STEELY DAMES...black women guitarists with an axe to grind

1800s

Clara Monteith Holland

Dona Maria Martinez

Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield

Fanny Marion Jackson Coppin

Mary "Mollie" Church Terrell

1920s

Betty Lomax (Negro Women's Orchestra & Civic Association)

LuLu Jackson

1930s

Adelaide Hall (RIP) (a)

Esther Mae Scott (RIP) (a)

Geeshie Wiley (RIP) (a)

Josie Bush (RIP) (a)

Little Laura Dukes (RIP) (bj)(u)

Lucille Davis (RIP) (a)

Mattie Delaney (RIP) (a)

Memphis Minnie (RIP) (a)(e)

Mother McCollum (RIP) (a)

Sister Matthews (RIP) (a)

1940s

Anna Mae Winburn (a)

Carline Ray Russell (b)

Flora Molton (RIP)(a)

Marylin Scott (Mary Deloatch) (a)(e)

Nora Lee King (Susan Lenore King) (RIP) (a)(e)

Sister Rosetta Tharpe (RIP) (a)(e)

Two Gospel Keys (Emma Daniels)

1950s

Etta Baker (RIP) (a)

Willa Mae Bruckner (RIP)

Jessie Mae Hemphill (RIP) (e)

Peggy "Lady Bo" Jones (RIP)(e)

Odetta (RIP) (a)

Sylvia Robinson (RIP) (a) (e)

Sister Ola Mae Terrell (RIP)(a)

Charity Bailey (RIP)(a)

1960s

Barbara Lynn (e)

Barbara Roy (e)

Beverly "Guitar" Watkins (RIP) (e)

Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten (RIP) (a)

Norma-Jean "The Duchess" Wofford (RIP) (e)

1970s

Gail Muldrow (b)

Hazel Payne (e)

Janice-Marie Johnson (b)

Joan Armatrading (UK) (a)(e)

Melanie DeMore (a)

Paula Larke (b)(bj)

SharBaby Newport (e)

1980s

Cassandra Wilson (a)

Cheryl Cooley (e)

Debra Killings (b)

Felice Rosser (Faith) (b)

Felicia Collins (e)

Gail Ann Dorsey (b)

Gaye Adegbalola (a)

Joyce "Fenderella" Irby (b)

KJ Denhert (a)

Laura Love (a)

Leslie Langston (b)

Patricia "Pat" Wilder (e)

Precious Bryant (RIP) (a)

Rev. Rabia (a)

Shelley Doty (e)

Suzanne Thomas (RIP) (e)

Teena Marie* (e) (RIP)

Thomasina Winslow (a)

Tracy Chapman (a)

Veronika Jackson (a)

1990s

Algia Mae Hinton (RIP) (a)

Alyson Palmer (b)

Carol Thomas (e)

Carolyn "Honeychild" Coleman (e)(b)

Cora Fluker (RIP) (e)

Deborah Coleman (e)(RIP)

Doria Roberts (a)

Ezina LeBlanc (e)

Jennifer Bliss (e)

Kat Dyson (e)

Meshell N'degeocello (b)

Pamela Means (a)

Portia Rolle (e)

Rebekah Jordan Johnson (a)

Ruthie Foster (a)

Sandra "SaNa" Foster (b)

Starr Cullars (b)

Tamar-kali (e)

Toshi Reagon (e) (a)

Faith Pillow (a)

2000s

Akayzia Parker

Algebra Blessett (a)

Angela Johnson-Swan (e)

Anita Lofton (e)

Anyea "Wildflower" Mead-Martin (RIP) (e)

Ashley Phillips (a)

Ayanna Guyhto (RIP)(a)

Ayo (a)

Belinda “BiBi” McGill (e)

Brittany Howard (e)

Cassendre Xavier (a)

Corinne Bailey Rae (UK) (a)

Danielia Cotton (e)

Denise Reese (e)

Diamond Rowe of Tetrarch (e)

Divi (b)

Ebony Tay (a)(e)

Faye Raye (a)

Ganessa James (a)

GhettoSongBird (e)

Iféoluwa Babalola (e)

India.Arie (a)

Jamie Grace Harper (a)

Janice Marshall Coates (e)

Kamara Thomas (b)

Kierstin Gray (a)

LB (e)(b)

Leaf Newman-Seeney (a)

Malina Moye (e)

Naeemah Z. Maddox (e) 

Nerdkween (Monica Arrington)

Porsche Smith (a)

Salakida (a)

Shelley Nicole (b)

Shingai Shoniwa (UK) (b)

Sparlha Swa (a)

Talitha GabriElle (a)

Tamesha Pruett (a)

The Doll Daze (a)(e)

Valerie June (a)

Venessia Young (e)

Zayani Rose (a)(e)

Jackie Venson (e)

Celisse Henderson (e)

Gabrielle “H.E.R.” Wilson (e)

Gabriella
“Guitar Gabby” Logan (e)

Melody Angel (e)

Soleil Laurent (e)

Queen Esther

Amythist Kiah