Every so often, we will hear a song we swear was sung by a Black person. That is until you see the white singer blowing their heart out on Youtube. And all you can do is smile. The late Bobby Caldwell is the perfect example but there are many more.
Suggested Reading
Here are great songs we thought Black people sang.
Bobby Caldwell - “What You Won’t Do For Love”
We have to start with the king. When Bobby Caldwell broke into the music scene with his 1978 single, “What You Won’t Do For Love,” many people thought he was Black. But not only because of his husky soulful voice but the label he was signed to, TK Records. An R&B label, popular among the Black listeners, TK wanted to hide Caldwell’s race and did not show his face on his self-titled debut album. Fans did not discover he was white until he went on tour with Natalie Cole to promote his album.
Bobby Caldwell - “Open Your Eyes”
When this song came out in 1980, people already knew Bobby was clearly a White man. But for young people who are hearing the songs decades later, I can’t imagine them guessing it’s anyone other than a Black man.
Lisa Stanfield - “All Around The World”
All these years later, new fans of this soulful tune are shocked to know the great songstress is a white woman from England.
Michael McDonald - “I Keep Forgettin (Every Time You’re Near)”
The first time I heard this song, I thought it was a voiceover. There’s no way that voice belongs to that white man. Just look at this video reaction to this song by these young Black men and you’ll understand how I looked when I heard it.
Daryl Hall & John Oates - “I Can’t Go For That”
Watching this music video, I can’t believe I thought this was a group full of Black men. Turns out, the famous two singers are white. But, you have to admit, this song right here is a bop.
Jon B. - “They Don’t Know”
Before Justin Timberlake, there was Jon B. This man is clearly white, but just check out the haircut and the woman in the above music video and you would’ve thought this man was Black in another lifetime.
Jon B. - “Don’t Talk”
It’s still flabergasting that just about everything about this man is Black except his skin color. This was another hit of his that I really enjoyed.
Teena Marie & Rick James - “Fire and Desire”
Rick James is a legend; nobody is questioning if he’s Black or not. But the soulful singing skills of his former white girlfriend/ singing cohort, the great Teena Marie, who’s featured on this track, might surprise some young people. But do know that Teena was beloved by millions of African Americans. When I first heard this song though, I thought there was no way.
Teena Marie - “Square Biz”
Everything about this performance is Black, except the woman singing. The backup singers, the band, everything.
Foxy - “Get Off”
I remember hearing this song in the 2005 movie Roll Bounce. I swore it was sung by a Black person until I learned that Focy was a 1970s Latin/disco band.
KC & The Sunshine Band - “That’s The Way (I Like It)”
Okay, this one genuinely shocked me. I’ve heard this song my whole life. I didn’t give it a second thought, it’s clearly a song by a Black funk group. It turns out, many of the people in the group are indeed black, except the lead singer, Harry Wayne Casey.
KC & The Sunshine Band - “I Get Lifted”
KC & The Sunshine Band did it again on their 1975 track, “Get Lifted.” It still baffles me that the lead singer is a pale white man.
Average White Band - “A Love of Your Own”
Like many groups on this list, Average White Band was a Funk and R&B in the 1970s and 80s. The name should be a dead giveaway. But if you listen to this track without knowing who the band is, you’ll have no idea it was packed with white men.
Dusty Springfield - “Son Of A Preacher Man”
Not only is this woman white, but she’s from England. It seems that English people have a knack for putting some soul into their singers.
JoJo - “Leave (Get Out)”
JoJo has been and still is... in the R&B game for a minute now. She’s one of the only white girls still active in the genre. In fact, she just released a solid album two years ago. But, if you never laid eyes on her, you might assume she was Black.
Nina Sky - “Move Ya Body”
Ok this probably shouldn’t be on this list because some will definitely argue the singers are part of the diaspora, and maybe true, but still. I did not know who made this song until now. I’ve heard it in countless movies from the mid-2000s. I always thought it was a young Black R&B singer from like Atlanta or Brooklyn, who came and went. Turns out it was the Puerto Rican-American duo Nina Sky.
P!nk - “Most Girls”
Maybe this is on me, but whenever I heard people reference P!nk, I just assumed she was Black, especially when I heard this track. It sounded like your typical R&B song sung by a Black woman during the mid-2000s. You could only imagine how shocked I was when I saw a picture. I’ve even heard some Black people say they thought she was light skin.
Christina Aguilera - “Ain’t No Other Man”
Christina is probably the most well-known person on this list. Everyone and their mama should know by now that Christina Aguilera is white, but that voice says something else.
Robin Thicke -” Lost Without U”
Robin Thicke is also a well-known singer, so most people already know he’s not Black. But, like Christina Aguilera...his voice, and his ex-wife, would be no indication.
Envyi - “Swing My Way”
Young R&B fans should recognize this song, as it was sampled on Bryson Tiller’s popular 2015 track, “Exchange.” It’s clear that K.P. is Black, but I had no idea that the woman singing, Envyi, is not.
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