Best albums of all time by Black artists

There would be no American music as we know it without the contributions of Black artists. Since the earliest Africans were brought to the Americas in bondage beginning in the 16th century, Black singers and musicians have profoundly shaped every stage of American music's evolution. From country-western, the foundation of which was banjo music from Africa, to rock 'n' roll, first played by the legendary Sister Rosetta Tharpe on electric guitar in 1938, each genre of American music has a Black artist (or many) who helped create it. In addition to establishing new sounds, Black musicians worked to advance civic life as well. They helped bring about the end to segregation, with the likes of Josephine Baker, Ray Charles, and dozens more refusing to play to segregated crowds, with white allies like the Beatles taking similar stands. They also used their music to advance messages—from Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" to Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come." Today's Black artists continue to break new ground—Beyonc