Last night, the Black Rock Coalition and the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls teamed up at the Spiegeltent at the South Street Seaport for A Tribute to Black Women Songwriters, featuring over 35 female musicians performing classics from the last 75 years of rock and soul. Over the course of the evening, the audience was treated to a demonstration of how black female songwriters took rock music from its soul and jazz roots through the funk and R&B eras before moving on to punk and ska influences.

Among the highlights: Willie Mae Rock Camp's own Electric Blue, who started the night with Elizabeth Cotton's "Freight Train"; Nina Simone's soulful "Do I Move You," performed by Maritri Garrett and Morley; N'Dea Davenport of Brand New Heavies fame singing the Chaka Khan classic "You Got The Love"; and music director Tamar-kali, who brought the house down with Betty Davis' "They Say I'm Different." DAVID BARON

We asked: Who is your favorite black female songwriter? COMMENT

Name: Christian John Wikane
Age: 27
Hometown: East Hampton, NY
Occupation: International music marketing
"It's a toss up between Nona Hendryx and Joan Armatrading."

Name: Grace Kalambay
Age: 19
Hometown: New York, NY
Occupation: Musician
"Joan Armatrading. I just like her style so much."

Name: Gwynn Galitzer
Age: 19
Hometown: New York, NY
Occupation: Musician/artist
"Erykah Badu. She knows! She knows what it's about."

Name: Veronica Heffron
Age: 26
Hometown: Appleton, WI
Occupation: Actor
"Sparla Swa because talks about important issues in today's society."

Name: Paige Taylor
Age: 27
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Occupation: Retail sales analysis
"Sparla Swa."

Name: William Pentecost
Age: 20
Hometown: New York, NY
Occupation: Chef
"Roberta Flack. She's the bomb."