Many people agree that Mary J. Blige is one of the best R&B singers of all time. In her thirty-year career, she has sold over 80 million records worldwide and received nine Grammy awards. But without the enormous influence of soul music icons like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Chaka Khan, none of this would have been possible. These musicians have unquestionably influenced Blige’s distinctive sound and storytelling style, even though it is unclear where they rank among her personal top three favorites.

Aretha Franklin’s Powerful Vocals

Without bringing up Aretha Franklin, no analysis of Mary J. Blige’s influences could be considered comprehensive. Known as the “Queen of Soul,” Franklin defied stereotypes when she became the first Black woman to achieve success in pop music in the 1960s. Her strong yet expressive voice helped to define the soul genre and had a huge impact on many other musicians. Since they were young, Blige has credited Franklin as a big inspiration, demonstrating the close bond between them.

Blige looked to Franklin for direction early in her career. Franklin was consulted by Blige when she was going through a rough time dealing with her record label. Franklin gave her confidence to continue being an artist. Blige persevered because of her idol’s affirmation of confidence. Beyond their mentoring relationship, Blige had a profound personal connection with Franklin’s singing.

Over the years, Blige has recorded a number of Franklin songs; the most notable being “Ain’t No Way” from her 2008 album Growing Pains. Her unvarnished performance honors Franklin’s distinctive vocal style, which is characterized by grit, soul, and unadulterated passion. Blige’s own style is clearly influenced by Franklin, going beyond just covers. Similar to Franklin, Blige thoroughly expresses joy and grief via music by using vocal runs, melismatic phrases, and dazzling high notes. Both musicians are aware of the ability of voice to portray personal human experiences.

The two vocalists have a deeper bond than just a passing musical affinity. Black women who were breaking new ground in male-dominated genres had common struggles that they could only fully comprehend in each other. “I felt every pain in her voice…she made me feel like my life mattered through her music,” Blige said of Franklin in a 2016 interview. Blige saw Franklin as a symbol of the potential to use one’s voice to encourage others by drawing attention to their common challenges. This way of thinking would come to characterize Blige’s legendary career.

Stevie Wonder’s Songwriting Mastery

Another legend who profoundly shaped Mary J. Blige’s artistry is Stevie Wonder. A prolific singer and songwriter, Wonder virtually reinvented soul and R&B music throughout the 1970s. His blend of funk, pop, jazz, and politics delivered powerful messages with infectious melodies. For Blige, Wonder’s music provided solace during hard times and opened her mind to new possibilities in songwriting.

In multiple interviews, Blige has cited Wonder’s classic album Songs in the Key of Life as particularly inspiring. Released in 1976, the double LP showed Wonder’s mastery across genres, instruments, and composition. For a young Blige, it was a revelation to see an artist with such control over his entire creative process. She admired Wonder’s ability to pour intimate details and social commentary into catchy, emotionally resonant songs.

This influence is apparent in Blige’s own albums like Share My World and My Life. Like Wonder, she seamlessly blended genres while using her lyrics to shed light on personal struggles and societal issues. Wonder’s songwriting prowess pushed Blige to elevate her compositions and tell deeper stories through music. She sought to match his level of artistry by infusing soul with funk, hip hop, and raw emotion.

Beyond the musical aspects, Wonder’s songs also provided solace for Blige during dark periods. In a radio interview, she said Wonder’s “Living For The City” gave her strength on tough days, reminding her of humanity’s capacity for compassion. His music showed Blige how art could be both commercially successful and politically progressive. This duality would become a hallmark of her own iconic albums like No More Drama. Overall, Wonder expanded Blige’s vision of what an R&B artist could achieve and represent.

Chaka Khan’s Powerhouse Vocals

Another female vocal icon who deeply shaped Mary J. Blige’s style is Chaka Khan. Known as the “Queen of Funk,” Khan delivered powerhouse vocals with a wide range well before Blige began her career. Across the 1970s and 80s, Khan established herself at the vanguard of funk, soul, and pop music with the band Rufus. Her emotive delivery and vocal riffs left an indelible mark on the genre.

Blige has frequently cited Khan as one of her primary vocal influences due to her raw energy and soulfulness. In a 2010 interview, she called Khan “the original person who made me want to sing.” Like Khan, Blige utilizes her vocals to convey every emotion imaginable. Their delivery swells and soars, hitting impressive high notes while maintaining gritty authenticity. Both understand the visceral power of the human voice to connect with listeners on a deep level.

This influence is audible when comparing signature songs from each artist. On her 1973 smash “Sweet Thing,” Khan delivers a climactic belt that stops you in your tracks – a moment that clearly inspired similar climaxes in Blige songs. Their vocal runs also share fluidity, stretching phrases to fully express joy or pain. Blige sought to channel Khan’s command of her instrument through emotive phrasing and dynamic shifts.

Beyond just vocals, Khan also showed Blige how to blend genres as a Black woman in a male-dominated industry. As one of the first to successfully fuse funk and disco, Khan proved that cross-genre artistry could find mainstream success. This likely inspired Blige to pioneer her own subgenre of hip hop soul music in the 1990s. Both Khan and Blige expanded perceptions of what Black female artists could achieve, paving the way for others through their boundary-pushing talents.

A Legacy of Inspiration

Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Chaka Khan all made lasting contributions to popular music and beyond with their illustrious careers. However, they also had an impact on the musicians they influenced, most notably Mary J. Blige. Blige has established herself as one of the best soul/R&B performers of all time throughout the course of her three decades in the business, but she did not get there by herself. Franklin, Wonder, and Khan’s musical legacies influenced Blige’s distinctive singing style, compositional methodology, and artistic perspective.

Blige honors the icons that paved her way by performing their songs on her own, talking about their influences in interviews, and imitating their s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s in her own work. Although Blige may not publicly reveal their final rankings in her own top 3, it is indisputable that Blige’s artistic vision is greatly influenced by Wonder, Franklin, and Khan. Their soulful tones continue to influence upcoming generations of creatives, such as the legendary Mary J. Blige. Her career has really been constructed on the pillars set by the legends that came before her.