Honorific nicknames are used when describing popular music artists, most often in the media or by fans, to indicate their significance, and are often religious, familial, or most frequently royal and aristocratic titles, used metaphorically. Honorific nicknames were used in classical music in Europe even in the early 19th century, with figures such as Mozart being called "The father of modern music" and Bach "The father of modern piano music". They were also particularly prominent in African-American culture in the post-Civil War era, perhaps as a means of conferring status that had been negated by slavery, and as a result entered early jazz and blues music, including figures such as Duke Ellington and Count Basie.
In U.S. culture, despite its republican constitution and ideology,S. Deger-Jalkotzy and I. S. Lemos, Ancient Greece: from the Mycenaean palaces to the age of Homer (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2006), p. 272. royalist honorific nicknames have been used to describe leading figures in various areas of activity, such as industry, commerce, sports, and the media; father or mother have been used for innovators, and royal titles such as king and queen for dominant figures in a field.M. Benoliel and Linda Cashdan, The Upper Hand: Winning Strategies from World-Class Negotiators (Adams Media, 2006), p. 26.B. G. Rader, Baseball: a history of America's game (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 3rd edn., 2008), p. 140. In the 1930s and 1940s, as jazz and swing music were gaining popularity, it was the more commercially successful white artists Paul Whiteman and Benny Goodman who became known as "the King of Jazz" and "the King of Swing" respectively, despite there being more highly regarded contemporary African-American artists.Y. Bynoe, Stand and deliver: political activism, leadership, and hip hop culture (Soft Skull Press, 2004), p. 155.
These patterns of naming were transferred to rock and roll when it emerged in the 1950s. There was a series of attempts to find—and a number of claimants to be—the "King of Rock 'n' Roll", a title that became most associated with Elvis Presley.M. T. Bertrand, Race, Rock, and Elvis: Music in American Life (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2000), p. 220. This has been characterized as part of a process of the appropriation of credit for innovation of the then-new music by a white establishment.G. B. Rodman, "A hero to most?; Elvis, myth and the politics of race", Cultural Studies vol. 8 (3), (1994), p. 474. Different honorifics have been taken or given for other leading figures in the genre, such as "the Architect of Rock and Roll", by Little Richard from the 1990s;J. Warner, On this day in black music history (Hal Leonard Corporation, 2006), p. 56, this term, like many, is also used for other important figures, in this case including pioneer electric guitarist Les Paul.
Similar honorific nicknames have been given in other genres, including Aretha Franklin, who was crowned the "Queen of Soul" on stage by disk jockey Pervis Spann in 1968.A. Kempton, Boogaloo: the Quintessence of American Popular Music (University of Michigan Press, 2005), p. 58. Michael Jackson and Madonna have been closely associated with the terms "King of Pop" and "Queen of Pop" respectively, since the 1980s. Some nicknames have been strongly promulgated and contested by various artists, and occasionally disowned or played down by their subjects. Some notable honorific nicknames are in general usage and commonly identified with particular individuals.
Individual titles
A
Artist Title Country Aaliyah Princess of R&B United States Aaliyah (Princess of R&B):
Queen of Urban PopQueen of Urban Pop:
Metal Queen Canada Lee Aaron (Metal Queen):Abrar-ul-Haq King of Pakistani Pop Pakistan Abrar-ul-Haq (King of Pakistani Pop):King of Bhangra-PopAbrar-ul-Haq (King of Bhangra-Pop):Voice of a GenerationUnited StatesVoice of a Generation:
