American Roots: Soul

For this first big blog, I wanted to dig deeper into soul music. This is a genre that I grew up listening to a lot. My grandmother was a huge fan of some of the earlier soul musicians, and she passed that on to my mother and me. So while I am familiar with the sounds of soul, I don't know much about where this genre came from. Now I am going to take you with me on the journey to find out about all things soul music. Buckle your seatbelts folks, it's going to be an empowering and uplifting ride.

First things first, a definition. Soul music is an umbrella term. It encompasses rhythm and blues, Motown, smooth jazz, and gospel music. Soul got its start in the US around the 1950s and 60s. Record labels started to actively sign and support black musicians in a heavily segregated business. These were musicians who learned their skills in choirs and other church-based ensembles. They grew up, started to incorporate blues tropes, and secular lyrics. Their music became intertwined with the civil rights movement. 

Geographically, there were 3 major hubs for soul. First, the south. Centered in Memphis, the south was home to Stax Records and Hi Records. These labels recruited Black artists from Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana to craft a unique sound complete with strong horns, organ, and a pummeling rhythm section. Many southern soul artists also recorded at FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound. Two prominent soul artists from this region include Otis Redding and the reverend Al Green. 

Otis Redding was born in Georgia and grew up on southern gospel music in the African American church. He quit school at 15 to support his family, performing at talent shows and even backing Little Richard's band. His first single 'These arms of mine' was recorded in 1962 after an unscheduled appearance at a Stax recording session. He also landed a contract. Shortly before his untimely death, he recorded another top hit '(Sittin On) The Dock of the Bay'. Otis Redding received many posthumous awards, including induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Al Green was born in Arkansas. He is most well known for his singles in the early 1970s, including his signature song 'Let's Stay Together'. After his girlfriend committed suicide, he became an ordained pastor, turning to gospel music for many years. He did return to secular music eventually. The Reverend was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. He currently holds 11 grammy awards and sits on Rolling Stone's Greatest Artists of All Time list at #65. He is on their 100 greatest singers list at #14. Unrelated to his music, I highly encourage you to read about his aforementioned girlfriend. It is quite the story.

Second, there was (and still is) Detroit. Here, Motown Records led a movement that emphasized catchy pop melodies and "slick production". Motown artists include Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, and The Temptations. Motown soul singers crossed the musical line into genres popular with white audiences, such as doo-wop. Perhaps for this reason they enjoyed some of the highest sale numbers of any soul artist. The label eventually relocated to Los Angeles, but Detroit remained a soul capital, with artists to emerge like Jackie Wilson and Aretha Franklin.

Stevie Wonder was born in Michigan. He lost his eyesight completely shortly after his birth. Despite this, he was a musical prodigy. In 1963, the single 'Fingertips' hit #1 on the Billboard Top 100. This made him the youngest artist to achieve this at only 13. Stevie Wonder's albums are each carefully crafted. they feature complex musical compositions and socially conscious statements in his lyrics. Stevie Wonder has been inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Songwriters Hall of Fame. Besides his music, he has been an activist for political causes, including his 1980 campaign to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a federal holiday.

Diana Ross was born right in Detroit. She became famous as the lead for The Supremes, which is one of the top-selling girl groups of all time. In 1970, she departed from the group and began a very successful solo career. Her debut album included the #1 single 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'. In 1988, Diana Ross was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Supremes. Guinness Book of World Records recognized her success in both the US and UK for having more hits than any female artist in the charts, with a career total of 70 hit singles with her work with the Supremes and as a solo artist. She has many other awards, and I encourage you to check her out if you haven't already.

The last of the 3 main hubs is New York. This was the home of Atlantic Records. Although its founders  were white, they actively recruited Black artists who played both jazz and various forms of soul. Some of these artists include Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Percy Sledge, and Solomon Burke. Atlantic eventually became a distributor for Stax Records and helped to release hits like "Hold On, I'm Coming" by Sam and Dave.

Ray Charles was born in Georgia. like Stevie Wonder, he was blind from a young age. He was one of the first black musicians to be granted artistic control by a mainstream record company. In 1960, Charles released 'Georgia on my Mind' which was the first of 3 number one hits. He has many achievements and awards, including 18 Grammys. 5 of those were awarded posthumously. This year, he will be inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.

Percy Sledge was born in Alabama. Before his music career, he worked as a hospital orderly. A former patient introduced him to a producer friend, getting him an audition. A contract followed immediately. His first hit was 'When a Man Loves a Woman' which was released in 1966. This song was inspired by a girlfriend who left him for a modeling career. Sledge was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. 

Characteristics of Soul Music:

Gospel Traditions such as call and response are not uncommon in this genre. Another gospel influence is the emphasis on a backbeat. Soul brings in the harmonics and melodies of the blues. The secular lyrics also have ties to the blues. Most soul music is centered around a very strong singer. There is a lot of room for the vocal talent to embellish and show off. 

It is not uncommon to hear a horn section sound off in this genre. This was less frequent with Motown records, but not uncommon everywhere else. 

The last key factor in soul music is its ties to the civil rights movement. Many of these artists sought to address the social and political climate that surrounded them in their music.

The So-Called Royal Court of Soul Music

These are prominent artists in soul music that have more than earned their colloquial titles. I want to round off my post by highlighting them and encouraging you to look further into them and the other artists I have written about. 

The High Priestess- Nina Simone

Nina was renowned for her ability to captivate the imaginations of listeners through her hypnotic voice. She was impossible to overlook and demanded respect in a way that wasn't expected for a black woman of the time.

The Queen- Aretha Franklin

Aretha had a career spanning multiple generations and multiple genres. She was the first female performer inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The King- Sam Cooke

Sam was one of the most influential early soul artists. He was very important as an activist, refusing to perform at segregated concerts.

The Prince- Marvin Gaye

Marvin led the way with music as a form of protest. He is also responsible for Motown's best-selling record to date.

Sources not linked above:

MasterClass. “Soul Music Guide: History and Sounds of Soul Music - 2022.” MasterClass. MasterClass, June 4, 2021. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/soul-music-guide#6-characteristics-of-soul-music. 

Paese, Meagan. “Soul Music.” The History of Rock and Roll Radio Show. Accessed January 19, 2022. http://www.thehistoryofrockandroll.net/soul-music/.