R&B music groups mesmerized audiences with smooth harmonies and emotive ballads that resonated with fans worldwide. Their combination of traditional R&B with pop, funk and hip-hop proved their musical prowess; their signature sound inspired many artists while leaving an indelible mark on the genre.
These influential artists paved the way for new jack swing, an amalgamation of R&B and hip-hop which gained in popularity in the late 80s and early 90s. With infectious beats and trendsetting style, their infectious sounds made them cultural icons.
The Temptations
The Temptations remain one of the most iconic R&B groups ever. Their music continues to resonate with fans today and has inspired numerous artists who follow in their footsteps. Their legacy was honored on Broadway with a Jukebox Musical that premiered in 2017.
Motown Records emerged through a merger between two Detroit vocal groups – Primes and Distants – who initially competed against each other for prominence in 1964 with Smokey Robinson’s production of “The Way You Do the Things You Do.” This song would pave way to many subsequent hits that eventually lead to its establishment.
Norman Whitfield became the primary producer for The Temptations during the mid 1960s, producing hit singles such as “Cloud Nine” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.” By 1968, their sound had begun experimenting with psychedelic soul, inspired by Sly and Family Stone and featuring long recordings featuring intricate orchestration and bridge passages.
The Stylistics
The Stylistics were formed in 1968 when members from two Philadelphia soul groups, the Monarchs and Percussions, joined forces. Lead singer Russell Thompkins Jr and songwriter Herb Murrell from Monarchs combined forces with drummer James Smith from Percussions as drummer and bassist Airrion Love from Percussions; all five joined producer Thom Bell who helped emphasize lead singer Russell Thompkins Jr’s soaring falsetto voice to propel them up the Billboard charts to number seven spot.
Stylistics is a literary analysis and description discipline utilizing linguistic tools to describe literary works. Originating with Roman Jakobson’s phonetics and phonology work, stylistics provides a critical yet balanced approach to literature that seeks more precise language treatment and less impressionistic criticism from literary scholars.
Style studies date back to Aristotle’s book Rhetoric from the fourth century BCE and were further strengthened by Quintilian’s Institutio Oratoria from the first century AD which listed ten figures of speech known as tropes such as onomatopoeia, antonomasia, metonymy, periphrasis, synecdoche catachresis and metaphor.
The Commodores
Motown’s best-known group, known for their R&B hits like “Easy,” “Just to Be Close to You,” and “Brick House,” the Commodores first gained public notice in 1974 after opening for The Jackson 5. Comprised of former members of gospel group Mystics such as Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary Milan Williams Ronald LaPread William King the band first reached its famed status.
Richie was co-lead singer during the band’s most fruitful period from the late 70s through early ’80s and the Commodores produced hits like “Easy,” “Three Times a Lady,” and “Night Shift,” in addition to funky dance songs such as “Brick House,” “Fancy Dancer,” and “Lady (You Bring Me Up).”
After Richie decided to pursue solo music, the Commodores recruited James Dean “J.D.” Nicholas of Heatwave as their new lead tenor singer and gave them their biggest hit – “Night Shift,” an homage to deceased soul singers Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson who had both passed away during this period.
The O’Jays
The O’Jays are one of the best-known R&B groups. Formed in Canton, Ohio in 1958 as the Triumphs, its members — Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, Bill Isles, and Bobby Massey — met each other through McKinley High School and its music program. Following a demo single that garnered local radio play Eddie O’Jay encouraged them to change to O’Jays in honor of his mother’s maiden name (O’Jay).
Following an initial success on Cincinnati-based King Records, The O’Jays found their musical home with producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff at Philadelphia International Records. A string of hits spanning Back Stabbers (1972) to Emotionally Yours (1997); made them one of the world’s best-known soul acts.
Once Sammy Strain left to join Little Anthony and the Imperials, Nathaniel Best took his place. A brief recording hiatus ensued before Love You to Tears was released in 1997; additional albums such as Imagination (2004) and Their Last Word (2019) would soon follow.
