Introduction
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has published a list of America’s top artistic minds in all disciplines — from music to theater, dance, the visual and literary arts. In an interview with The Washington Post, NEA Chairman Jane Chu said these creative geniuses were chosen via an anonymous peer-review process that evaluated their “influence on American culture.” Here are the top 10 names on the list:
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has published a list of America’s top artistic minds in all disciplines — from music to theater, dance, the visual and literary arts.
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has published a list of America’s top artistic minds in all disciplines — from music to theater, dance, the visual and literary arts. The agency’s website says it “funds and promotes creative activity” in all 50 states. The NEA has released its annual report on artists who are receiving funding this year.
The list includes musicians such as jazz pianist Vijay Iyer and singer-songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello; dancers Michelle Dorrance and Tere O’Connor; visual artists Carrie Mae Weems and Amy Sherald; playwrights Lynn Nottage and Paula Vogel; composers John Adams and William Bolcom; choreographers Christopher Wheeldon (who recently created an acclaimed production of George Balanchine’s ballet “Rubies”)
In an interview with The Washington Post
In an interview with The Washington Post, NEA Chairman Jane Chu said these creative geniuses were chosen via an anonymous peer-review process that evaluated their “influence on American culture.”
“The artists we are funding across the country are using their work to heal our communities,” Chu told the newspaper. “They are helping us look at ourselves in new ways and they are challenging our perceptions of what art is or can be.”
The list includes some of the biggest names in music, including Bob Dylan and Aretha Franklin.
- Bob Dylan
- Aretha Franklin
- John Coltrane, the jazz saxophonist who played with Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald.
- Hank Williams, Jr., a country singer known for his hit “Family Tradition.”
The list also includes some of the biggest names in music, including Bob Dylan and Aretha Franklin.
Here are the top 10 names on the list, according to The Washington Post.
Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin and Louis Armstrong are among the top 10 names on the list. The others include Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith.
Here’s how they rank:
1. Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman)
Bob Dylan was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on May 24th, 1941. His first album release was “Bob Dylan” in 1962–and he’s been releasing albums ever since! He won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991, a Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 2016 and even won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2018. He has written over 1,000 songs throughout his career!
2. Aretha Franklin (1942-2018)
Aretha Franklin was a singer, songwriter and pianist who won 18 Grammy Awards. She was the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and influenced generations of musicians with her soulful voice.
Born in 1942, Aretha Louise Franklin began singing gospel music at age 4 before moving on to jazz and blues by her teens. Her father Cecil had been an active member of Detroit’s New Bethel Baptist Church choir; however, he died when Aretha was just 10 years old.
Franklin’s early education took place at several schools before she enrolled at Detroit’s Northwestern High School where she studied classical piano under famed teacher Margaret Hillis (who also taught Barry White). Although she only attended for two years–she dropped out after being kicked out for wearing pants–this experience led directly into her career as a professional musician when she landed gigs backing up local acts like Sam Cooke during his residency at the Harlem Club Casino over Labor Day weekend 1958-59 season opener party!
3. Louis Armstrong (1900-1971)
Louis Armstrong was a jazz trumpeter and singer who is considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. He was also an actor, dancer and comedian. His music can be heard in movies like “The Big Lebowski” (1998).
Armstrong’s most popular songs include “Hello Dolly,” “What A Wonderful World,” “Mack The Knife” and many others that have become standards for all kinds of artists to cover today–even country singers like Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson!
These creative geniuses helped shape American culture through song, art and dance.
These creative geniuses helped shape American culture through song, art and dance.
- Bob Dylan: His lyrics were revolutionary for their time and he paved the way for other musicians to speak out about politics and social issues.
- Aretha Franklin: She was one of the first black artists to cross over into white audiences’ homes with her soulful voice and powerful songs about love, equality and loss.
- Louis Armstrong: He invented jazz music as we know it today by combining blues, ragtime and Dixieland sounds into his own style with trumpet playing that inspired generations of musicians afterward (including Miles Davis).
Conclusion
This list is a testament to the power of creativity and art in America. It’s also an indicator of how important these fields are for our national identity. If you’re looking for some new music or inspiration, check out the top 10 names on this list!