1970-2025: Every Black Artist Who Has Performed at Rodeo Houston

Source: Frank Micelotta / Getty

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Since then the rodeo has grown to include parades, a carnival, cooking competitions and of course.. music. The very first musical act to be featured at the rodeo took place in 1942, when Gene Autry “The Singing Cowboy,” and his majestic horse Champion, trodded onto the scene and kicked off what would become a long-held tradition of featuring a big name act to entertain the crowd.

In 1970, Charley Pride would also make history — becoming the first black entertainer to hit the rodeo soundstage. The decades that followed would see more black entertainers including The Jackson 5, The Isley Brothers, Kool & The Gang, Ray Charles, Bun B, Drake, Beyonce and even a few popular comedians!

Scroll below for a look back at the history of black performers at Rodeo Houston.