The Four Tops
Established in 1953 (some accounts say 1954), The Four Tops, comprised of lead singer Levi Stubbs, Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Renaldo “Obie” Benson and Lawrence Payton–first sang together at a friend’s birthday party and recognized an immediate musical chemistry between themselves. Rehearsals began under their original moniker of The Four Aims until Payton’s cousin Roquel Davis assisted them with an audition with Chess Records where their name changed to The Four Tops.
Motown hitmakers the Tops were one of the most consistent hitmakers, rivalling only the Temptations and Supremes for consistent hitmaking success. Their creamy harmonies led by Stubbs were in stark contrast to those typically featured by groups featuring tenor lead singers such as Temptations or Supremes.
The Tops left Motown in 1972 but continued charting for several more years on other labels like Red Top, Riverside and ABC. Following an unsuccessful series of supper club-style performances they signed with Motown’s jazz-oriented Workshop subsidiary in 1963 where Holland-Dozier-Holland helped pen some big R&B hits for them.
The Supremes
Florence “Flo” Ballard, Mary Wilson and Betty McGlown met while playing an all-girl group known as The Primettes in Detroit’s Brewster Projects. Local manager Milton Jenkins encouraged them to audition for Berry Gordy’s newly established Motown label; ultimately signing them as The Supremes.
At first, the girls struggled to identify a distinctive sound of their own. Both their initial releases — the bland “I Want A Guy” and uninspiring “Buttered Popcorn” — failed. Holland-Dozier-Holland finally struck gold for them with “Where Did Our Love Go?,” an emotional ballad from 1964 that proved successful.
This album and song marked the dawn of girl group culture. The Supremes quickly became one of the biggest draws at concerts and television shows alike; their music continues to be heard today on radio stations worldwide. Their legacy even lives on through Broadway musical and movies with Diana, Flo and Mary each authoring books about their time as Supremes; additionally they reunited for tour in 2006 as part of Dreamgirls film project.
The Fifth Dimension
The Fifth Dimension was an R&B vocal group formed in 1965 by singers Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. Their cousin Ron Townson later joined, becoming known as The Versatiles. Motown producer Marc Gordon saw their audition and brought them over to Johnny Rivers at Soul City Records; Johnny Rivers changed their name to the Fifth Dimension after receiving permission to change it for them and the group enjoyed several hits including their signature song ‘I’ll Be Lovin You Forever.”
The Fifth Dimension was adept at adapting music composed by other songwriters like Ashford & Simpson (California Soul) and Laura Nyro (Stoned Soul Picnic), reaching number seven on the charts and going gold. Their greatest hit was “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” which topped charts for six weeks before several other singles by them reached top 40; furthermore they appeared on many television programs including Ed Sullivan Show.
The Whispers
The Whispers is an R&B group from Watts, California which first came together in 1970. At its inception, this R&B collective included twin brothers Wallace and Walter Scott along with Gordy Harmon, Marcus Hutson, and Nicholas Caldwell – its music ranges from smooth soul to uptempo dance numbers and has received multiple accolades including two Grammy nominations as well as induction into both Vocal Group Hall of Fame and Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame.
The band has released 12 studio albums throughout their career. Some of their biggest hits are And the Beat Goes On, Rock Steady and Lady. Additionally, they have collaborated with numerous artists like Kool & the Gang and Chaka Khan.
The group boasts an extensive history and is widely considered one of the finest R&B bands ever to emerge. Their music continues to influence new generations of musicians today and their legacy is evident in modern R&B and soul artists’ songs.
The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers have become iconic icons of R&B since they first emerged on the scene as gospel quartet in 1950 before transitioning into pop-and-R&B music with “Shout.” Their music continues to influence modern musicians worldwide.
“Shout,” their inaugural hit in 1959, quickly became a youth culture phenomenon with Ronald taking the lead on its call and response composition. Though it did not reach the top 40 on pop charts initially, “Shout” found immense popularity on dance floors across America and helped launch The Isley Brothers into stardom.
Isley Brothers were at their peak with 1970’s “It’s Your Thing,” which reached #1 on US charts and garnered them a Grammy Award. This groundbreaking record also marked their introduction of soul-funk albums (3+3 and Go for Your Guns) later. Additionally, they joined countercultural movements by recording an Isley Brothers rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Ohio/Machine Gun” cover which they released as a cover in 1971.