OUT 334--THE 50 GREATEST BLACK MUSIC GROUPS OF ALL TIME

As defined, the word  "group" means "a number of people or things that are located close together or our considered or classed together.  In music, there have been thousands among thousands that have been classed as such from the harmonizing a capello groups, girl group pop, funk and soul bands, gospelmongers with a secular message, to  rappers with a dee-jay. Below are our choice of groups that made an impact on American music by creating a sound or social movement, influencing group offspring,  or innovating a style that is distinctively all their own. 

Before we get to the Top 50, here are the groups that made No. 51 to No. 60.

60.THE WHISPERS

59.KLYMAXX

58.MAZE FEATURING FRANKIE BEVERLY

57. WU TANG KLAN 

56.THE TIME

55.EN VOGUE

54.JODECI

53.DEBARGE

52.ASHFORD AND SIMPSON

51.GAP BAND

50.BROTHERS JOHNSON

49.LABELLE

48. MOBB DEEP

47.THE VANDELLAS

46.SALT N PEPA

45.NWA

44.TLC

43.CAMEO

42.NEW EDITION

41.THE BAR-KAYS 

40. BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS

39. THE STYLISTICS

38.DE LA SOUL

37. THE FUGEES

36. THE FIFTH DIMENSION 

35.TOWER OF POWER 

34. THE COMMODORES

33.BOYZ II MEN

32.GRAND MASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE 

31.THE SPINNERS

30.THE SHIRELLES

29.OUTKAST

28.OHIO PLAYERS

27.A TRIBE CALLED QUEST

26.GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS

25.THE MOONGLOWS 

24.WAR

23.KOOL AND THE GANG 

22.CHIC 

21.STAPLE SINGERS

20.RUFUS

19.POINTER SISTERS

18.THE DELLS 

17. THE PLATTERS 

16.RUN DMC

15.THE INK SPOTS 

14.THE IMPRESSIONS

13.THE MIRACLES

12.PUBLIC ENEMY

11.SAM AND DAVE

10. O'JAYS

9. IKE AND TINA TURNER REVUE

8.FOUR TOPS

7.JACKSON FIVE/JACKSONS

6.ISLEY BROTHERS

5.EARTH, WIND AND FIRE

4.PARLIAMENT/FUNKADELIC

3.SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE

2. THE SUPREMES

AND THE 

NO.1 GROUP 

OF ALL TIME IS....

1.THE TEMPTATIONS