Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key of Life (1976)

Stevie Wonder was born with an eye disorder which caused him to be blind from birth, but as a young child he taught himself how to play the piano, drums and the harmonica. According to a 1997 documentary, Wonder took his life experiences and put them all into this album Songs in the Key of Life. The name of the album came to him in a dream.

“As an artist, my purpose is to communicate the message that can better improve the lives of all of us.” -Stevie Wonder

Even as a young artist his experiences influenced his music career. According to Rolling Stone, he had a life changing moment at a rally in Chicago when he was just 15 years old, where he met the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Then when King died a few years later, Wonder put his career on hold to host rallies to convince Congress to have King’s birthday recognized as a national holiday.

Throughout his lifetime he has received many awards for his music and for his work in civil rights. Many artists today have described him as a pioneer and an inspiration.

Influenced artists: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jeff Buckley, Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix

Michael Jackson – Thriller (1982)

Michael Jackson started his major career in the early 70s as frontman of The Jackson 5, but many have stated that Thriller was what put him over the top. What some may not know about the album is that Eddie Van Halen recorded a free and uncredited guitar solo on the song “Beat It”. Throughout Michael Jackson’s career he worked with many famous artists, such as Paul McCartney, Freddie Mercury, and Mick Jagger.

Fall Out Boy also credited Thriller as one of the main influences on their album Infinity On High. Jackson’s song “Billie Jean” was even covered by Chris Cornell.

According to Rolling Stone, “Thriller, despite not technically being a rock & roll album, has had a bigger impact on rock & roll than just about any other album of the past 30 years”.

The album is said to have sold at least 66 million copies globally. Out of the nine original songs on the album, seven were Top Ten singles.
Influenced artists: Fall Out Boy, Alien Ant Farm, Death Cab For Cutie, Green Day, Muse
Prince and The Revolution – Purple Rain (1984)
This was the first album that included Prince’s band The Revolution. Although for the single “When Doves Cry” Prince not only provided the vocals, but he played all of instruments on the track.
During the “Let’s Go Crazy” Prince Tribute Special, Dave Grohl reflected on growing up listening to Prince, and how he wasn’t just talented in one specific area of music, but could play most instruments. “Usually you’ve got one person that’s good at one thing, he was good at everything. He was the best.”
Prince was also known for taking control of his own music, and showing other artists they could do the same. The International Business Times once said “Perhaps more than any artist in the history of recorded music … Prince personified the never-ending tensions between music performers and the industry that profits from them. In a four-decade career beset by legal skirmishes, Prince battled with record labels, bootleggers, streaming companies, ticket resellers and Internet giants such as eBay and YouTube. He was not afraid to take adversarial stands against anyone he perceived to be a threat to his artistry or his livelihood, which to him were one and the same. That included public entanglements not only with parasitic types in the recording industry but also with advocates of free speech and even his own listeners.”

Influenced artists: Foo Fighters, Beck, Outkast, The Bangles, Lenny Kravitz, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Bob Marley and The Wailers – Legend (1984)
Legend is a compilation album, released three years after Bob Marley’s death. It’s said to be reggae’s best-selling album, going Platinum ten times and selling over 28 million copies worldwide.
Bob Marley created music that was ska, rocksteady and reggae, with strong lyrics and inspirational messages. He took the struggles that he faced in his own life and used them to share the message of justice, peace, love and equality.
“Reggae music, soul music, rock music – every song is a sign. Buy ya have fe be careful of this type of song and vibration that ya give fe the people, for ‘Woe be unto them they who lead my people astray.” – Bob Marley in an interview with author Stephen Davis.
He was the first Jamaican artist to bring Rastafarian culture to the world with his music, and the reason many scholars still teach it today.
Bob Marley was inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
Influenced artists: Sublime, illScarlett, Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton
Chuck Berry – Berry Is on Top (1959)
Chuck Berry is considered by many as one of the pioneers of rock and roll music, and this album was full of some of his most successful singles. He was the first African-American rock musician to have a national hit.

“I made records for people who would buy them. No color, no ethnic, no political—I don’t want that, never did.”
– Chuck Berry

He was the very first musician to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and paved the way for rock music today. John Lennon once said “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry.’”

When Berry passed away The Rolling Stones said, “He was a true pioneer of rock & roll and a massive influence on us. Chuck was not only a brilliant guitarist, singer and performer, but most importantly, he was a master craftsman as a songwriter. His songs will live forever.”

Influenced artists: Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Anthony Kiedis, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Leonard Cohen
Filed under: 5 Iconic Albums by Black Artists, Black History Month, Bob Marley, chuck berry, Michael Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder