The 1960s belonged to more than famous bands. Solo stars also racked up sales and fan mail by the truckload. They became cultural icons with wardrobes and dance moves that the public instantly copied.

Here’s 40 of the most influential black female singers of the 1960s and 1970s. In 2008, Rolling Stone put together a list of the “100 greatest singers of all time.” The lineup was mighty. At the 100th ...