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- Marvin Gaye. This legendary artist's smooth, sultry voice and innovative blend of gospel, R&B, and jazz created a unique sound that resonated with audiences worldwide.
- Sam Cooke. Often referred to as the "King of Soul," this groundbreaking musician's silky-smooth vocals and innovative songwriting played a pivotal role in shaping the soul genre.
- Aretha Franklin. Dubbed the "Queen of Soul," this powerhouse vocalist's incredible range and technical prowess set her apart from other artists in the genre.
- Stevie Wonder. Blind since birth, this multi-talented musician's extraordinary ability to convey emotions through his soulful voice and innovative compositions have earned him worldwide acclaim.
- Aretha Franklin
- Marvin Gaye
- Stevie Wonder
- James Brown
- Sam Cooke
- Ray Charles
- Whitney Houston
- Otis Redding
- Al Green
- Irma Thomas
Known as the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklinhas to top any list of the best and most loved soul artists ever. Franklin captivated the stage from childhood when she sang gospel at her father’s church and signed with Columbia Records at 18. Some of Franklin’s biggest hits include the iconic “Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” and “Fr...
Nicknamed the “Prince of Soul” or the “Prince of Motown,” legendary male soul singerMarvin Gaye helped shape the sound of Motown during the 1960s as an in-house session player and recording artist. Growing up, Gaye’s father, who would later fatally shoot him, was very abusive. Gaye started singing doo-wop music as an outlet for his home life. He ga...
Born Stevland Hardaway Morris, childhood prodigy Stevie Wonderhas pioneered many music genres for over 60 years. Wonder went blind shortlyafter he was born, but that didn’t stop him from showing his musical talent. He was signed by Motown Records at age 11 and had his first #1 single when he was only 13. Over the next six decades, Wonder has revolu...
Nicknamed the “Godfather of Soul,” James Brownwas the forefather of American funk music, bringing soul and funk together. Brown came from very humble beginnings, born to teenage parents in a wooden shack in South Carolina. He dropped out of school during sixth grade and was imprisoned for robbery. It was there in prison that he met singer Bobby Byr...
Also known as the “King of Soul,” Sam Cooke was a pioneering soul artist that inspired the careers of most of the well great soul singers we have today. He was born Samuel Cook and added the “e” to his last name to signify the start of his solo career in 1957. In less than a decade, he released 29 singles that charted in the BillboardTop 40. Some o...
Often referred to as simply “The Genius,” Ray Charlesis regarded as one of the most influential singers of all time. He pioneered the soul music genre by combining blues, jazz, R&B, and gospel. Charles was raised by a single mother in Georgia. He lost his sight at age seven and learned classical piano with braille sheet music while attending Florid...
Nicknamed “The Voice,” Whitney Houstonis one of the best-selling musicians of all time, selling over 200 million records worldwide. She is considered to be one of the most talented singers ever. Houston was born and raised in New Jersey and was part of a legendary musical family, with Aretha Franklin as her honorary aunt. Over her career, she won e...
Considered one of the greatest American singers of all time, Otis Reddingis a pioneer in both soul and R&B music. Born into poverty in Georgia, he dropped out of school at 15 and helped support his family by playing in Little Richard’s backup band. Initially, Redding was mostly popular in the African American music scene and slowly grew a name for ...
Sometimes referred to as “The Last Of The Great Soul Singers,” Al Green’s ongoing career has spanned over 60 years. Raised in a conservative religious family, Green was kicked out of the house in his teens for listening to rock singer Jackie Wilson. This only encouraged his musical tendencies, and he formed his first band with classmates from his h...
Known as the “Soul Queen Of New Orleans,” Irma Thomas is a contemporary of legends like Aretha Franklin with a career spanning over 50 years. At age 19, Thomas was working as a waitress in New Orleans and had four children. None of that stopped her from pursuing her singing dreams. She sang with various New Orleans artists while waitressing and eve...
Nov 26, 2015 · Ann Peebles – I Can’t Stand The Rain. Aretha Franklin – Respect. Arthur Conley – Sweet Soul Music. Barrett Strong: Money (That’s What I Want) Barry White – Can’t get enough of Your ...
- Jeanette Leech
- Aretha Franklin (1942-2018) Lady Soul. The “Queen Of Soul”. Simply Aretha, or even ’Retha… Aretha Franklin’s sheer talent and pure soul power puts her at the top of this list of the best soul singers – untouchable, even when her release rate slowed.
- Otis Redding (1941-1967) A giant of Southern soul, the success of Otis Redding took Stax Records into the big league, and he was the Memphis label’s musical figurehead.
- Wilson Pickett (1941-2006) Soul’s force of nature, The Wicked Pickett screamed and roared his way through hit after hit in the 60s, seemingly a superstar by birthright.
- Sam Cooke (1931-1964) The romantic sound of Sam Cooke, coupled with his intense good looks, made him soul music’s first teen idol. But he had to fight.
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For many soul music lovers, the Golden Age of Soul Music was in the 1970s. It was a decade of political turmoil around the world, but also one of incredible creativity, as artists took control of their careers and addressed both social issues and issues of the heart in new ways. And what incredible music resulted! Over the course of several weeks, thousands of SoulTrackers nominated and then ...
Dec 19, 2023 · Next: Best soul songs of all time (our complete list) 7. Ben E. King. Save The Last Dance For Me (1960 Recording Remastered) Not every major hit is timeless. However, Ben E. King’s release of “Stand By Me” in 1961 not only put him on the soul map but placed him firmly in the hearts of music lovers everywhere.
May 27, 2022 · 3. ‘I Want You’ – Marvin Gaye. Damn. This soul song is the closest you can get to being propositioned by a piece of vinyl with only the insistent slap of a bongo. It’s also the greatest ...
