Soul music
Ray Charles released the single I Got a Woman in 1954, marking a pivotal moment where gospel fervor met secular lyrics. This recording combined blues, rhythm and blues, and gospel styles to create what would become known as soul music. The phrase soul music itself first appeared in print in 1961, though musicians had used the term soul among themselves for years prior. Ray Charles acknowledged that Pilgrim Travelers vocalist Jesse Whitaker influenced his singing style directly. Other innovators like Clyde McPhatter, Hank Ballard, and Etta James contributed recordings during the 1950s that helped bring this hybrid genre into existence. Little Richard inspired Otis Redding while James Brown earned the nickname Godfather of Soul Music. Sam Cooke moved from leading the gospel group the Soul Stirrers to secular music with his 1957 hit You Send Me. His 1962 recording Bring It On Home to Me has been described as perhaps the first record to define the soul experience. Jackie Wilson achieved crossover success especially with his 1957 hit Reet Petite through dramatic delivery and performances.
Solomon Burke recorded for Atlantic Records in the early 1960s, creating classics like Cry to Me and Just Out of Reach. Writer Peter Guralnick identified Burke as a key figure whose 1961 success began to resemble a movement rather than isolated phenomena. Ben E. King achieved success in 1961 with Stand by Me, a song directly based on a gospel hymn. Otis Redding became known as Mr. Pitiful after recording soul ballads between 1962 and 1964 characterized by sentimental lyrics begging forgiveness or asking a girlfriend to come home. Aretha Franklin originally was a gospel singer who began making secular recordings in 1960 before her career revitalized through Atlantic Records. Her 1967 recordings included I Never Loved a Man The Way I Love You and Respect written and originally recorded by Otis Redding. James Brown and Sly and the Family Stone evolved into funk music while other singers developed slicker more sophisticated varieties. Marvin Gaye shifted to a socially conscious sound with his 1971 hit What's Going On. Stevie Wonder contributed alongside Michael Jackson and Smokey Robinson to Motown Records evolution.
Memphis Tennessee label Stax Records nurtured a distinctive sound that put vocals further back in the mix than most contemporary R&B records. Vibrant horn parts replaced background vocals while focusing on the low end of the frequency spectrum. Booker T. & the M.G.'s backed the vast majority of Stax releases along with the Memphis Horns. Hi Records house band Willie Mitchell developed a surging soul style heard in the labels 1970s hit recordings. New Orleans soul scene directly came out of the rhythm and blues era when artists like Little Richard made huge impacts on pop charts. Allen Toussaint served as principal architect of Crescent City soul working with Irma Thomas known as Soul Queen of New Orleans. Philadelphia soul had lush string and horn arrangements plus doo-wop-inspired vocals created by Thom Bell and Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. Chicago soul generally had light gospel-influenced sound but produced diverse results through multiple record labels. Detroit dominated by Berry Gordys Motown Records empire featured strong rhythms influenced by gospel music including hand clapping powerful basslines strings brass and vibraphone.
By 1968 soul began to fragment into different subgenres as James Brown led soul towards funk music typified by 1970s bands like Parliament-Funkadelic and the Meters. More versatile groups such as War the Commodores and Earth Wind and Fire became popular around this time. By early 1970s soul music had been influenced by psychedelic rock leading to creation of psychedelic soul and progressive soul. Artists like Sly Stone Stevie Wonder Marvin Gaye Curtis Mayfield and George Clinton drew from conceptual album-oriented approach of then-burgeoning progressive rock development. Isaac Hayes 1969 recording of Walk On By is considered a classic of prog-soul according to City Pages journalist Jay Boller. Psychedelic soul sometimes known as black rock was blend of psychedelic rock and soul music in late 1960s paving way for mainstream emergence of funk music few years later. Early pioneers included Jimi Hendrix Sly and the Family Stone Norman Whitfield and Isaac Hayes. During 1970s some slick commercial blue-eyed soul acts like Philadelphia Hall & Oates achieved mainstream success alongside new generation street-corner harmony city-soul groups.
