The Top 12 Most-Influential Black Musicians of All Time Michael Jackson (1958 – 2009) ... Prince (1958 – 2016) ... Whitney Houston (1963 – 2012) ... Stevie Wonder. ... Ray Charles (1930 – 2004) ... Aretha Franklin (1942 – 2018) ... Louis Armstrong (1901 – 1971) ... James Brown (1933 – 2006) More items... Jan 31, 2023