Queen of Arab Pop Lebanon Nancy Ajram (Queen of Arab Pop): Queen of Turkish Pop Turkey Sezen Aksu (Queen of Turkish Pop): King of Modern Reggaeton Puerto Rico (US) Rauw Alejandro (King of Modern Reggaeton): Anitta Queen of Brazilian Pop Brazil Anitta (Queen of Brazilian Pop): Queen of Peruvian Pop Peru Anna Carina:
Queen of J-pop Japan Namie Amuro as Queen of J-pop:Aurora Fairy of Pop Norway Aurora (Fairy of Pop):
King of Jazz United States Louis Armstrong (King of Jazz):Maki Asakawa Queen of the Underground Japan Maki Asakawa:
Noriko Awaya Queen of Blues Japan Noriko Awaya:
B
Artist Title Country Bad Bunny King of Latin Trap Puerto Rico (US) Bad Bunny (King of Latin Trap):Erykah BaduQueen of Neo-SoulUnited StatesErykah Badu (Queen of Neo-Soul):Đorđe Balašević Panonian Sailor Yugoslavia/Serbia Đorđe Balašević (Panonian Sailor):J Balvin Prince of Reggaeton Colombia J Balvin (Prince of Reggaeton):Šaban Bajramović King of Romani Music Yugoslavia/Serbia Šaban Bajramović (King of Romani Music):King of the Gypsies / Gypsy KingŠaban Bajramović (King of the Gypsies):Harry Belafonte King of Calypso United States Harry Belafonte (King of Calypso):Mordechai Ben David King of Jewish Music United States Mordechai Ben David (King of Jewish Music):Chuck Berry Father of Rock and Roll United States Chuck Berry (Father of Rock and Roll):King of Rock and RollChuck Berry (King of Rock and Roll):Beyoncé Queen Bey or Queen BUnited StatesBeyoncé (Queen Bey or Queen B):Justin BieberPrince of PopCanadaJustin Bieber (Prince of Pop):
King of Teen PopJustin Bieber (King of Teen Pop):
Věra BíláQueen of RomanyCzech RepublicVěra Bílá (Queen of Romany):BjörkQueen of Experimental PopIcelandBjörk (Queen of Experimental Pop):
Mary J. BligeQueen of Hip Hop SoulUnited StatesMary J. Blige (Queen of Hip Hop Soul):
BoA Queen of K-pop South Korea David Bowie Chameleon of RockUnited KingdomBrandy The Vocal Bible United States Julio Brito The melodic painter of Cuba Cuba Julio Brito (The melodic painter of Cuba):
Arthur BrownThe God of HellfireUnited KingdomUnterberger, Richie; Urban Spacemen and Wayfaring Strangers, p. 46.Chris Brown King of R&BUnited States Chris Brown:
Chuck Brown Godfather of Go-Go United States Dennis Brown Crown Prince of Reggae Jamaica James Brown Godfather of SoulUnited States Solomon Burke King of Rock 'n' Soul United States "Burke, long ago dubbed the King of Rock 'n' Soul, was worth the wait", in M. Newman, "Soul man Solomon Burke: Live on Film; Capricorn's Smoking New Companion" in Billboard July 8, 1995, Vol. 107 (27), p. 10.Michael Bublé King of Christmas Canada Michael Bublé:
C
Artist Title Country Montserrat Caballé La Superba (The Superb One) Spain Montserrat Caballé:
Maria Callas La Divina (The Divine One) Italy/Greece Maria Callas:
Laura Canales Queen of Tejano United States Mariah Carey Songbird SupremeUnited States Queen of Christmas Queen of Christmas:
Ceca Serbian Mother Serbia Cher Goddess of Pop United States She doesn't need to turn back time: After a successful 45-year career, the Goddess of Pop is still going strong. She plays a veteran performer alongside Christina Aguilera in her new flick, "Burlesque", hitting theaters on Wednesday. And she continues to sing in Las Vegas. Sammi ChengCantopop queenHong Kong Sammi Cheng (Cantopop queen): KTV queen / Karaoke queen Sammi Cheng (KTV queen / Karaoke queen)Clifton ChenierKing of ZydecoUnited States Clifton Chenier (King of Zydeco):Jacky CheungGod of SongsHong KongJacky Cheung:
Jay ChouKing of MandopopTaiwanJay Chou (King of Mandopop):
Kelly ClarksonQueen of CoversUnited StatesKelly Clarkson (Queen of Covers):
George ClintonGodfather of FunkUnited StatesGeorge Clinton (Godfather of Funk):King of FunkGeorge Clinton (King of Funk):Keyshia ColePrincess of Hip Hop SoulUnited StatesKeyshia Cole (Princess of Hip Hop Soul):
Alice Cooper Godfather of Shock Rock United States Alice Cooper as Godfather of Shock Rock:
