Honorific nicknames in popular music
When describing popular music artists, honorific nicknames are used, most often in the media or by fans, to indicate the significance of an artist, 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, 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. 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.
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. 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. 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; 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. Michael Jackson and Madonna have been closely associated with the terms "King and Queen of Pop" 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 | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Aaliyah | Princess of R&B | United States | |
Queen of Urban Pop | |||
Lee Aaron | Queen of Heavy-Metal Rock | Canada | |
Abrar-ul-Haq | King of Pakistani Pop | Pakistan | |
Christina Aguilera | Voice of a Generation | United States | |
Nancy Ajram | Queen of Arab Pop | Lebanon | |
Sezen Aksu | Queen of Turkish Pop | Turkey | |
Rauw Alejandro | King of Modern Reggaeton | Puerto Rico | |
A-Mei | Queen of Mandopop | Taiwan | |
Amr Diab | The Father of Mediterranean Music | Egypt | |
Namie Amuro | Queen of J-pop | Japan | |
Anitta | Queen of Brazilian Pop | Brazil | |
Anna Carina | Queen of Peruvian pop | Peru | |
Louis Armstrong | King of Jazz | United States |
B
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Erykah Badu | First Lady of Neo-Soul | United States | |
Queen of Neo-Soul | |||
Bad Bunny | King of Latin Trap | Puerto Rico | |
Joan Baez | Queen of Folk | United States | |
J Balvin | Prince of Reggaeton | Colombia | |
Šaban Bajramović | King of Romani Music | Serbia | |
Harry Belafonte | King of Calypso | United States | |
Mordechai Ben David | King of Jewish Music | United States | |
Chuck Berry | King of Rock and Roll | United States | |
Father of Rock and Roll | |||
Beyoncé | Queen Bey | United States | |
Justin Bieber | Prince of Pop | Canada | |
King of Teen Pop | |||
Mary J. Blige | Queen of Hip Hop Soul | United States | |
BoA | Queen of K-pop | South Korea | |
David Bowie | Chameleon of Rock | United Kingdom | |
Brandy | The Vocal Bible | United States | |
Chris Brown | King of R&B | United States | |
Chuck Brown | Godfather of Go-Go | United States | |
Dennis Brown | Crown Prince of Reggae | Jamaica | |
James Brown | Godfather of Soul | United States | |
Solomon Burke | King of Rock 'n' Soul | United States | |
Michael Bublé | King of Christmas | Canada |
C
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Montserrat Caballé | La Superba (English: The Superb One) | Spain | |
Clarence Wijewardena | Father of Sinhala Pop | Sri Lanka | |
Maria Callas | La Divina (The divine one) | United States/Italy/Greece | |
Laura Canales | Queen of Tejano | United States | |
Mariah Carey | Songbird Supreme | United States | |
Queen of Christmas | |||
Cher | Goddess of Pop | United States | |
Jay Chou | King of Mandopop | Taiwan | |
Kelly Clarkson | The Original American Idol | United States | |
Sam Cooke | King of Soul | United States | |
Alice Cooper | Godfather of Shock Rock | United States | |
Celia Cruz | Queen of Salsa | Cuba |
D
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Daddy Yankee | King of Reggaeton | Puerto Rico | |
Ray Davies | Godfather of Britpop | United Kingdom | |
Amr Diab | Father of Mediterranean Music | Egypt | |
Lana Del Rey | Queen of Alternative Music | United States | |
Celine Dion | Queen of Power Ballads | Canada | |
Queen of Adult Contemporary | |||
Nate Dogg | King of Hooks | United States | |
Fats Domino | King of Rock and Roll | United States | |
Don Omar | King of Reggaeton | Puerto Rico | |
Lonnie Donegan | King of Skiffle | United Kingdom | |
Doro | Metal Queen | Germany | |
