In honor of Black History Month, we want to honor a few black musicians that have shaped and changed the music industry. We hope visit the places they come from, the destinations where they made a mark, and encourage you to draw inspiration from these remarkable and talented musical artists.
If you’ve ever heard the songs “What a Wonderful World” or “La Vie en Rose”, you have Louis Armstrong to thank. The musician made waves in the jazz music scene during the 1920s and 1930s in New Orleans and Chicago. He was the first African American to star in a Hollywood film and during his career put out 60 records. Armstrong hails from New Orleans, and today you can visit the Louis Armstrong House Museum, which preserves his legacy, or go view the recent Louis Armstrong mural done by world-renowned street artist, Kobra.
Book your stay at Blake Hotel New Orleans, BW Premier Collection.
Jimi Hendrix is one of the greatest electric guitarists of all time, and the rock legend brought audiences to life with his electric performances during the 1960s. Playing his 1964 Fender Stratocaster left-handed, his sounds were psychedelic and pioneering. One of his most notable performances was at Woodstock, where he performed “The Star-Spangled Banner”, and other popular songs include “Purple Haze” and “Foxy Lady”. Hendrix was born in Seattle, and at the Museum of Pop Culture you can see the Hendrix Collection, a dedication to Hendrix’s life and legacy.
Book your stay at Best Western Plus Pioneer Square Hotel Downtown.
Aretha Franklin, better known as “The Queen of Soul” earned her way to the top with her soul-shaking vocals echoing on the pop charts in beginning in the 1960s. She was the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and won an impressive 18 Grammy Awards during her career. Her hit songs include “Respect”, “I Say a Little Prayer”, and “Chain of Fools”. Franklin spent much of her career in Detroit, Michigan, and in 2017, Frankln cast her handprints at the Detroit Historical Society Museum at their Legends Plaza exhibit, where you can view them today.
Book your stay at Best Western Greenfield Inn.
In the 1980s, a unique musician called Prince rose to fame for his ingenuity in fusing genres including pop, funk, jazz, rock, and more. He played over 27 instruments and was a seven-time Grammy award winner over his career. His hits like, “When Doves Cry”, “Let’s Go Crazy”, and “Purple Rain” rose to the top charts, and Prince’s experimental and brave approach to music influenced many more artists after him. He grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and recorded many of his tracks at Paisley Park. You can visit Paisley Park today, a modern-day mecca for music, just 20 minutes south of Minneapolis.
Book your stay at Best Western Plus The Normandy Inn & Suites.
“From the beginning, the camera and I were great friends. I know the eye of the camera is on me—eye to eye. It loves me, and I love it,” said Whitney Houston, pop superstar of the late 1980s and 1990s. Her hit “I Will Always Love You” spent a record-breaking 14 weeks on pop charts. She’s had countless other hits including, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and “Higher Love”, and has sold over 85 million album copies during her career. Whitney Houston was born in Newark, New Jersey; there, you can find a dedicated Whitney Mural made of over 1,000 lbs of hand-cut glass, created in collaboration with the Grammy Museum Experience, Prudential Center.
Book your stay at Robert Treat Hotel, BW Premier Collection.
“I don’t like to gamble, but if there’s one thing I’m willing to be on, it’s myself,” said Beyoncé. Beyoncé started out as the lead singer of the 1990s, R&B group, Destiny’s Child, before breaking out on her own in the early 2000s. Since then, her career skyrocketed, with hits such as “Crazy in Love”, “Single Ladies” and “Run the World”. Her talented vocals have earned her the record of most Grammys held by a female artist at an impressive 28 and she continues to make music today. Beyoncé hails from Houston, and still has a home in her heart for it. Go to some of her favorite spots, including The Breakfast Klub for Wings & Waffles, Pappasitos Cantino for Tex-Mex, and The Menil Collection for worldly works of art.
Book your stay at Best Western Plus Downtown Inn & Suites.
