).

chuck berry.  one of the fathers of rock and roll.  roll over beethoven (1956).  (lyrics – chords)

michael jackson.  was there any doubt?  the king of pop rocks a little.  thriller (1982).  (lyrics – chords)

louis armstrong.  a jazz genius.  his trumpet rocks.  what a wonderful world (1968).  (lyrics – chords)

james brown.  a soul legend and influential in the rock world.  people get up and drive your funky soul (1973).  (lyrics)

ray charles.  an r&b and pop all-star.  he deserves spot because of tracks like this goody.  hit the road jack (1961).  (lyrics – chords)

chubby checker.  unfortunate name.  awesome dude.  twist again, why yes, thank you!  the twist (1960).  (lyrics – chords)

bo diddley.  a pioneer of one of the more important aspects of rock, its subversive nature.  who do you love (1956).  (lyrics – chords)

fats domino.  not much to say, other than good stuff.  ain’t that a shame (1955).  (lyrics – chords)

screamin’ jay hawkins.  epic.  i put a spell on you (1956).  (lyrics)

jimi hendrix.  truly THE guitar legend.  bob’s song was never better.  all along the watchtower (1968).  (lyrics – chords)

john lee hooker.  ok, so this is a bluesy stretch.  can you blame me?  boom! boom! (1962).  (lyrics – chords)

wilson pickett.  this song in and of itself make him legend.  the rest is just gravy.  mustang sally (1966).  (lyrics – chords)

gladys knight & the pips.  now this is rockin.  i heard it through the grapevine (1967).  (lyrics -chords)

little richard.  ”eccentricity” aside, the man is a stud.  good golly miss molly (lyrics -chords) /tutti frutti (1955/1958).  (lyrics – chords)

martha and the vandellas.  a rockin little motown number.  nowhere to run (1965).  (lyrics – chords)

prince.  another kooky kat, and more a pop guy – but essential.  when doves cry (1984).  (lyrics – chords)

otis redding.  ”ottis redding is rock and roll.”  (sittin’ on) the dock of the bay (1968).  (lyrics – chords)

darius rucker.  from the muzak of hootie and the blowfish to a solo country career, he is rock.  it won’t be like this for long (2008).  (lyrics – chords)

muddy waters.  def on the the far side of blues, but just excellent.  hoochie coochie man (1954).  (lyrics – chords)

lenny kravitz.  one of the few modern african american rockers.  are you gonna go my way (1993).  (lyrics – chords)

ben harper.  proving that black folk can still rock if they want to.  walk away (1994).  (lyrics – chords)

jackie wilson.  an epic song, a great artist.  (your love keeps lifting me) higher and higher (1966).  (lyrics – chords)

stevie wonder.  the only thing better than stevie wonder, or this song, is the fact that this recording is from sesame street.  superstition (1972).  (lyrics – chords)

the supremes.  another classic motown group worthy of the title rock.  where did our love go (1964).  (lyrics – chords)

the temptations.  what list of the best black rock and roll is complete without the temptations, and my girl?  my girl (1964).  (lyrics – chords)

the newer stuff will have to stand a bit of the test of time before it lands on a top african american rock artists of all time list.

best black rock and roll artists, 3.7 out of 5 based on 3 ratings

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