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- Michael Jackson. A dynamic force as the pre-teen frontman of chart-topping family group The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson moonwalked his way into solo superstardom.
- Stevie Wonder. Over the course of his five-decade career, Steveland Morris has often been dubbed the eighth wonder of the world. Blind since birth but blessed with natural gifts as a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Stevie Wonder is one of the few artists able to successfully transition from teen to adult stardom.
- Smokey Robinson. With his piercing green eyes, sweet falsetto and prolific pen, William “Smokey” Robinson has kept females swooning since the ‘60s when he and his group The Miracles helped put Motown on the map with such love-charged hits as “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” and “Ooo Baby Baby.”
- Ray Charles. Nicknamed “The Genius” for his skills as a singer, songwriter, musician and composer, Ray Charles set off a firestorm in 1955. That’s when he scored his first No. 1 single, “I’ve Got a Woman” — and simultaneously pioneered the soul genre with his game-changing combination of R&B, gospel and blues.
- Mark Edward Nero
- Michael Jackson. The "King of Pop," Michael Jackson, began his career as a child star at the age of ten and electrified the world for over 40 years with his unparalleled talent until his death in 2009.
- Aretha Franklin. Aretha Franklin, also known as "The Queen of Soul," is one the most powerful singers in music history. She has a record list of hits throughout the 1960s, '70s, '80s and '90s.
- James Brown. James Brown was also known as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr. Dynamite," and "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business." Brown was an R&B and soul music pioneer who established the highest standard of showmanship.
- Stevie Wonder. Stevie Wonder is one of America's greatest singer-songwriters who recorded numerous hit songs from the 1960s through the '80s. His first hit single was "Fingertips (Pt.
- Michael Jackson. Motown Sound, Rock music, Electronic music. 1,450 votes. The undisputed King of Pop, he began his career as a member of the iconic group The Jackson 5 before skyrocketing to solo superstardom.
- Stevie Wonder. Motown Sound, Psychedelic soul, Pop music. 1,060 votes. Blind since birth, this multi-instrumentalist prodigy defied all odds by becoming one of the most successful and beloved musicians in history.
- Marvin Gaye. Doo-wop, Motown Sound, Rock music. 1,033 votes. A soulful crooner who revolutionized R&B with his distinctive voice and emotive lyrics, he also played a crucial role in the evolution of Motown Records.
- Aretha Franklin. Pop music, Rock music, Rhythm and blues. 804 votes. Dubbed the Queen of Soul, her powerful voice and emotive delivery made her an unstoppable force in the world of R&B and beyond.
- 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.
- 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...
Dec 14, 2023 · Who are the top R&B artists today? Which good R&B artists in 2020 sing with the most soul? Vote up the best R&B artists of 2020, and add any popular artists missing from the list.
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Nov 4, 2021 · Once again, I’ve gathered a panel of R&B enthusiasts from around the world – from ages ranging from 16 years old to Knees Crack When We Stand Up – to help determine the biggest, most influential and most important R&B artists of our generation.
