The 1970s singer Joni Mitchell called “a musical genius”
“I love the quality of his singing”.
Soul
Soul is a genre of popular music that emerged in the United States during the late 1950s and early 1960s, combining the emotional intensity of gospel music with rhythm and blues, jazz and pop.
Characterised by expressive vocals, memorable melodies and deeply personal songwriting, soul became one of the defining sounds of modern music through artists such as Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye. Labels including Motown, Stax and Atlantic Records helped popularise the genre worldwide, while regional styles from Detroit, Memphis, Philadelphia and beyond gave soul its remarkable diversity. Its influence continues to shape contemporary R&B, funk, hip hop, pop and rock, making soul one of the most enduring and influential genres in music history.
The 1968 soul hit that couldn’t be toured because its singer was drafted into the Vietnam War
An unforgettable chart-topper.
The forgotten band that dominated 1969, spending 48 weeks on the charts
Everywhere, and then forgotten.
The 1967 song Sting called a massive musical achievement: “Wonderful”
Keeping everything interesting.
“Puppy love songs”: Jalen Ngonda’s 21st century soul and why the 1960s never went out of style
An enduring legacy of soul.
More About Soul
Soul is a genre of popular music that combines gospel, rhythm and blues, jazz and pop, and is known for its emotional vocals, heartfelt songwriting and strong rhythmic foundation.
Who are some of the most famous soul artists? => Some of the most influential soul artists include Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Al Green and Curtis Mayfield.
When did soul music originate? => Soul music emerged in the United States during the late 1950s before reaching mainstream popularity throughout the 1960s.