Five Women Who Changed the Course of Music History

Mar 72 min read

Here are five women who changed the course of music history and whose groundbreaking contributions have significantly shaped the landscape of music, each leaving an indelible mark on their respective genres:

Sister Rosetta Tharpe – The Godmother of Rock 'n' Roll

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a pioneering American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who gained popularity in the 1930s and 1940s. She was the first person to bring gospel out of church and into the mainstream. She was openly queer at a time when this was an absolute taboo in society. And she was the first guitar player to crank the distortion on her guitar, paving the way for the origins of rock and roll. Tharpe's guitar technique left a lasting impact and influence on artists such as Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Keith Richards. In recognition of her influence, she was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 as an Early Influence.

Billie Holiday – The Voice of Pain and Protest

You don’t just listen to Billie Holiday—you feel her. Alchemising a lifetime of trauma into steely resolution, she did what no mainstream artist dared to do. She turned a song into a weapon, and with Strange Fruit (1939), that weapon became a protest, recognised as one of the first significant political songs in American popular music. Her voice, bruised and breathtaking, carried the weight of African American suffering into the spotlight, highlighting the power of music as a form of protest. Her ability to infuse emotion into her performances inspired generations of vocalists, from Nina Simone to Amy Winehouse proving that vulnerability can be the most powerful instrument of all.

Joni Mitchell – The Architect of Emotion

While the world was busy labelling women in music as mere “muses,” Joni Mitchell was crafting some of the most poetic, intricate songwriting of all time. Her 1971 album Blue is frequently hailed as one of the greatest albums of all time, showcasing her ability to convey raw emotion and personal narratives. Mitchell's exploration of various musical styles, from folk to jazz to electronic, paved the way for future artists to experiment beyond traditional genre boundaries.

Patti Smith – The Punk Poet Laureate

When Patti Smith merged poetry with punk rock on her 1975 debut album Horses, she proved that punk could be intellectual and that women in music didn’t need to be pretty or polite. She challenged the norms of rock ‘n’ roll, inspiring and influencing countless bands including PJ Harvey, Bikini Kill, R.E.M. and The Smiths.

Missy Elliott – The Futurist of Hip-Hop

Missy Elliott revolutionized hip-hop with her innovative music and visuals. Her debut album, Supa Dupa Fly (1997), produced in collaboration with Timbaland, introduced a futuristic sound that reshaped the genre. Elliott's music videos, characterized by their experimental concepts, changed the landscape of hip-hop visuals, incorporating themes of feminism, gender equality, and body positivity. In 2024, Elliott became one of the first rappers to receive the National Medal of Arts, the highest recognition given by the U.S. government to artists.