What role did women play in revolutionising music? Quite a major one, it turns out. Bold and unafraid to speak out for what they believed in, these influential women musicians worked to fight stereotypes even at the risk of damaging their careers. Read on to discover some courageous and unapologetic artists who changed much more than just the music scene.

SISTER ROSETTA THARPE

Did you know that rock 'n roll was invented by a woman? Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and electric guitar was as hard to classify as herself. She would surprise a nightclub audience by performing her God-worshipping music. On the other hand, churchgoers were deeply offended by Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s pioneering method of connecting gospel-based lyrics with the technique of heavy distortion on the electric. The result? She was classed as a misfit in both communities. Despite this ostracisation, she ended up influencing the greatest artists not just in the world of gospel music, but also in jazz, blues, and rock, paving the way for starts like Elvis.

BILLIE HOLIDAY

Billie Holiday’s story is as astonishing one. Born in 1915, she endured an extremely difficult childhood that lead to being brought to a juvenile court at only nine years old. Starting her career at nightclubs in Harlem, she’s now known as one of the greatest female jazz singers. Although she became one of the most influential names in the male-centered music genre, she didn’t try to adopt the male style of performing.

Billie Holiday’s revolutionary impact, however, went much further than simply changing the style of expression in jazz. Sixteen years before Rosa Parks, she found herself once more transforming another male-dominated scene, the Civil Rights Movement. She defined both – the movement and her own career – with one song: “Strange Fruit”. Even when she was arrested for it, Billie Holiday had it written into her contract that she would be singing the song at every concert. She stood her ground, singing the protest song for almost every night of her life for twenty years.

NINA SIMONE

Nina Simone’s very first performance was already defined by her race, proving this highly influential musician to be a justice fighter. At just age twelve, she was about to play a recital at her church, when she discovered her parents were forced to give away their seats to white audience members. Young Nina Simone refused to play until her parents were given their seats back. From then on, she continued the struggle for equality for the rest of her life.

While women were still not considered an equal part of the Civil Rights Movement, she became a key performer at the freedom marches – no one had a broader repertoire about inequality. However, her protest didn’t stop with where she was directly affected; she also refused to pay taxes until the Vietnam War was over, leading to her exile from the United States.

SHADIA MANSOUR

"The first lady of Arabic hip hop" began singing at protest rallies as a young child. Since then, Shadia Mansour’s music continues to call for the end of the occupation, but she also criticizes conservatism and the oppression of women. While she initially attempted to alter her voice to sound more like male MCs, she has rejected the sexualization of women in hip hop and developed her own uniquely powerful style and refers to her own music as ‘non-violent resistance’.

For more articles celebrating women and the arts, read about:

• Frida Kahlo's Impact on Feminism and Art
• J KOO and  Tailored Feminism

Cover Credit: steeve-x-foto / Alamy Stock Photo

Writer | Katrina Dybzynska

Katrina is a writer published in Ireland, UK, US, Australia, Germany, and Poland. Currently, she’s working on a book that explores power, resistance, and compliance dynamics and is a BA-MA Researcher for Global Center for Advanced Studies.