Thomas A. Dorsey | Father of Gospel Music | United States | |
Gord Downie | Canada's Unofficial Poet Laureate | Canada | |
Dr. Dre | Father of G-Funk | United States | |
Rocío Dúrcal | Queen of Ranchera | Spain | |
Bob Dylan | Crown Prince of Folk | United States | |
King of Folk |
E
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Eazy-E | Godfather of Gangsta Rap | United States | |
Missy Elliott | Queen of Hip Hop | United States | |
Queen of Rap | |||
Eminem | King of Hip-Hop | United States | |
King of Rap | |||
Gloria Estefan | Queen of Latin Pop | Cuba/United States | |
Elvy Sukaesih | Queen of Dangdut | Indonesia |
F
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Vicente Fernandez | King of Ranchera | Mexico | |
Ella Fitzgerald | First Lady of Song | United States | |
Queen of Jazz | |||
Lita Ford | Queen of Heavy Metal | United States | |
Zucchero Fornaciari | Father of Italian Blues | Italy | |
Stephen Foster | Father of American Music | United States | |
Aretha Franklin | Queen of Soul | United States | |
Alan Freed | King of Rock and Roll | United States |
G
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Lady Gaga | Queen of Pop | United States | |
Charly García | Godfather of Argentine Rock | Argentina | |
Carlos Gardel | King of Tango | ||
Lucho Gatica | King of Bolero | Chile | |
Marvin Gaye | Prince of Motown | United States | |
Prince of Soul | |||
Gloria Gaynor | Queen of Disco | United States | |
G-Dragon | King of K-pop | South Korea | |
Marika Gombitová | Queen of Slovak Pop Music | Slovakia | |
Songstress of the 20th Century | |||
Benny Goodman | King of Swing | United States | |
Vestal Goodman | Queen of Gospel Music | United States | |
Narayan Gopal | Emperor of Voice | Nepal | |
Karel Gott | Golden Voice of Prague | Czechia | |
Ariana Grande | Princess of Pop | United States | |
Amy Grant | Queen of Christian Pop | United States | |
Alejandra Guzmán | Queen of Latin Rock | Mexico |
H
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Nina Hagen | The Mother of Punk | Germany | |
Rob Halford | The Metal God | United Kingdom | |
Ayumi Hamasaki | Empress of J-pop | Japan | |
Mehdi Hassan | Emperor of Ghazal | Pakistan | |
Nazia Hassan | Queen of South Asian Pop | Pakistan | |
Hana Hegerová | Queen of Czechoslovak Chanson | Czechia/Slovakia | |
Kiyoshi Hikawa | Prince of the Enka World | Japan | |
Lauryn Hill | Queen of Hip Hop | United States | |
Whitney Houston | The Voice | United States | |
Al Hurricane | Godfather of New Mexico Music | United States |
I
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Enrique Iglesias | King of Latin Pop | Spain | |
La India | The Princess of Salsa | Puerto Rico | |
Rhoma Irama | King of Dangdut | Indonesia | |
IU | Nation's Little Sister | South Korea |
J
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Janet Jackson | Queen of Pop | United States | |
Mahalia Jackson | Queen of Gospel | United States | |
Michael Jackson | King of Pop | United States | |
Wanda Jackson | Queen of Rockabilly | United States | |
Elmore James | King of the Slide Guitar | United States | |
Rick James | King of Punk Funk | United States | |
Al Jarreau | Acrobat of Scat | United States | |
Jay R | Philippines' King of R&B | Philippines | |
Jay-Z | King of Rap | United States | |
Jaya | Philippine Queen of Soul | Philippines | |
Noor Jehan | Queen of Melody | Pakistan | |
Cui Jian | Grandfather of Chinese Rock | China | |
Blind Lemon Jefferson | Father of the Texas Blues | United States | |
Joan Jett | Godmother of Punk | United States | |
Joey Boy | Godfather of Thai Hip Hop | Thailand | |
Robert Johnson | Grandfather of Rock and Roll | United States | |
Sharon Jones | Godmother of Soul | United States | |
Janis Joplin | Queen of Rock and Roll | United States | |
Scott Joplin | King of Ragtime | United States | |