Pilita Corrales Asia's Queen of Songs Philippines Celia Cruz Queen of Salsa Cuba Miley CyrusTeen QueenUnited States
D
Artist Title Country Mac DeMarcoPrince of Indie Rock/Music Canada Mac DeMarco (Prince of Indie Rock/Music):
Diomedes DíazKing of VallenatoColombiaDiomedes Díaz as King of Vallenato:
Celine Dion Queen of Power BalladsCanada Queen of Adult Contemporary DJ Kool HercFounder & Father of Hip HopJamaica/United StatesDJ Kool Herc:
Doja CatQueen of Pop-RapUnited States Doja Cat (Queen of Pop-Rap):
Fats Domino King of Rock and Roll United States "Ebony hailed Domino as the "King of Rock 'n' Roll" in Morris Dorley Godfather of Liberian Music Liberia Doro Metal Queen Germany Thomas A. Dorsey Father of Gospel Music United States "Thomas Dorsey, Father of Gospel Music, Dies at 93", The Washington Post, (January 25, 1993), p. D6.Pumpuang Duangjan Queen of luk thung Thailand Rocío Dúrcal Queen of Ranchera Spain Dino Dvornik King of Funk Yugoslavia/Croatia Bob Dylan Crown Prince of Folk United States King of Folk
E
Artist Title Country Sheila E.Queen of PercussionUnited StatesSheila E. (Queen of Percussion):
Eazy-EGodfather of Gangsta RapUnited StatesEazy-E (Godfather of Gangsta Rap):
El AlfaKing of DembowDominican RepublicEl Alfa (King of Dembow):
Queen of Hip HopUnited StatesQueen of RapMissy Elliott:
Eminem King of Hip-Hop United States King of RapEnyaQueen of New AgeIrelandEnya:
Queen of Latin Pop Cuba/United States
F
Artist Title Country Helene Fischer Queen of Schlager () Germany Helene Fischer:
Ella Fitzgerald First Lady of Song United States "The singer who was affectionately known as 'The First Lady of Song' died peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends, said spokeswoman Andrea Hecht" at Queen of Jazz Renata Flores Queen of Quechua Pop Peru Renata Flores 1:
Queen of Quechua Rap Renata Flores 2:
Zucchero Fornaciari Father of Italian Blues Italy Stephen Foster Father of American Music United States "The Lyrics And Legacy Of Stephen Foster" NPR, April 16, 2010Aretha Franklin Queen of Soul United States Aretha Franklin:
Alan Freed King of Rock and Roll United States
G
Artist Title Country Charly García Godfather of Argentine Rock Argentina Charly Garcia:
Carlos Gardel King of Tango Lucho Gatica King of Bolero Chile Marvin Gaye Prince of Motown United States"He was the 'Prince of Motown,' strong, silent and majestic" in R. Gulla, Icons of R&B and soul: an encyclopedia of the artists who revolutionized rhythm vol. 2 (Greenwood, 2008), p. 338.Prince of Soul"Dubbed "the Prince of Soul," Marvin Gaye endured lifelong turmoil, never grasping the genius of his own talent" in N. Talevski, The Unofficial Encyclopedia of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Greenwood, 1998), p. 402.Fatu Gayflor Golden Voice of Liberia Liberia Gloria Gaynor Queen of Disco United States "Although Gaynor was crowned the 'Queen of Disco' after dance floor favourites like 'Honey Bee,' 'Never Can Say Goodbye' and 'Casanova Brown in P. Shapiro, Turn the Beat Around: The Secret History of Disco (Basingstoke: Macmillan, 2006), p. 213.G-Dragon King of K-pop South Korea G-Dragon (King of K-pop):
Popstar Princess Philippines Sarah Geronimo (Popstar Princess):
Gesaffelstein Dark Prince of TechnoFranceGesaffelstein (Dark Prince of Techno):
Marika Gombitová Queen of Slovak Pop Music Slovakia Marika Gombitova (Queen of Slovak Pop Music):
Songstress of the 20th Century Marika Gombitova (Songstress of the 20th Century):
Benny Goodman King of Swing United States Vestal Goodman Queen of Gospel Music United States Narayan GopalEmperor of VoiceNepalKarel Gott Golden Voice of Prague Czech Republic Karol Gott:
Ariana Grande Pop Princess United States Amy Grant Queen of Christian Pop United States Amy Grant:
Olga Guillot Queen of Bolero Cuba Alejandra GuzmánQueen of Latin Rock Mexico
H
Artist Title Country Godmother of Punk Germany Nina Hagen (Godmother of Punk):
Metal God United Kingdom Rob Halford:
Mari Hamada Queen of Heavy Metal Japan Mari Hamada: