Great list so far. Might also want to check out Phyllis Hyman, Melba Moore, the Stylistics, Luther Vandross and Toni Braxton

Leadbelly

Don Bryant

Thank you

Also thank you

Fair point

Thank you

Thank you

Thank you

Thank you

Oo alright

Okay that's pretty cool

I will now that you told me about it

Alright that's pretty cool

Fair point lol

Thank youu

Julie Fowlis is an excellent scottish singer, her voice is how you describe and she has a lot of traditional songs in scottish gaelic in different scottish folk styles.

Oo

1920s - 1970s

Some off the top of my head not listed:

Jimi Hendrix/Miles Davis/Clarence Clemons/Billy Preston/Michael Jackson/Tina Turner/Lionel Ritchie/Rick James/Muddy Waters/Buddy Miles/Al Jarreau/Anita Baker/Diana Ross: any Motown artist/Robert Cray/Stanley Jordan/Billy Cobham/Bo Diddley/Sade/Bob Marley/Sammy Davis Jr./Jay Z/The Mills Brothers/Alicia Keys/Whitney and Thelma Houston/etc.

FWIW: The list is endless

Modern music is built on the pioneers of Jazz and Blues, most of which were black. The most legendary/influential I can think of is Jimi Hendrix.

Overlooked by some of the other comments:

Mahalia Jackson

Quincy Jones

Wynton Marsalis

Muddy Waters

Josephine Baker -- Singer/dancer who was the first black woman to star in a movie

If you're into guitar, you can't go wrong with the three Kings. Albert, Freddie, and B.B.

Look up music from Enya

Maybe throw John Lee Hooker, Al Green and Howlin' Wolf in there but that's a great list!