Louis Jordan | King of the Jukebox | United States | |
José José | The Prince of Song | Mexico | |
Jully Black | Queen of Canadian R&B | Canada |
K
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Hironobu Kageyama | Prince of the Anison World | Japan | |
R. Kelly | King of R&B | United States | |
King of Pop-Soul | |||
Alicia Keys | Queen of R&B | United States | |
Khaled | King of Raï | Algeria | |
Chaka Khan | Queen of Funk | United States | |
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | Emperor of Qawwali | Pakistan | |
B.B. King | King of the Blues | United States | |
Gladys Knight | Empress of Soul | United States | |
Frankie Knuckles | Godfather of House | United States | |
Joseph Koo | Godfather of Cantopop | Hong Kong | |
DJ Kool Herc | Founder & Father of Hip Hop | Jamaica/United States | |
Koda Kumi | J-pop Queen | Japan | |
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu | J-pop Princess | Japan |
L
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
La Lupe | Queen of Latin Soul | Cuba | |
Patti LaBelle | Godmother of Soul | United States | |
Kendrick Lamar | King Kendrick | United States | |
Queen Latifah | Queen of Rap, Hip Hop | United States | |
Avril Lavigne | Queen of Pop Punk | Canada | |
Héctor Lavoe | El Cantante de los Cantantes (The Singer of the Singers) | Puerto Rico | |
Lil' Kim | Queen of Rap | United States | |
Lil' Mo | Godmother of Hip-Hop and R&B | United States | |
Lisa Lisa | Queen of Latin Hip Hop | United States | |
Little Richard | Architect of Rock and Roll | United States | |
Kenny Loggins | King of the Movie Soundtrack | United States | |
Dave Lombardo | The Godfather of Double Bass | United States | |
Jennifer Lopez | Queen of Latin Pop | United States | |
Vera Lynn | Forces' Sweetheart | United Kingdom |
M
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Madonna | Queen of Pop | United States | |
Miriam Makeba | Mama Africa | South Africa | |
Lata Mangeshkar | Queen of Melody | India | |
Teena Marie | Ivory Queen of Soul | United States | |
Bob Marley | King of Reggae | Jamaica | |
Bruno Mars | Prince of Pop | United States | |
Ricky Martin | King of Latin Pop | Puerto Rico | |
Reba McEntire | Queen of Country | United States | |
Lydia Mendoza | Queen of Tejano | United States | |
Freddie Mercury | The King of Queen | United Kingdom | |
Mighty Sparrow | Calypso King of the World | Trinidad and Tobago | |
Luis Miguel | The Sun of Mexico | Mexico | |
Nicki Minaj | Queen of Rap | Trinidad and Tobago/United States | |
Kylie Minogue | Princess of Pop | Australia | |
Ichirō Mizuki | Emperor of Anime Songs | Japan | |
Bill Monroe | Father of Bluegrass | United States | |
Andy Montañez | The Godfather of the Salsa | Puerto Rico | |
Rudy Ray Moore | Godfather of Rap | United States | |
Giorgio Moroder | Father of Disco | Italy | |
Morissette | Asia's Phoenix | Philippines | |
Anita Mui | Queen of Cantopop | Hong Kong | |
Peter Murphy | Godfather of Goth | United Kingdom |
N
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Emilio Navaira | King of Tejano | United States | |
Grant Nelson | The Godfather of UK Garage | United Kingdom | |
Stevie Nicks | Queen of Rock and Roll | United States | |
Martin Nievera | Concert King of the Philippines | Philippines | |
Nike Ardilla | Queen of Rock, Lady Rocker | Indonesia | |
No I.D. | The Godfather of Chicago Hip Hop | United States | |
Larry Norman | Father of Christian Rock | United States |
O
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Odetta | Queen of American Folk Music | United States | |
Nobuyasu Okabayashi | God of Folk | Japan | |
Roy Orbison | The Caruso of Rock | United States | |
Ozuna | New King of Reggaeton | Puerto Rico | |
Ozzy Osbourne | Prince of Darkness | United Kingdom | |
Godfather of Heavy Metal | |||
Johnny Otis | Godfather of Rhythm and Blues | United States |
