A roundup of great soul music singers and artists

Hit the road Jack!Ray Charles

Hit the road Jack!

Ray Charles is a legendary artist who cannot be overlooked when talking about soul music.

Despite being blind, he created numerous hits with his unique style that fused elements of blues, gospel, and jazz, and he reigned over the music scene for more than half a century after his debut in the 1950s.

His 1960 classic “Georgia on My Mind” topped the U.

S.

charts and is arguably one of his most widely known songs among many masterpieces.

Awarded 18 Grammys and many other honors during his lifetime, Ray continued to be celebrated after his passing in 2004, even being hailed as “the only true genius in show business.” He is not only the perfect entry point to soul music, but an artist whom everyone who loves music should absolutely listen to.

I Don’t Want To KnowGladys Knight

Gladys Knight – I Don’t Want To Know

Gladys Knight, the great American singer known as the “Empress of Soul,” is a prodigious talent who showed her gifts from an early age, winning an amateur singing contest at just seven years old.

In 1958, at the age of 14, she made her record debut as a member of the Pips, a group formed with her relatives, placing numerous hit songs high on the R&B charts.

She also pursued a solo career, flourishing across a wide range of musical genres.

In 2021, her achievements were further recognized with the prestigious National Medal of Arts.

A shining figure in the history of soul music, she is an artist everyone who loves soul should listen to.

Sweet LoveAnita Baker

Sweet Love

Anita Baker is one of the defining R&B singers of the ’80s.

Hailing from Toledo, Ohio, she forged a distinctive sound shaped by gospel, jazz, and pop influences, and produced a string of hits.

While her full-fledged music career began with her 1983 debut album, The Songstress, it was her second album, Rapture (1986), that sparked her breakthrough.

This classic record, featuring massive hits like “Sweet Love” and “Caught Up in the Rapture,” reached the U.

S.

Top 10 and won two Grammy Awards.

Its refined production and Anita’s sophisticated vocals earned overwhelming support from adult listeners.

She went on to release more essential ’80s tracks, including “Giving You the Best That I Got.” For anyone looking to get into R&B, her work is highly recommended.

I’d Rather Go BlindEtta James

Etta James – I’d Rather Go Blind (Live at Montreux 1975)

Etta James, born on January 25, 1938, in Los Angeles, California, was a towering singer who epitomized soul music.

A prodigy who began vocal lessons at age five, she worked across a wide range of genres including jazz, blues, soul, and pop.

In the early 1950s, she launched her music career by forming the girls’ group the Creolettes.

Her signature song At Last, released in 1961, became a hit that reached No.

2 in the United States.

Absorbing influences from blues, gospel, and more, Etta was renowned for her overwhelming vocal power and expressive depth.

She won four Grammy Awards, received 17 Blues Music Awards, and achieved the rare triple honor of being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Blues Hall of Fame, and the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Etta James passed away on January 20, 2012, at the age of 74, yet she remains beloved and indispensable to any discussion of soul music.

It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s WorldJames Brown

James Brown – It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World

James Brown, known as the “Godfather of Soul,” had an immeasurable impact on 20th-century popular music.

Born in South Carolina, he grew up in poverty while being exposed to gospel music, and made his debut in 1956 with his first single, “Please, Please, Please.” With hits like “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” and “I Got You (I Feel Good),” he quickly became a star, leaving a profound influence not only on soul and funk but on contemporary music as a whole.

A legendary artist whose tumultuous life was even made into a film, James Brown’s music brims with unforgettable shock and excitement from the very first listen.

Being With YouSmokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson – Being With You

Smokey Robinson is a figure who can be called the face of Motown.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, USA, Robinson is known as a legendary R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and record producer.

In the 1960s and 1970s, as the lead singer of the Miracles, he produced numerous hit songs, including “Shop Around,” “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” and “The Tears of a Clown.” As a solo artist, he also found success with songs such as “Being With You” and “Cruisin’.” Smokey Robinson won a Grammy Award in 1987 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the same year.

In 2002, he received the National Medal of Arts.

He is an artist highly recommended for anyone interested in the history of soul music.

Through the FireChaka Khan

Chaka Khan – Through the Fire (Official Music Video) [HD Remaster]

Chaka Khan is a legendary singer who has long led the world of brilliant soul music.

Boasting astonishing vocal power, Chaka began her career in the early 1970s as the vocalist for the funk band Rufus, and quickly drew major attention with the hit Tell Me Something Good, written by Stevie Wonder.

After going solo, she scored a massive hit with I’m Every Woman from her 1978 debut album Chaka, and won a Grammy for the title track of her 1984 album I Feel for You, written by Prince.

With her exceptionally powerful vocals that overwhelm listeners, Chaka continues to captivate fans to this day.