Black History Month is winding down as Charlotte’s Best Variety of Hits and Old School V101.9 continues our salute of some of the greatest music talents ever. Today’s artist is considered the most successful R&B female act in the last 25 years.

Growing up Mary J. Blige was influenced musically by Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle. She would become the first female and youngest artist to ever sign with Uptown Records. In 1992 Mary J. would team up with Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs to release her debut album, ‘What’s the 411′ which would become her most successful selling over 3 million copies. 

Through her career she has picked up 9 Grammy Awards, 4 American Music Awards and has had total album sales of over 50 million.