Many African-Americans made their name performing at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, including Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown and Jimi Hendrix. The roster of talented artists who made their careers after a successful amateur night at the Apollo grew so large, that the venue earned a reputation as the place to jump-start the career of an ambitious hopeful. Other performers, like Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson, came to the theater after experiencing big professional success, adding further credibility to the historic New York concert hall. Explore the biographies of some of the more notable African-Americans who stepped out onto the Apollo stage, making entertainment history.
They've made us laugh. They've made us cry. They've made us nostalgic, and they've even made us vengeful. They're among Hollywood's most famous black actresses, appearing in classic films like The Color Purple, Poetic Justice, Soul Food, Dreamgirls and The Help, as well as on television and on the stage. Explore our collection of famous black actresses, including Halle Berry, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne and Angela Bassett.
Spanning jazz to soul to funk, to more contemporary genres like R&B, rap and pop, African-American musicians are responsible for chart-topping hits like "I Feel Good," "Respect," "Georgia on My Mind," "Let The Good Times Roll," "Good Golly Miss Molly" and "Thriller." Explore our collection of famous black musicians, including Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, B.B. King, Duke Ellington, James Brown, Little Richard, Beyoncé Knowles, and more.
From Whitney Houston's unbelievable vocal range to Michael Jackson's spot-on pitch and unforgettable choreography, these are the famous black singers who, together, have unequivocally defined pop culture for the masses for more than a century. Explore this group to learn more about some of the world's most renowned African-American vocalists, including Josephine Baker, Whitney Houston, Sammy Davis Jr., Aretha Franklin, Beyoncé Knowles, Chuck Berry, Nina Simone, Mary J. Blige, André 3000, Janet Jackson and Gladys Knight.
Whether they're making you laugh or cry, black television actors like Bill Cosby, Whoopi Goldberg, Gary Coleman, Taye Diggs and Debbie Allen have represented various aspects of the African-American experience on the small screen throughout the decades.
The first Grammy Awards ceremony was held in 1959, after Walk of Fame recording executives compiled a list of industry leaders who they realized would never get a star on Hollywood Boulevard, but deserved recognition. The group helped found the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and named their award the "Grammy" as a nod to Edison's gramophone. Since then, hundreds of music industry members have received Grammys for their notable accomplishments in the field of music and recording. Here are the many winners of this now-prestigious award.
Meet famous people who were born in May. John F. Kennedy, Adele, George Carlin, Audrey Hepburn, Mr. T, Bob Dylan are some of the people who share a May birthday.
Browse notable music producers such as Jay-Z, Barry White, and Alison Krauss.
Take a look at famous people named Hill, such as Henry Hill, James J. Hill, and Benny Hill.
Browse notable singers such as Mariah Carey, Johnny Cash, and Linda Ronstadt.
Browse notable songwriters and composers such as Irving Berlin, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Leonard Bernstein.
These actors, musicians, business leaders and entrepreneurs all have two things in common: They're filthy rich and have famously tried to dodge the IRS. Unfortunately for them, they've all gotten caught at one point or another and have made headlines for ripping off Uncle Sam. From Nicholas Cage to Leona Helmsley to Wesley Snipes, check our list of epic tax evaders.
Browse notable television actresses such as Eva Longoria, Joan Collins, and Jada Pinkett Smith.