Louis Armstrong In 1925, Louis Armstrong records the first of a series of singles for Okeh Records with his Hot Five and Hot Seven combos. The trumpeter's take on the songs, including "Saint James Infirmary," "Basin Street Blues," and "Muskrat Ramble," "helped to change the course of American music," as writer Charles Hiroshi Garrett noted in a review of a 2000 collection of the complete recordings. (Keystone/Getty Images)
Chuck Berry In 1955, Chess Records releases Chuck Berry's debut 45, "Maybellene." It's No. 18 on Rolling Stone's ranking of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Nat King Cole In 1956, Nat King Cole is the first black star of a national TV show [NBC's The Nat King Cole Show].
Miles Davis American jazz trumpeter and composer Miles Davis (1926 - 1991), sits with his instrument during a studio recording session, October 1959. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
James Brown American singer, songwriter and bandleader James Brown (1933 - 2006) performing at the Newport Jazz Festival, circa 1968. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Jimi Hendrix Rock guitar virtuoso Jimi Hendrix (1942 - 1970) caught mid guitar-break during his performance at the Isle of Wight Festival, August 1970. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images) (Evening Standard/Getty Images)
Charley Pride Charley Pride celebrated his 25th Anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member with appearances at the venue in Nashville, Tennessee, May 5 and 6. (Rachael Black, courtesy of the Grand Ole Opry via news release)
Marvin Gaye Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye around a microphone at the Motown recording studio in Detroit in 1965 in the United States. (Photo by Gilles Petard/Redferns) (Gilles Petard)
Stevie Wonder LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 07: Musician Stevie Wonder performs onstage during The Art of Elysium presents Stevie Wonder's HEAVEN - Celebrating the 10th Anniversary at Red Studios on January 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Art of Elysium) (Emma McIntyre)
Michael Jackson PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 31: Michael Jackson performs at the Super Bowl XXVII Halftime show at the Rose Bowl on January 31, 1993 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage) (Steve Granitz/WireImage)
Prince LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 24: Musician Prince performs onstage during the American Idol Season 5 Finale on May 24, 2006 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images) (Vince Bucci)
Whitney Houston The late Whitney Houston became the first Black recording artist to score three diamond-certified albums. ( David LeFranc/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Lauryn Hill MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 21: Lauryn Hill performs live for fans at Palais Theatre on May 21, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images) (Graham Denholm)
Beyoncé Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Nicki Minaj LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 17: Recording artist Nicki Minaj performs onstage during the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Childish Gambino NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 08: Creator/executive producer/writer/director/actor Donald Glover arrives at FX's "Atlanta Robbin' Season" FYC Event at the Saban Media Center on June 8, 2018 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter)