Black Artists Who Changed Rock Music

By Amir Khan

As part of the Independent's coverage of Black History month, here is a list of black artists who helped shape the history (and future) of rock music.

Jimi Hendrix: Created rock music as it is known today. Not only did Jimi make the Stratocaster famous, he pioneered the use of distortion and gain on the guitar. His signature right-handed guitar strung lefty gave him his classic sound that many have tried to emulate to this day.

Chuck Berry: Known best for “Johnny B. Goode,” Berry came in at number six on Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." His dirty blues and country mix led to him becoming the first solo guitarist to reach the Billboard Charts.

Sly and the Family Stone: One of the first mainstream rock groups to feature a multi-cultural lineup, they are best known for their song "Dance to the Music." Their bluesy jazz-fusion sound has influenced a variety of artists from Miles Davis to John Mayer.

Prince: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the first year he was eligible, Price pioneered the "Minneapolis Sound," a rock sound characterized by growling guitar solos, synthesizers, and highly prominent drums. Price played at the Super Bowl XLI halftime show in 2007, which was ranked by Billboard.com as the greatest Super Bowl performance ever.