Soul music first gained popularity during the 1950s and remains a source of great inspiration today. These classic songs have inspired other genres to produce varied forms of music that appeal to all generations.
Groovin by The Young Rascals is the perfect tune to set the perfect atmosphere for summer afternoons spent with your significant other. Boasting light acoustic instrumentation and featuring an appealing call-and-response chorus, this song captures that lazy summer vibe perfectly.
James Brown
James Brown revolutionized American music with a groundbreaking style that blended gospel music and rock & roll. A massively popular performer in the 1960s and ’70s, his style “flipped soul music on its head to create funk”, becoming an international cultural icon along the way.
The Godfather of Soul charted 17 songs at the top of Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, making him second only to Michael Jackson as an artist who charted at least 17 top singles there. A Change Is Gonna Come was his signature tune – still used today by civil rights movements such as Black Lives Matter.
Brown performed over 350 concerts annually during his lifetime and won four Grammy awards, becoming an influential political activist as well. Additionally, he was honored by being inducted into both the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame and Kennedy Center Honoree; furthermore his records dominated British charts immensely popular among his listeners.
At first, he initially thought he might become a baseball player or boxer before switching his focus entirely to music. He performed for his first audience at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre in 1958 before going on to release several hits such as I Got the Feelin’. Its composition blended gospel music with rock and roll.
Brown was widely known for being one of the hardest working individuals in show business. A master bandleader and superb dancer, despite all of his hard work he remained humble and dedicated to his craft. Brown was also an outspoken advocate for civil rights; one of his songs became the theme song for protests around America – A Change Is Gonna Come – remains iconic today.
Sam Cooke was another hugely popular soul singer of the 1960s. Beginning his career at Stax Records in Memphis and Hi Records in Alabama – where his house band, known as the Swampers included organist Booker T and drummer Wilson Pickett – Sam became famously beloved, rising from gospel singer to iconic love song singer, champion for civil rights activist, and pioneering civil rights reformer.
Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke was one of the most influential soul performers during his era, born in Clarksdale Mississippi and died aged 33 at his own hand in 1964. Starting out as a gospel performer before transitioning into secular music via Soul Stirrers. Cooke is considered a pioneer and significant figure in soul music history.
Cooke’s entry into pop music in 1957 had significant effects on Black musical culture. Reimagining himself as a romantic crooner in the style of Nat King Cole, his smooth vocals became one of his major selling points; additionally he wrote many original songs including his debut hit “You Send Me,” which reached #1 both R&B and pop charts simultaneously.
Cooke was one of the first major Black artists to sign with RCA Records and was eventually unhappy with both his contract and label’s conditions. To maintain creative control of his recordings and also serve as a civil rights activist through music.
Even after his untimely demise in a Los Angeles motel in 1964, thousands came out in his honor when he was laid to rest. Two singles and an album were issued within one month after his demise, including his classic protest song “A Change Is Gonna Come,” now considered an anthem of civil rights movements worldwide.
Sam Cooke didn’t release many albums, yet still was able to build up an enthusiastic following with his singles. Many of these songs, including “Shake,” reached the top ten on both pop and R&B charts; its intricate instrumentation allowed each member of Cooke’s orchestra a momentary spotlight, featuring horns and strings in concert with Cooke’s vocals to produce an authentic sound reminiscent of what baby boomers and college students loved so much about him; indeed it even appeared in National Lampoon’s Animal House as one such song was included among its many fans!
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield stands as one of the greatest soul singers ever. His deep grooves helped form the basis for funk and disco music, while his songs often contained powerful messages of love, unity, and justice that continue to resonate decades later with audiences worldwide. His influence on popular culture remains undiminished; his songs can still be found everywhere from hip-hop productions to folk songs today.
Mayfield began his musical career at 16 with The Impressions as a backup singer. Soon thereafter he went on to compose and produce some of their hits like “For Your Precious Love” and “Pusherman”. Mayfield’s innovative use of syncopated rhythms revolutionized music at that time; his groundbreaking style of syncopated rhythms eventually helped shape 1970s funk and disco music styles like disco.
Mayfield was not only an accomplished musician; he was also an influential social activist and civil rights leader. Through his songs, Mayfield spread messages of hope in times of oppression while encouraging young blacks to fight for their freedom. His songs gave courage to those battling for human rights as he pioneered black pride movements.
After departing The Impressions in the late ’60s, Mayfield established Curtom Records and started producing movie soundtracks and working with artists such as Gladys Knight & the Pips (“Claudine” and “Short Eyes”), Leroy Hutson (“Them There People”) and Mavis Staples.
At the end of his life, Mayfield’s health started to deteriorate rapidly, eventually leading to his untimely passing on December 26, 1999. Though sudden and tragic, his legacy will live on in his music. Producers and musicians still sample Mayfield’s tunes regularly while classic soul fans worldwide still play his songs regularly on their playlists. Mayfield will always remain part of soul music history – his songs continue to inspire and influence generations of fans around the globe. His voice will live on forever while inspiring generations more soul music fans.
Sly and the Family Stone
Sly and the Family Stone earned their place on Soul Music Top 100 list with their righteous blend of funk, gospel and psychedelic rock which inspired a generation of young rebels. Influential artists included Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock George Clinton’s P-Funk as well as Michael Jackson, Isley Brothers OutKast etc. Their interracial lineup and integration set them apart from any other group at that time.
Sly Stone founded his San Francisco-based rock group The Family Stone in 1967 under his guidance, recruiting his brother Freddie as their guitarist and teaching himself electric organ. Larry Graham served as bass guitarist. Drummer Greg Errico and saxophonist Jerry Martini completed the lineup. It became one of rock music’s earliest hitmaking mixed race/gender bands.
After experiencing limited success with their 1967 debut LP A Whole New Thing, Family Stone saw great success with 1968’s Dance to the Music, which yielded one of their three RIAA gold Billboard #1 Pop/#1 R&B hits: “Everyday People”. In addition, their exuberant Woodstock performance that summer is widely recognized as one of its pinnacles.
Family Stone were hugely successful, yet unable to keep up with demand for their records. After releasing Greatest Hits in 1970 and 1972’s There’s a Riot Goin’ On which is widely considered their finest work to date.
By 1974, Sly and the Family Stone’s success began to decline as its members went their separate ways; most notably Freddie joining Graham Central Station and Sly experimenting with solo recordings. 1975’s Small Talk album and two single releases (“Time for Livin'” (#10 R&B, #32 Pop) as well as an acoustic ballad “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” (#22 R&B/#32 Pop) signalled this departure of Sly and his group’s existence.
While the Family Stone’s seven-year run of hits may have come to an end, their groundbreaking mix of musical styles helped usher in a new era of rock and roll. Their groundbreaking combination of R&B, Gospel Blues Jazz created modern Soul that continues to influence musicians today.