Soul music gained widespread appeal through its hybrid blend of rhythm and blues with southern United States gospel sounds, made famous by artists like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye who helped pioneer its creation and evolution into subgenres such as funk and neo soul.
Atlantic Records in New York City and Motown/Stax/Volt in Detroit both recorded soul artists featuring an upbeat sound featuring Hammond organ and booming horn sections.
Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke was one of the best-known soul singers of the 1960s, known for his smooth vocal style and socially conscious lyrics that inspired many young black artists to follow in his footsteps. His songs conveyed both faith and passion for his music while at the same time striving to make a positive difference in society – an esteemed quality which earned him his title of father of gospel-soul music.
Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi in 1933, Cooke began his musical career alongside family members as the Singing Children gospel choir. Later he joined Highway QC’s and developed a national following before making the controversial move of moving away from gospel into secular music – this included changing his name to Sam Cooke while applying his smooth style of gospel singing into rhythm and blues music.
Cooke’s debut, You Send Me, hit number one on both pop and R&B charts simultaneously in 1957 and became an overnight success story. An astute businessman himself, Cooke owned his own record label, publishing company and management firm as well as pioneering civil rights movements by refusing to perform at segregated venues – an action which eventually led him to his untimely demise in Los Angeles at 33. Unfortunately his death remains shrouded in mystery.
Cooke is widely recognized as having pioneered soul music, yet others contributed significantly to its definition during the ’60s. Atlantic Records in New York produced soul hits by Aretha Franklin and Donny Hathaway; production duo Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff made waves with Jackson 5/Harold Melvin/Blue Notes recordings in Philadelphia; while street-corner harmony groups like Delfonics or Howard University Unifics created what has come to be known as city soul.
Cooke’s musical influences were varied, yet his passion lay within blues music. Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker were two key influences, with several songs written specifically in blues vein recorded by Cooke himself. He also was inspired by Louis Armstrong, Pearl Bailey, Sammy Davis Jr, Bobby Bland and B B King as inspirations.
Marvin Gaye
Soul music became a worldwide sensation during the 1960s, thanks to record labels like Atlantic, Stax and Motown who made it widely accessible with artists like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye dominating chart positions on these charts. Soul was defined by a hybridization of rhythm & blues and traditional African-American gospel music with a focus on emotional intensity through song lyrics and instrumentation.
Soul music first took shape during the 1950s when artists such as Ray Charles, Clyde McPhatter, and Rudy West (lead singer of doo-wop group the Five Keys) combined their religious upbringing with secular rock and roll; these musical hybrids, often referred to as deep or southern soul, marked an important step toward creating soul music.
As the soul movement spread, so did its definition. A distinct sound emerged in Memphis, Tennessee’s Stax Records label through their blend of R&B’s energy with southern United States gospel sounds – this style often placed vocals further back in the mix while emphasizing vibrant horn parts played by house band Booker T & the MG’s (Booker T Jones, Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn).
Motown Records in Detroit, Michigan was known for its catchy pop melodies and smooth production from house bands of Motown Records. Artists such as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Martha Reeves & Vandellas, Stevie Wonder & Diana Ross & the Supremes all scored hits under Motown president Berry Gordy; their music crossed genres popular with white audiences such as doo-wop and funk music as many songs became cultural touchstones.
Bill Withers brought an easygoing sound to soul music during the 1970s through acoustic instrumentation. His 1972 single, “Lean on Me”, featuring his signature voice was one of the top ten soul hits of that year and one of many that addressed social issues through song. Gaye was later killed during a domestic dispute with his father but his songs continued to represent those lost within this generation that he represented.
Sam & Dave
Sam and Dave were one of the most beloved soul duos during the 1960’s. Their gritty style typified Memphis Sound while their emotive songs brought excitement and passion. Working closely with producer Isaac Hayes and backing band Booker T and the MG’s was essential in creating soul music; perhaps their most notable hit song being “Soul Man”, an R&B hit which also hit pop charts; its powerful rhythm embodies both soul music and funk elements simultaneously to produce heartbeat beats that could send chills down spines across audiences worldwide!
Sam Moore and Dave Prater both began as gospel musicians, which greatly shaped their approach to soul music. The pair met at Miami club the King of Hearts in 1961 where Moore was hosting an amateur night and noticed Prater singing along. Over time they collaborated together on live acts featuring gospel-influenced call and response performances.
Their initial recordings were for Roulette Records. While these releases failed to chart, their success increased after they signed with Atlantic Records’ Memphis affiliate Stax and hired Isaac Hayes and David Porter as producers to help develop a soul sound – much as Holland-Dozier-Holland had done for artists like Marvin Gaye and The Supremes at Motown Records.
Stax Records produced several hits for Sam and Dave during their time at Stax, including “Soul Men” (October 1967) which reached #5 on R&B charts and #68 on pop charts – providing one of the greatest examples of how funk can be integrated into soul music to create energetic rhythms and an invigorating vibe that inspires passion.
From 1967 to 1969, they conducted extensive tours, playing 280 shows annually between 1967 and 1969. Highlights of their tours included appearing at Montreal World’s Fair in 1967 as well as performing at Madison Square Garden for Martin Luther King, Jr. tribute show that year; furthermore they opened for The Clash on their U.S. tour in 1979.
Aretha Franklin
In the 1960’s, soul music blossomed across America from regional to national levels. Recording studios from Memphis to Muscle Shoals recorded artists who each added their own distinct flavor to this genre of music. Aretha Franklin became one of its leading vocalists during this era and helped define what people meant when they talked about soul music – her powerful voice and emotive singing made her one of the best-known household names of her day.
Stax Records’ and Hi’s soul music relied on raw power, with singers like Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and Booker T & the MG’s drawing inspiration from blues shouters when creating songs like these. Producer Jerry Wexler began searching for singers with such vocal qualities when Aretha Franklin became a sensational soul music singer thanks to her powerful gospel roots – her powerful gospel roots proved ideal for soul music production; quickly becoming one of its biggest stars on its rise.
Aretha Franklin first rose to fame with her early hits that showcased her stunning vocals and emotional resonance. Later, she transitioned into more contemporary sound that resonated equally well among black and white audiences alike. One of Franklin’s finest recordings was her version of Nina Simone’s anti-racist anthem “Black Power”, where her incredible interpretation took the staccato intro and slowly extended every note to produce an exultant power anthem that gave rise to admiration among listeners.
She made waves in the industry with her stunning performance on her live double album Amazing Grace, in which she belted out traditional hymns in what many consider to be one of the greatest live recordings ever. Additionally, she demonstrated her ability to adapt new trends when she incorporated funk into her sound on self-penned Rock Steady which boasts an exquisite tight groove and captivating call-and-response chorus.
Aretha was undisputedly the Queen of Soul during her career, creating hits that crossed over from R&B radio stations to Top 40 radio stations. One such hit is 1970’s This Girl’s in Love With You – she wrote it herself! – it combines piano playing that fits right between soul and jazz piano playing with Arif Mardin’s pillowy orchestral arrangement and Aretha’s emotive, heartbreaking vocal performance to produce something truly stunning.