Female Singers of the 70s
If you are looking for the best female singers of the 70s, look no further. ABBA’s frontwomen are among the most popular 70s singers. The Swedish band was one of the most successful groups of the 70s and early 80s, topping the charts with disco-driven pop songs. Although ABBA may have fallen short of Olivia Newton-John’s Eurovision victory, their place in pop culture is still secure. As evidenced by the success of their Mamma Mia! film franchise, they continue to influence pop culture to this day.
Diana Ross
In the 70s, there were several female singers who made a big impact on the music industry. These female singers ranged from pure pop sirens to emotional trailblazers. They had powerful voices and a command of the stage. Their music and stage presence still resonate with listeners today.
Diana Ross first achieved success as a member of the group The Supremes, a group that had made R&B music popular worldwide in the 60s. Later, she left the group and pursued a solo career. Her career continued to flourish in the 1980s, when she released an album produced by Bernie Edwards and Nile Rodgers. This album was a massive hit in the UK and was certified quadruple platinum.
Diana Ross received her first Grammy award in February 2012 when she presented the nominees for Album of the Year. She also went on to record a duet album with Marvin Gaye, and the album became an international success. She toured Japan in 1973 and became the first entertainer to visit the Imperial Palace in Japan, a honor bestowed upon her by Empress Nagako, wife of Emperor Hirohito. In addition, she was the first African-American woman to co-host the Academy Awards.
Linda Ronstadt
As one of the most successful female singers of the 70’s, Linda Ronstadt is a beloved icon of rock. In 1976, she won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Female Artist, and by the end of the decade, she had eight platinum, six gold, and four multi-platinum albums to her name. Her 1976 album, Greatest Hits, continued to sell for 25 years and was certified seven times platinum by the RIAA. The following year, she released Greatest Hits Volume II.
Her debut album, Simple Dreams, peaked at #1 on the Billboard Album Chart and sold more than 3 million copies. She also surpassed Elvis Presley at the top of the Billboard Country Albums chart. Her next album, Feels Like Home, featured cover versions of “Walk On” and “The Waiting”, which were both hit singles for Tom Petty. She has remained a popular touring artist throughout the 80s and 90s.
Cass Elliot
The female singers of the 1970s were a mix of different eras and styles. The Mamas and the Papas, for example, were a pop singing group that took folk-rock and turned it into the sound of the pre-psychedelic counterculture. Some of their best-known hits were “Monday, Monday,” “Go Where You Wanna Go,” and “California Dreaming.” Their appearance came at a time when the country was breaking free from the conventions of post-Camelot culture. And their looks were anything but conventional. The group consisted of a sexy Ichabod Crane in a funny hat, a blond beauty in Michelle Phillips, and a charismatic fat girl named Cas Elliot.
Cass Elliot joined the Mamas and the Papas in 1965 and later forged a solo career. With the Mamas and the Papas, she produced some of the best-known country and pop songs of the decade. She later released eight solo albums and a duet with Dave Mason. Elliot also enjoyed success in cabaret and was a frequent guest on The Hollywood Squares and The Tonight Show.
Donna Summer
Summer began her career in the 1970’s and is known as the “queen of disco.” She was a member of the “Funkadelic” group with the help of producer Giorgio Moroder and band mate Pete Bellotte. Summer’s demo tape led to a recording deal with Groovy Records, who released her debut album Lady of the Night. The album became a hit in selected countries.
In 1977, Summer released “Could It Be Magic?” with the single “Winter Melody.” The song would go on to become one of Summer’s most popular hits and would go on to become a hit in the UK. The single was a huge hit in the United States, reaching the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also spawned several other hits for Summer.
Minnie Riperton
Riperton’s career peaked in 1975 when she released her fourth solo album, “Lovin’ You”. In the same year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo a radical mastectomy. Her doctor initially gave her six months to live, but she continued to tour and record. Despite her declining health, she remained a national spokesperson for the American Cancer Society. She passed away on July 12, 1979, at the age of 31.
Riperton was born in Chicago in 1947. She started singing when she was just a teenager. At the age of ten, she joined an all-girl group called the Gems and later joined a soul group called Rotary Connection. She sang backing vocals for various artists, including Etta James and Chuck Berry. In addition, Riperton performed with other groups, including the legendary Chicago blues group Chess Records.