P
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Dolly Parton | Queen of Country | United States | |
Abida Parveen | Queen of Sufi music | Pakistan | |
Charley Patton | Father of the Delta Blues | United States | |
Peret | King of Catalan Rumba | Spain | |
Ariel Pink | Godfather of Chillwave | United States | |
Iggy Pop | Godfather of Punk | United States | |
Elvis Presley | King of Rock and Roll | United States | |
King of Pop | |||
Lisa Marie Presley | Princess of Rock and Roll | United States | |
Prince | The Artist | United States | |
Alla Pugacheva | Queen of Russian Pop | Russia |
Q
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Ivy Queen | Queen of Reggaetón | United States | |
Milly Quezada | Queen of Merengue | Dominican Republic | |
A.B. Quintanilla III | King of Cumbia King of Kumbia |
United States |
R
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Ma Rainey | Mother of the Blues | United States | |
Joey Ramone | Godfather of Punk | United States | |
Otis Redding | King of Soul | United States | |
Lou Reed | Godfather of Punk | United States | |
Esma Redžepova | Queen of Gypsy Music | North Macedonia | |
Sheryn Regis | Crystal Voice of Asia | Philippines | |
Frank Reyes | Prince of Bachata | Dominican Republic | |
Rihanna | R&B Princess | Barbados | |
Teddy Riley | King of New Jack Swing | United States | |
Ross Robinson | Godfather of Nu Metal | United States | |
Smokey Robinson | King of Motown | United States | |
Sylvia Robinson | Hip-Hop's First Godmother | United States | |
Mother of Hip-Hop | |||
Jimmie Rodgers | Father of Country Music | United States | |
Amália Rodrigues | Queen of Fado | Portugal | |
Paulina Rubio | The Golden Girl | Mexico |
S
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Lea Salonga | Pride of the Philippines | Philippines | |
Šaban Šaulić | The King of Folk | Serbia | |
Julie Anne San Jose | Asia's Pop Sweetheart | Philippines | |
Gilberto Santa Rosa | Gentleman of Salsa | Puerto Rico | |
Romeo Santos | King of Bachata | United States | |
Tiwa Savage | Queen of Afrobeats | Nigeria | |
Lady Saw | Queen of Dancehall | Jamaica | |
Chuck Schuldiner | Godfather of Death Metal | United States | |
Shirley Scott | Queen of the Organ | United States | |
Gil Scott-Heron | Godfather of Rap | United States | |
Raul Seixas | Pai do rock brasileiro (Father of Brazilian rock) | Brazil | |
Selena | Queen of Tejano Music | United States | |
Seo Taiji | President of Culture | South Korea | |
Shakira | Queen of Latin Music | Colombia | |
Deke Sharon | Father of Contemporary A Cappella | United States | |
Shin Joong-hyun | Korea's Godfather of Rock | South Korea | |
Frank Sinatra | The Chairman of the Board | United States | |
Siti Nurhaliza | Voice of Asia | Malaysia | |
Bessie Smith | Empress of the Blues | United States | |
Britney Spears | Princess of Pop | United States | |
Spice | Queen of Dancehall | Jamaica | |
Bruce Springsteen | The Boss | United States | |
Candi Staton | First Lady of Southern Soul | United States | |
George Strait | King of Country | United States | |
Johann Strauss II | The Waltz King | Austria | |
Suraphol Sombatcharoen | King of Luk Thung | Thailand | |
Donna Summer | Queen of Disco | United States | |
Joan Sutherland | La Stupenda (The Stupendous One) | Australia | |
Taylor Swift | America's Sweetheart | United States |
T
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Tarkan | King of Turkish Pop | Turkey | |
Teresa Teng | Asia's Eternal Queen of Pop | Taiwan | |
Takeshi Terauchi | God of Electric Guitar | Japan | |
Thalía | Queen of Latin Pop | Mexico | |
Tiësto | Godfather of EDM | Netherlands | |
Sister Rosetta Tharpe | Godmother of Rock and Roll | United States | |
Irma Thomas | Soul Queen of New Orleans | United States | |
Justin Timberlake | Prince of Pop | United States | |
