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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...
- Otis Redding. Like way too many of the soul legends on this list, Otis Redding died tragically young. He was just 26 when his plane crashed into a Wisconsin field following a Cleveland concert.
- Marvin Gaye. Marvin Gaye's musical accomplishments – from his late Fifties run in the Moonglows through his Eighties comeback with "Sexual Healing" – are simply staggering.
- Sam Cooke. Sam Cooke was just 33 when he was shot to death in 1964 in the lobby of a seedy Los Angeles motel. By that point he was easily one of the greatest soul singers the world had ever seen.
- Aretha Franklin. Aretha Franklin started singing in her father's church at a very young age. Her debut album, 1956's Songs of Faith, came out when she was just 14.
The article presents a definitive list of the best 50 soul songs of all time, featuring iconic tracks by artists such as Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, and more.
- 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.
Aug 16, 2023 · As the civil rights movement gained momentum at the time, singers used soul music for self-expression. Soul music has taken many forms as the years go by; Neo-soul, southern soul, psychedelic soul. Artists such as Dusty Springfield and Janis Joplin brought about blue-eyed soul music and a more flirty flow to soul music.
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The appeal of soul music lies in its powerful vocals, heartfelt lyrics, and infectious rhythms that resonate across generations. This article highlights iconic soul artists and bands who have profoundly influenced the genre and left an indelible mark on music history.
