Soul Music: An Overview
Soul music, a popular genre that emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s, has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. It gained popularity for dancing and listening, with prominent record labels such as Motown, Atlantic, and Stax shaping its development during the civil rights movement. Soul music also spread internationally, influencing rock and African music. A resurgence in the mid-to-late 1990s led to the neo soul subgenre, which blended modern production elements with hip hop influences.
Soul music is characterized by its strong emphasis on gospel and R&B influences, with catchy rhythms, extemporaneous body movements, and a call-and-response vocal style. It often reflects African-American identity and emphasizes the importance of their culture. In the 1960s, soul music dominated U.S. R&B charts, and influential artists like Ray Charles, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Motown acts gained widespread popularity. The genre later fragmented into subgenres such as funk and slicker, more sophisticated variations. In the 1970s and beyond, neo soul emerged, influenced by electro music and contemporary R&B.
Notable Labels and Artists
Berry Gordy's Motown Records stands out as a successful and influential African-American-owned label, known for its "production-line" approach and hitmakers like the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder. Stax Records and Atlantic Records also produced high-quality dance records featuring renowned singers like Otis Redding and Ray Charles.
Subgenres of Soul
Detroit soul, influenced by Motown, is characterized by strong rhythm, gospel influences, hand clapping, and the "Motown sound." Deep and southern soul combine the energy of R&B with pulsating gospel sounds. Memphis soul features shimmering, sultry horns, Hammond organs, and a focus on the low end. New Orleans soul emerged from the rhythm and blues era, with a distinctive sound influenced by Allen Toussaint. Chicago soul has a light gospel-style sound, while Philadelphia soul is known for its lush string and horn arrangements and doo-wop-inspired vocals.
Progressive soul musicians of the 1970s, including Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, experimented with conceptual album-oriented approaches and sophisticated lyricism. Psychedelic soul blended psychedelic rock with soul music, paving the way for funk. British soul, though not as popular as American soul, influenced bands like the Beatles. Neo soul emerged in the 1990s as a blend of 1970s soul style with contemporary R&B and hip hop influences. Northern soul, a British subgenre, is characterized by its heavy beat and fast tempo.