Jolin Tsai | Queen of C-pop | Taiwan | |
Ike Turner | Father of Rock and Roll | United States | |
Tina Turner | Queen of Rock and Roll | United States | |
Shania Twain | Queen of Country Pop | Canada |
U
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Umm Kulthum | The Voice of Egypt | Egypt | |
Hikaru Utada | Diva of the Heisei Period | Japan | |
Usher | King of R&B | United States | |
Uncle Waffles | Princess of Amapiano | South Africa | |
Carrie Underwood | Country Music's Queen | United States |
V
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Luis Vargas | The Original King of Bachata | Dominican Republic | |
The Supreme King | |||
Suzanne Vega | Mother of the MP3 | United States | |
Katrina Velarde | Asia's Vocal Supreme | Philippines | |
Regine Velasquez | Asia's Songbird | Philippines | |
Rui Veloso | Father of Portuguese Rock | Portugal | |
Viguen | King of Persian Pop | Iran | |
Rhonda Vincent | Queen of Bluegrass | United States |
W
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Kitty Wells | Queen of Country Music | United States | |
Wiley | Godfather of Grime | United Kingdom | |
Paul Whiteman | King of Jazz | United States | |
Faye Wong | Queen of Cantopop | Hong Kong | |
Tammy Wynette | First Lady of Country | United States |
X
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Nikos Xilouris | Archangel of Crete | Greece |
Y
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Tatsuro Yamashita | King of City Pop | Japan | |
Neil Young | Godfather of Grunge | Canada/United States |
Z
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Jane Zhang | Dolphin Princess | China |
Group titles
Artist | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
2NE1 | Queens of K-pop | South Korea | |
Los Ángeles Azules | Kings of Cumbia | Mexico | |
Aerosmith | America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band | United States | |
Aventura | Kings of Modern Bachata | Dominican Republic/United States | |
The Beach Boys | America's Band | United States | |
The Beatles | The Fab Four | United Kingdom | |
Bee Gees | Disco Kings | ||
BigBang | Kings of K-pop | South Korea | |
Blackpink | K-pop Queens | ||
BTS | Kings of K-pop | ||
Five Stairsteps | First Family of Soul | United States | |
Girls' Generation | Nation's Girl Group | South Korea | |
The Jackson 5 | First Family of Soul | United States | |
Shinee | Princes of K-pop | South Korea | |
Super Junior | King of Hallyu Wave | ||
Twice | Nation's Girl Group |
Collective titles for multiple artists
Artists | Title | Country | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Buddy Holly | The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost | United States | |
Richie Valens | |||
The Big Bopper | |||
Juan Atkins | The Belleville Three Godfathers of Techno |
United States | |
Derrick May | |||
Kevin Saunderson | |||
Oasis | "Big Four" of Britpop | United Kingdom | |
Blur | |||
Suede | |||
Pulp | |||
Black Sabbath | Unholy Trinity of British Hard Rock and Heavy Metal | United Kingdom | |
Deep Purple | |||
Led Zeppelin | |||
Jacky Cheung | Four Heavenly Kings of Chinese Pop | Hong Kong | |
Aaron Kwok | |||
Leon Lai | |||
Andy Lau | |||
Michael Jackson | Holy Trinity of Pop | United States | |
Madonna | |||
Prince | |||
Whitney Houston | The Vocal Trinity | United States | |
Mariah Carey | |||
Celine Dion | Canada | ||
Metallica | "Big Four" of Thrash Metal | United States | |
Slayer | |||
Megadeth | |||
Anthrax | |||
Nirvana | "Big Four" of Grunge | United States | |
Alice in Chains | |||
Pearl Jam | |||
Soundgarden | |||
Mỹ Linh | Four Divas of Vietnam | Vietnam | |
Thanh Lam | |||
Hồng Nhung | |||
Trần Thu Hà | |||
Aretha Franklin | Five Mighty Pop Divas of the Sixties | United States | |
Martha Reeves | |||
Diana Ross | |||
Dusty Springfield | United Kingdom | ||
Dionne Warwick | United States |