R&B music is making waves these days, from industry titans such as Beyonce to Gen Z musicians like SZA. Today’s artists are pushing its limits further by mixing hip-hop/soul instrumentals and diverse cross-cultural influences into R&B compositions.
Lionel Richie was a multi-talented artist capable of masterfully merging different musical genres. His distinctive voice and emotive lyrics made him one of the greatest male R&B singers ever.
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye was an influential R&B singer-songwriter whose impact is felt today decades after his death. His smooth vocals and soulful lyrics continue to influence music from rap, rock and dance music genres alike, while his songs address sociopolitical issues with atmospheric arrangements he created himself. Gaye also proved adept at crafting beautiful ballads as well as dance floor hits; being the most successful artist on Motown Records he scored multiple top ten singles such as “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You),” among many more; additionally being highly influential solo artists himself he became an influencer on American popular culture today.
Gaye began his career at Motown as a session drummer with Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. Soon thereafter, his duets with Tammi Terrel became hits including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”. But even after this success on Motown, Gaye struggled to find his artistic identity and had difficulty performing solo; during 1970 he went into seclusion due to personal issues before writing What’s Going On which became an international hit album and revolutionized African-American music.
It was the first R&B album to feature an artistic concept, now considered standard in R&B music. The record covered important issues at the time, such as Vietnam, poverty, racism and drug abuse – issues which would go on to influence future artists such as Stevie Wonder and Prince. It proved a monumental work which inspired artists such as Stevie Wonder and Prince in turn.
Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston did more than shake up popular music and R&B, she kept alive a rich and vibrant tradition of Black women’s vocal music. From spirituals and blues and gospel to soul, Black women’s voices have conveyed a sense of place, time, social upheaval, sexual healing and sexual liberation for centuries – whether through spirituals, plans for escape from freedom (Harriet Tubman sang spirituals to get away) and pain (blues and gospel).
Whitney Elizabeth Houston captivated the public with her remarkable mezzo-soprano octave, known for its range and power. Beginning her musical journey at church and cabaret clubs before working as a session vocalist before landing a role in The Bodyguard alongside Kevin Costner as she recorded its soundtrack and won multiple Grammys (including Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance). Later she would star in Waiting to Exhale alongside Costner again recording an album under that same name.
Adele and Lady Gaga have both publicly acknowledged her influence. Unfortunately, in February 2012 she died at 48 and was laid to rest near where her family lives in Los Angeles. To honour her memory Kelly Clarkson performed “Saving All My Love for You” on her daytime talk show while Katy Perry included it as part of her Las Vegas performances as a tribute.
Maxwell
James Clerk Maxwell (born 13 January 1831, Edinburgh Scotland and died 5 November 1879) was an accomplished Scottish physicist known for his contributions in mathematics, astronomy and electromagnetic radiation theory. His contributions are widely credited with helping lay the groundwork for modern quantum mechanics.
Maxwell’s music blends styles across genres, blending social conscience from Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy Mercy Me” with Sade’s honeyed vocals that made her a superstar of neo-soul music. Maxwell released two critically-acclaimed albums: 1996’s Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite and 1998’s Embrya, both of which established him as an innovative neo-soul artist.
His interpretation of Kate Bush’s classic ballad “This Woman’s Work” showcases both his musical talent and artistic vision. With minimal instrumentation allowing his powerful vocal performance to take center stage and conveying emotion with its stunning delivery.
Maxwell made his return in 2009 with his BLACKsummers’night release and received much critical and commercial success from it. His hits “Pretty Wings” and its segue “Bad Habits” established Maxwell as one of neo-soul’s finest singers; while his expansive musicianship showcased revamped versions of his songs as well as Nine Inch Nails and Kate Bush covers. Maxwell has spoken at Crystal Cathedral as well as Hour of Power television program; additionally serving Fortune 500 companies, international government leaders and United States Military Academy West Point among many other organizations.
Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson was one of the most influential r&b musicians of his time, possessing a four-octave vocal range and captivating audiences with charismatic performances that mesmerised audiences across America. Credited with inspiring many artists such as Michael Jackson and Prince during his career. Although Wilson experienced hardship personally, his passion for music never wavered.
Wilson began singing in local Detroit clubs before being discovered by talent scout Johnny Otis, who recruited him into an obscure group called the Thrillers that later changed to King Records (replacing Wilson with The Royals). Wilson would eventually leave this group of his own volition.
Wilson initially experienced difficulty after signing with Brunswick Records. Although several albums and singles he released proved unsuccessful, Wilson continued working at his craft. Detroit friends Berry Gordy and Billy Davis wrote many of Wilson’s hits using their pen names Tyran Carlo and Roquel Davis; these writers also adapted classical pieces such as Saint Saen’s Samson et Delilah or Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci to fit with Wilson’s lyrics.
Wilson married Freda Hood at age 17 while pregnant from their high school romance and had four children together – Jacqueline Denise, Sandra Kay, Jack Leroy Jr and Anthony Duane. However, he became known for fathering multiple other children out-of-wedlock with various women. Bobby Brook Wilson now continues his father’s legacy by paying homage through performances dedicated to his memory.
James Brown
Brown earned the moniker “the Godfather of Soul” thanks to his powerful vocals, or for his explosive dancing that garnered worldwide acclaim, two qualities that helped establish him as an influential entertainer during the 20th century. Brown was a singer-songwriter-entrepreneur-bandleader-producer whose efforts contributed significantly to pushing soul music forwards; today his funk influence can still be heard today with shouts and squeals used as part of hip-hop productions.
Brown never stopped pushing musical boundaries during his long and prolific career; from doo-wop, soul, funk, new jack swing (along with some misguided disco experiments and even one early proto-rap track) all the way through concert performances in later years, his popularity only grew stronger.
Brown’s career saw an unexpected drop during the late 1970s due to Teddy Brown’s death, financial difficulties and disco music’s rising popularity, however his fightback continued aided by Polydor’s marketing power and two film soundtracks (Black Caesar and Slaughter’s Big Rip Off) scored by him as well as several albums released such as his 1974 blaxploitation-oriented double album Super Bad. Brown died at Beech Island, South Carolina just across from Augusta Georgia, at 72. His eulogies paid homage to his lifelong dedication towards work, family and community involvement.
Willie Hathaway
Hathaway was an exceptional pianist with an uncanny talent for expressing emotion through music. He understood the audience response was critical for successful singing performances and knew exactly how to use techniques such as glissandos and prolongation of musical cadences to produce it. Musicologist Aaron Johnson describes Hathaway’s rendition of Leon Russell’s classic ballad “A Song for You”. “He milks it for all it can deliver”, writes Johnson of his performance of this classic ballad by Leon Russell.
Roberta Flack and John were joined in 1972 for an album of duets which proved incredibly popular, featuring songs written by each. John also contributed two original compositions, while Flack made her definitive rendition of Carole King’s pop standard “You’ve Got a Friend.”
Donny Hathaway was one of the most influential soul artists of the last half-century despite having his career cut short by mental illness. His songs brought heartfelt gospel music into mainstream formats while his signature vocal style would leave audiences sobbing with emotion.
Donny Hathaway passed away at 40 in 1983, leaving behind his wife Mary Miller and children Joe Jr., Jerry, Kendra, Jerry Hutcherson (grandsons) and Quantez Hutcherson as well as many nieces and nephews. His music lives on through Lalah who has recorded jazz, R&B, soul albums such as Self Portrait and Outrun the Sky as well as performing with jazz great Joe Sample on the album The Song Lives On.