Black History: Remembering 10 Pioneers In Music

Black Swan Records
Before Def Jam and way before Bad Boy, there was Black Swan Records. This Harlem-based record label was established in 1921, the first of its kind to be owned, operated and marketed to African-Americans.

Nat King Cole
A singer, songwriter and pianist, Nat King Cole became the first African-American to host a national television program. The Nat King Cole Show lasted a year on NBC.

Ella Fitzgerald
The "first lady of song" became the first African-American woman to win a Grammy Award back in 1959. Fitzgerald would go on to win 13 Grammy Awards in her lifetime.

Count Basie

One of the pioneers of the swing era, Count Basie became the first African-American male to win a Grammy. Alongside his big band, Basie received awards for Best Performance by a Dance Band and Best Group Jazz Performance. There's a theater for performing arts in Red Bank, New Jersey named after him.

DeFord Bailey

One of the first African-American country music stars ever, Bailey was the first to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. Gifted with his harmonica, Bailey learned to play the instrument at the tender age of 3.

Aretha Franklin
The Queen of Soul was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. You have to respect her, even though she missed the induction ceremony due to her fear of flying.

The Mills Brothers
John Mills Jr., Herbert Mills, Harry Mills and Donald Mills became the first African-American artists to have a No. 1 hit on the Billboard charts. Their song "Paper Doll" stayed on top for 12 weeks.

Whitney Houston
In 2006, the Guiness Book of World Records named Whitney the Most Awarded/Popular Female Artist of All Time. Whitney also holds the Guinness World Record for the most simultaneous hits in the U.K.

Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones became the first African-American to be nominated twice within the same year for an Academy Award. The extremely talented visionary also holds the record for the most Grammy Award nominations with 79. Did we mention he also helped found VIBE?

Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff
From West Philadelphia, born and raised, these two became the first to receive a Grammy Award in the category: Best Rap Performance in 1989 for "Parents Just Don't Understand." The duo has sold over 5.5 million albums in the U.S. to date.