Classic soul first emerged during the 1950s through 1970s during an important era for African American civil rights, when many artists used their music to protest segregation and demand equal treatment with white Americans.
Soul songs often incorporate elements from black gospel traditions, including call-and-response vocals between lead singer and chorus. Furthermore, rhythm and blues harmonies can often be found within them.
R&B
R&B stands for rhythm and blues and is a subgenre of soul music. Although both genres share many similarities, soul music tends to place greater emphasis on vocals than R&B does. R&B draws its influences from African American culture as well as gospel and blues music genres; its lyrics often speak about love or heartache – dating all the way back to 1950.
Soul refers to an influential form of rhythm and blues music which originated among African American communities during the mid-1950s. This genre fused elements from rhythm and blues with gospel sounds from Southern United States churches; sometimes also known as deep soul or southern soul. Stax Records in Memphis Tennessee helped foster this distinctive style and supported artists such as Al Green, Ann Peebles, Otis Clay Syl Johnson Bobby Womack.
By the 1970s, soul had evolved into funk and disco. Yet its core characteristics of direct emotional delivery and black pride continue to influence musicians today.
Neo soul is an emerging contemporary variation of R&B that blends elements from jazz, hip hop and alternative R&B into its sound. This hybrid approach attracts many listeners; some notable artists in this genre include Jill Scott, Erykah Badu and newcomer SZA who use moody sounds and emotive lyrics that convey depression, addiction and heartbreak in its music. They use both electronic and acoustic instruments for an enhanced listener experience and often address current social and political events within the lyrics they produce.
Gospel
Gospel means “good news”; soul music draws its name from this concept. This genre combines rhythm and blues with gospel elements to express emotional truths such as love and pain; its lyrics also reflect African American culture while its distinct sound has inspired other popular musical genres like rap and disco. Soul is best known for its high-quality vocals and profound lyrics.
Soul music features drums and percussion instruments as its foundation, along with brass instruments such as saxophones and trumpets to create its signature sound. Choirs often add full, soulful harmonies while string sections add texture for slower songs. Drums and percussion instruments play an integral part in building rhythm and groove in songs featuring soulful sounds.
Soul singers were often introduced to music through Black churches. Gospel idioms, including call-and-response vocals between lead and chorus singers, can often be found in soul songs like The O’Jays’ “Love Train” and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles’ “Tracks of My Tears”.
Gospel music holds an especially powerful place in soul because it serves as a vehicle to communicate key social messages. Curtis Mayfield’s songs “Keep on Pushing” and “People Get Ready” highlighted issues related to racial injustice and poverty within Black communities.
Soul music enthusiasts have many incredible artists to choose from when it comes to soulful sounds. Classic artists like Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross and Mary J Blige can all be considered soulful acts; newer artists like Lauryn Hill may also fit this description.
Blues
Blues music was instrumental in shaping soul music, and continues to have an effect today. Artists such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross and many more all incorporated blues influences into their music in some form or another; James Brown blended rhythm and blues together with southern gospel sounds while Sly and Family Stone, Delfonics and Marvin Gaye created more R&B sounds known as soul.
The Blues emerged during the second half of the 19th century in African American communities and evolved from earlier musical expressions such as field hollers, shouts, spirituals and work songs. It embodies all the hardships, sadnesses and frustrations experienced after freedom from slavery was achieved.
Early blues melodies often incorporate a 12-bar blues progression that repeats throughout a song, using a pentatonic scale with flatted thirds and sevenths that gives it its distinctive sound and feel. Furthermore, notes may be played differently than traditional musical notation allows so singers or musicians can bend them or slide between them as needed – oftentimes this has emotional or even healing benefits for listeners who hear it!
Blues music adds a rock-n-roll edge to soul music when combined with blues elements. Additionally, its influence was felt on vocal styles by artists like Janis Joplin and Tina Turner who employed girlie pop vocals when covering blues standards; other female soul artists like Diana Ross and the Supremes used blues songs as the foundation for their own unique musical expressions.
Later eras saw blues influence develop into other genres, particularly funk. Social and political ferment of the 1970s inspired soul artists such as Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye to write songs expressing these sentiments in their lyrics – pushing their genre toward earthier funk sounds made popular by bands like Parliament-Funkadelic and The Meters.
Jazz
Jazz music has developed continuously over time. Through improvisational aspects that allow musicians to explore new sounds and styles while remaining true to its roots in Black music. Blues, gospel, R&B and doo wop have all had an influence on its creation; Horace Silver and Eddie Harris are examples of this style of jazz saxophonists who create this type of soul jazz.
Soul jazz’s tempos tend to be relaxed, while melodies often employ pentatonic scales with additional blues notes. A typical soul jazz tune typically has a straightforward song structure such as A-A-B-A song forms or standard 12 bar blues forms and may incorporate shout choruses and post solo interludes; although typically associated with the saxophone, other instruments may also be utilized in its creation.
Sam Cooke’s 1964 hit “Respect” is an iconic soul song. Its lyrics capture human emotions such as pride, vulnerability and yearning for change; at a time when male performers outnumbered female ones heavily, this was also seen as an anthem for gender equality.
After disco and funk took hold in the late 70s and early 80s, contemporary R&B became increasingly popular throughout the 90s. Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey and Mary J Blige began producing a smooth commercial version known as contemporary R&B; other artists created a different type of soul known as quiet storm which featured slow tempos with soft melodies combined with elements of fusion music, adult contemporary, or adult contemporary; artists like Me’Shell NdegeOcello, Maxwell and D’Angelo have released albums featuring this type.
Funk
As the 1960s came to an end and the 1970s began, funk music influenced soul. This added syncopated rhythms and pulsating bass that gave soul its signature danceable sound, taking influence from jazz, R&B, improvisational techniques as well as experimentation from jazz musicians such as jazz-fusion band The Staple Singers who combined traditional southern roots with funk to produce this style which many still identify with soul today.
Soul artists pushed the limits of music, fusing genres such as blues and gospel to inspire other musicians. Additionally, this genre has had a profound effect on other areas of culture as well, from fashion to iconic dance moves such as James Brown’s signature “James Brown Slide.” Soul music often explores human experience through deep lyrics which often reflect its struggles.
Soul music originated with the term “soul food,” and has long been considered a subgenre of R&B music, playing an integral part in African American culture and society. Soul’s roots can be traced to black musicians creating a style blending traditional blues, gospel, and rock and roll in the 1950s – initially covering topics such as love and heartbreak before moving on to tackle issues such as racism and poverty.
Berry Gordy established Motown Records in Detroit, Michigan during the early 1960s. Under Gordy’s direction, Motown artists created numerous pop-soul hits that became beloved classics; one such song being Otis Redding’s timeless “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay.” Though Motown dominated this genre for many years following, other labels and artists still produced soul music well into the late 1970s.