The 70s were an era of female pop singers, and if you’re old enough, you may remember the music of Dionne Warwick, Donna Summer, Suzi Quatro, and Carole King. These were the best of the best when it came to making the world dance to their hits. Rolling Stone Magazine even dubbed Stevie Nicks “the Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll.” If you’ve never heard of these women, you should check out the videos and articles below!
Dionne Warwick
One of the most popular female singers of the 70s, Dionne Warwick is still making music today. The 79-year-old has released two albums in the last three years and recently kicked off a residency in Las Vegas. In addition, she recently received a lifetime achievement Grammy award for her work. Warwick is currently planning a UK tour this autumn.
She was born in East Orange, New Jersey and attended Hartt College of Music, in West Hartford, Connecticut. Following her graduation from East Orange High School, she began performing backup vocals for recording sessions in New York City. One such session brought her into contact with gospel vocalist Burt Bacharach, who eventually signed her to a record deal.
Donna Summer
Donna Summer was one of the most iconic female singers of the 70s. Her songs made people dance. Her style was pioneering. She is often referred to as the Queen of Disco. She was a pioneer who transformed music from the bottom up. Her career continued to flourish in the 80s and was rewarded with many Grammy Awards.
Summer began singing in church choirs at age eight and went on to sing in the city choruses. By the time she was twenty, she was performing in musicals around Europe and won parts in ‘Hair’ and ‘Godspell’. She also performed with the Vienna Folk Opera. Her first single was a cover of a Jaynett girl group classic. She later met producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte while working on a record for Three Dog Night.
Suzi Quatro
Suzi Quatro is one of the most iconic female singers of the 70s, achieving chart success over a long career. She was introduced to music when she was a child, playing bongos for her father’s jazz band. She later studied classical piano and percussion before pursuing her solo career. After her breakthrough as a singer in the early 1970s, she was inspired by Joan Jett and Chrissie Hynde. Her self-titled debut album was released in 1973, and since then, she has released 15 studio albums and 10 compilation albums and one live album. Her career has yielded many awards, including six Bravo Otto awards and election to the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Online Hall of Fame. She has sold over 50 million records worldwide.
In addition to singing, Suzi Quatro also played bass guitar and piano. She wore black leather clothing and screamed in an exuberant way. While she was not a well-known figure in the United States, she enjoyed popularity throughout Europe and Australasia.
Carole King
Carole King is one of the most popular female singers of the 1970s. Her first solo album was a commercial failure, but her second album, Tapestry, topped the Billboard charts for six years. It was the longest running album in the top spot until Michael Jackson’s Thriller beat it in 1982. King also appeared in Broadway productions such as the musical Blood Brothers and contributed to an album of Jewish liturgies.
King formed a group called the City, but the group never became commercially successful. After the band disbanded, King began performing solo. Her first solo album was released in 1970. King was also a part of the Broadway musical Blood Brothers and the film Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs.
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell is one of the greatest female singer-songwriters in the history of pop music. She is a timeless artist who looms large over the current wave of soul-baring female singers. Her albums have earned her numerous accolades and nominations, including three Grammys.
Mitchell began writing songs during her college years and later performed folk music at local pubs. She also worked at hootenannies for $15 a week and appeared on local television shows. By the time she was 20, she had told her mother she wanted to become a folk singer in Toronto. She left western Canada for the first time when she was 20 years old, and on a three-day train ride, she wrote her first song.
Diana Ross
Diana Ross was a major star in the 1970s and the 1980s, and she has since continued to tour the world. Her 1973 duet album with Marvin Gaye became an international hit. She also toured Japan throughout the 1970s, becoming the first entertainer to be invited to the Imperial Palace in Japan by Empress Nagako, the wife of Emperor Hirohito. She was also the first African-American woman to co-host the Academy Awards.
After leaving the Supremes, Diana Ross launched a solo career. She later appeared in several films and TV shows, establishing herself as one of the most influential female singers of the era. She also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work in music.