Music soul is an expansive genre that cuts across musical genres and influences modern music, featuring deep emotional resonance felt and expressed by listeners, with harmonic qualities that take influence from blues.
Hammond B-3 organs are integral to soul music, providing rich tones and expressive solos. Electric guitars with clean tones add rhythmic support.
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin reigned supreme as Queen of Soul. With an incredible vocal range and undeniable power, what set her apart was her incredible depth of emotion she could express through her music. A passionate supporter of Civil Rights legislation, an emblematic figure for female empowerment and musical icon whose songs inspired generations of listeners and musicians alike – she made history.
Aretha Louise Franklin was born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 25th 1942 to C.L. Franklin who was both a Baptist minister and gospel performer, which provided her with an early musical education beginning at 12 when she began recording for his traveling revue. This early exposure to gospel and blues music greatly shaped Aretha and exposed her to contemporary or future musical icons like Sam Cooke, Mahalia Jackson and Bobby “Blue Bland.
Franklin would then develop her craft as a jazz singer before signing with Columbia Records in 1962. For seven trying years at Columbia Records, Franklin recorded everything from jazz and pop songs to show tunes and opera; nothing seemed to work until Atlantic Records signed her in 1966 and her career really began taking flight.
Franklin would soon find herself working closely with Quincy Jones, an industry icon with impeccable musical taste who could bring out her best. Together, they created hits like Respect, I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You) and Think.
Amazing Grace was Franklin’s breakthrough album released in 1972 and serves as an exceptional showcase of her remarkable vocal talents. Showcasing both an unforgettable rendition of the national anthem at the Democratic National Convention as well as gospel classic Precious Lord, its powerful music is testament to her power and style – especially its title track with its signature bassline and call-and-response vocal that make listening impossible!
The Staple Singers
Roebuck “Pops” Staples first founded The Staple Singers family group in Chicago in 1948 as an organ-playing gospel ensemble, but their fame expanded in the ’60s as soul music outfit with earnest folksy righteousness that appealed to black audiences outside church settings. Their Muscle Shoals rhythm section powered pop chart hits like “I’ll Take You There” and anthem-like songs like “Be Altitude”, while they toured alongside such rock acts as Bob Dylan and The Band.
Al Bell explains that by the time they signed with Stax Records, the group had already established themselves as “protest music with a more soulful backdrop than singer-songwriters like Bob Dylan or Joan Baez”. And they were looking forward to expanding their reach even further with Cleotha Williams as the label head.
The Staple Singers’ Stax recordings, of which there are many outstanding ones, feature airtight accompaniment from Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section with Mavis Staples providing both soulful yet heartfelt lead vocals. Part of what made their music special was their close working relationships between musicians – whether on “Tellin’ Lies” from 1972 or the vibrant, danceable “I’ll Take You There”, both from 1972.
After Stax Records filed for bankruptcy in 1975, Curtom Records provided them with some success: with “Let’s Do It Again”, reaching number one on the pop chart; they also collaborated with The Band for The Last Waltz film in 1976 and provided support. But their Stax glory days never truly returned – until Wattstax in 1972 (released both as concert film and album the same year) which marked a breakthrough into mainstream popular culture.
Today, The Staple Singers continue their legacy and mission of social justice through song. Mavis still leads them and ensures they continue – as has always been the case – delivering timeless performances in Sunflower County towns like Drew in Mississippi where their music began.
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield was one of the most influential soul artists ever. Taking influence from Sly and the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield used music to bring awareness of issues like poverty and racial injustice through music. This combination allowed Curtis Mayfield to reach a wide audience while remaining true to his artistic vision.
Mayfield began his music career performing gospel before moving to Chicago’s North Side where he met Jerry Butler and formed the Impressions group. Mayfield quickly earned acclaim as a songwriter due to his powerful vocal hooks and emotive lyrics; as an early pioneer incorporating socially aware themes into soul music (he influenced Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On and Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions albums among many others); Super Fly was his most celebrated release – selling millions of copies worldwide!
Mayfield had a prolific songwriting career that included songs for Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Staple Singers, Major Lance, Jan Bradley and the Artistics as well as film work such as Superfly which led him to create what has since been termed as the Curtis Sound for his groups with more lush arrangements and horn sections – this new sound became known by that name.
His solo work wasn’t particularly well received, but it did result in the formation of CURE Records which would become home for later works like Back to the World – a concept album which dealt with Vietnam War aftermath while criticizing US involvement in other conflicts globally.
Curtis Mayfield was an exceptional musician and producer, constantly searching for ways to push musical creativity further. Working closely with other talented producers like Gamble & Huff (known for producing much of The Temptations’ material) and William DeVaughn helped Mayfield produce music with a distinct blend of R&B, funk, and soul that remains part of today’s music.
The Temptations
Few groups in soul music history are as iconic as The Temptations. This Motown group endured numerous internal turmoils and tragedies throughout their decades-long existence while remaining one of the premier vocal groups ever to grace musical history. Even today, their legacy lives on, as early 2022 marks their 60th anniversary album release.
The Temptations were pioneers, breaking down barriers for African American artists who sought to integrate mainstream America. Through appearances on popular national TV shows like Ed Sullivan Show, Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Shindig as well as high society supper clubs they managed to bring their music into America’s living rooms and make it part of its cultural fabric.
As they progressed, the group adapted new styles and sounds – their music moving away from ballad-based, more experimental styles of soul music known as psychedelic soul – while still remaining successful despite numerous personnel changes such as Ali Woodson leaving to be replaced by Richard Street on drums/lead singing duties (replacing longtime member Ali Woodson as drummer/lead singer).
Popularity soared for The Otis Redding Story until they overtook them in the early ’70s. They earned many hit singles and albums that went multi-platinum; their status as most successful African American group ever was only temporarily dethroned when Otis Redding took his career into his own hands in his later years.
The Temptations were honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and their iconic song My Girl was honored with inclusion into The Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2018. Additionally, in 2019 an Emmy Award-Winning NBC mini-series on them titled Emmy Award-Winning Mini Series: Temptations was produced. Also that year was Ain’t Too Proud on Broadway which won Tony Award for Best Choreography at 73rd Annual Tony Awards held June 2019; both plays received nominations.
As time passed, Otis Williams, Ron Tyson, Melvin Franklin, David Ruffin and Paul Williams of the original lineup continued performing and recording together. In 1998 they released Phoenix Rising which won them their third Soul Train Music Award and was listed among Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Two years later came Ear-Resistible which garnered yet another Grammy(r).