Berry Gordys successful Tamla Motown group of labels notable for being African American owned unlike most earlier independent R&B labels. Hits made using quasi-industrial assembly line approach where producers and songwriters brought artistic sensitivity to three-minute tunes. Brian Holland Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland rarely out of charts for work as songwriters and record producers for Supremes Four Tops and Martha Vandellas. Smokey Robinson added lyrics to Tracks of My Tears by his group Miracles which one of most important songs decade. Stax Records founded by siblings Estelle and James Stewart second most successful label behind Motown responsible for releasing hits by Otis Redding Wilson Pickett Staple Singers. Ahmet Ertegun founded Atlantic Records in 1947 with friend Herb Abramson after father died leaving him unable to pursue diplomatic career. Ertegun wrote many songs for Ray Charles Clovers even sang backup vocals for Big Joe Turner on Shake Rattle and Roll. Hi Records continued Stax tradition releasing string hits by Al Green Ann Peebles Otis Clay O V Wright Syl Johnson.
In early 1960s small soul scenes began popping up around UK Liverpool particularly had established black community from which artists like Chants Steve Aldo emerged. Many recordings commercially released by British soul acts during 1960s unable connect with mainstream market nevertheless soul major influence British popular music since 1960 including bands British Invasion significantly Beatles. Significant British blue-eyed soul acts included Dusty Springfield Tom Jones Carl Douglas Real Thing Delegation having hits in UK during 1970s. American soul extremely popular among youth subcultures mod Northern soul modern soul movements clear genre British soul not emerge until 1980s when George Michael Sade Simply Red Lisa Stansfield Soul II Soul enjoyed commercial success. Popularity British soul artists United States notably Amy Winehouse Adele Estelle Duffy Joss Stone Leona Lewis led talk Third British Invasion British Soul Invasion 2000s 2010s. Northern soul music dance movement emerged late 1960s out of British mod subculture Northern England English Midlands based particular style soul heavy beat fast tempo. Phrase northern soul coined journalist Dave Godin popularized through column Blues and Soul magazine rare soul records played DJs nightclubs.
United States saw development neo-soul around 1994 blending 1970s soul-style vocals instrumentation contemporary R&B sounds hip-hop beats poetic interludes. Term coined early 1990s producer record label executive Kedar Massenburg key element heavy dose Fender Rhodes Wurlitzer electronic piano pads mellow grooving interplay drums rim shot snare sound muted deep funky bass. Fender Rhodes piano sound gives music warm organic character notable artists include Jill Scott Lauryn Hill Aloe Blacc Erykah Badu. Newer artists H.E.R. SZA influenced by neo soul syndicated music dance variety television series Soul Train hosted Chicago native Don Cornelius debuted 1971 show provided outlet soul music several decades spawning franchise created record label Soul Train Records distributed music Whispers Carrie Lucas up-and-coming group Shalamar. Numerous disputes led Cornelius spinning off record label talent booker Dick Griffey transformed label Solar Records prominent soul music label throughout 1980s TV series continued air until 2006 although other predominantly African-American music genres hip-hop began overshadowing soul show beginning 1980s.
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Common questions
When did Ray Charles release the single I Got a Woman that marked the creation of soul music?
Ray Charles released the single I Got a Woman in 1954. This recording combined blues rhythm and blues and gospel styles to create what would become known as soul music.
Who first used the phrase soul music in print and when did it appear?
The phrase soul music itself first appeared in print in 1961. Musicians had used the term soul among themselves for years prior to this public appearance.
Which record label founded by Ahmet Ertegun became home to Aretha Franklin and Solomon Burke?
Ahmet Ertegun founded Atlantic Records in 1947 with friend Herb Abramson after his father died leaving him unable to pursue diplomatic career. Solomon Burke recorded for Atlantic Records in the early 1960s creating classics like Cry to Me and Just Out of Reach while Aretha Franklin revitalized her career through Atlantic Records.
What year did neo-soul develop and who coined the term?
United States saw development of neo-soul around 1994 blending 1970s soul-style vocals instrumentation contemporary R&B sounds hip-hop beats and poetic interludes. The term was coined early in the 1990s by producer and record label executive Kedar Massenburg.
When did Northern soul emerge and what characteristics defined its sound?
Northern soul music dance movement emerged late in the 1960s out of British mod subculture in Northern England and English Midlands. This style featured heavy beat fast tempo and rare soul records played by DJs in nightclubs as popularized by journalist Dave Godin.