100 MOST ESSENTIAL WOMEN IN ROCK / POP MUSIC. 
Countdown concludes with this post: Top 10 Female Artists.

Caffé Latté presents: The  100 MOST ESSENTIAL WOMEN in POP/ROCK MUSIC The history of rock music is dominated by males: Elvis, The Beatles, The Stones and countless other men. This countdown tells the rest of the story, highlighting the 100 female acts –soloists and groups- that have had a major influence on the evolution of rock & pop music.

- 10 - THE SUPREMES American girl group The Supremes scored no less than a dozen #1 singles during the 1960s on the US chart. Only The Beatles performed better. Motown’s premier act paved the way for the likes of Destiny’s Child, TLC and En Vogue. O✚ - 9 - GLADYS KNIGHT American soul vocalist fronted genuine gems recorded with The Pips. No one can inject drama and emotion into a track the way Gladys Knight does, most notably on songs such as: “So Sad The Song”, “Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)”, “It Should Have Been Me” and “Midnight Train To Georgia”. O✚ - 8 - ETTA JAMES Blues, jazz and soul: American singer Etta James conquered all three genres with ease. She could be gritty and confident as on “Tell Mama” or as tender as she sounded on “At Last”. Her career spanned many decades. She influenced the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Rod Stewart and Janis Joplin. O✚ - 7 - CAROLE KING American singer / songwriter Carole King created numerous pop nuggets with her then husband Gerry Goffin. These include: “One Fine Day”, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and “The Loco-Motion”. Their compositions were recorded by the likes of The Beatles, Barbra Streisand, The Shirelles, The Monkees, Little Eva, Kylie Minogue, Roberta Flack and James Taylor. In the 1970s, King achieved chart success in her own right, beginning with the classic album ‘Tapestry’. The album contained staples such as “You’ve Got A Friend”, “It’s Too Late” and “I Feel The Earth Move”. Its success helped launch the singer/ songwriter era. O✚ - 6 - DONNA SUMMER American vocalist Donna Summer teamed up with producer Giorgio Moroder in Germany, where they created some of disco’s most innovative tracks. She was one of the few stars of the genre to co-write her own hits. When the public’s taste shifted, she made the transition to other styles. Among her dance classics are: “Love To Love You Baby”, “I Feel Love”, “Hot Stuff”, “Our Love”, “She Works Hard For The Money” and “This Time I Know It’s For Real”. O✚ - 5 - WHITNEY HOUSTON The world watched in awe as Whitney Houston emerged in the 1980s. Few singers possess the vocal strength and range of this American beauty. She was connected to Cissy Houston, Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin, but soon had carved out her own superstar status on record and in films. Her global hits include: “How Will I Know”, “The Greatest Love Of All”, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”, “One Moment In Time” and “I Will Always Love You”. O✚ - 4 - ARETHA FRANKLIN At first on Columbia, the label under-utilized its star recruit. After she switched labels to Atlantic Records, Aretha Franklin earned her crown as the Queen Of Soul. Among her R&B staples are: “Chain Of Fools”, “Think”, “Respect”, “I Say A Little Prayer”, “Spanish Harlem”, “Freeway Of Love” and “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)”. There will never be another like her. O✚ - 3 - BARBRA STREISAND American Barbra Streisand remains in a class of her own. Her meticulous attention to detail ensures her audience is only served material as close to perfection as she can achieve. Equally revered for her music as for her acting and directing, she is a unique talent. O✚ - 2 - DIANA ROSS Diana Ross was selected as lead singer of The Supremes. The group accumulated no less than 12 US chart-toppers during the years 1964-69. In 1970, she launched her solo career. This has produced hits such as “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, “Touch Me In The Morning”, “Endless Love”, “Upside Down” and “Chain Reaction”. Her career and success paved the way for Donna Summer, Whitney Houston and Beyoncé. O✚ - 1 - MADONNA Many of pop music’s female acts were under the control of others. When Madonna arrived on the music scene in the 1980s, she was obviously at the helm. She courted controversy. Madonna steered her way through a string of hits that continues to this day. She has been innovative and re-invented herself. The American singer/ songwriter remains in control. Her major hits include: “Like A Virgin”, “Express Yourself”, “Like A Prayer”, “Vogue”, “Justify My Love”, “Ray Of Light” and “Music”. O✚