80s Funk and Soul Music

The 80s were a great time for music. Funk and soul were two of the most popular genres. Here you can find articles about some of the best 80s funk and soul artists.

The Birth of Funk and Soul

Funk and soul music emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with artists like James Brown and Sly and the Family Stone. This new type of music was a departure from the traditional sound of soul music, which was smooth and polished. Funk and soul was raw and gritty, with a heavy emphasis on the groove.

Funk

In the 1960s, a new style of music called funk began to develop. Funk is a style of music that is based on a strong rhythmic groove. This groove is usually created by a bass guitar and drums. The funk sound often includes “riffs” played by horns and electric guitars. Funk also often includes musical elements from African American “gospel” music.

Funk began to develop in the early 1970s. The first funk bands were led by James Brown and Sly and the Family Stone. Brown’s band was called the James Brown Band, or sometimes just the J.B.’s. The J.B.’s featured some of the most talented musicians in funk, including Bootsy Collins on bass and Fred Wesley on trombone.

The most important thing about James Brown’s music was the rhythm. His drummer, Clyde Stubblefield, created a style of drumming that became THE funk rhythm. This drumming style is based on the “boom-chick” sound of the hi-hat cymbal and snare drum played together. This sound is sometimes called the “pocket.” The pocket is THE essential element of funk drumming, and it can be heard in almost all funk songs.

Soul

The late 1950s saw the birth of soul music, which was a combination of gospel, rhythm and blues, and pop. The genre was pioneered by artists such as Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, and James Brown.

Funk is a subgenre of soul that was created in the 1960s. It is characterized by a groove-oriented sound and a heavy use of bass and drums. Funk songs are often based on a simple chord progression and contain elements of jazz, R&B, and African music. Some well-known funk artists include Parliament-Funkadelic, Sly and the Family Stone, and Prince.

Soul and funk were extremely popular in the 1970s and 1980s, with artists such as Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston, Madonna, and Prince achieving massive success. The popularity of these genres has continued in the present day, with artists such as Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, and Janelle Monae carrying on the tradition.

The Evolution of Funk and Soul

Funk and soul music emerged in the late 1960s as a result of the melding of R&B and soul with psychedelic rock and funk. The style is characterized by its heavy beats and often sexually suggestive lyrics. The genre enjoyed its greatest popularity in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Funk

In the 1960s and early 1970s, funk music evolved from the rhythm and blues and soul genres. Funk is a style of music that is characterized by a groove, or repeated pattern that is played on drums and bass. The word “funk” can be traced back to the Latin word “funiculus”, which means “smelly Cord”. The term was first used in American popular music in the 1930s.

Funk music has a unique sound that is created by using different instruments and techniques. Funk songs often have a slow, groove-based rhythm that is played on drums and bass. The lead instruments in funk songs are usually horns or keyboards. Funk songs often have a call-and-response section between the lead singer and the other instruments.

Funk music was popularized by James Brown, who is often called the “Godfather of Soul”. Other notable funk artists include Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament-Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins, and George Clinton. Funk music experienced a resurgence in popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s with artists such as Outkast, Missy Elliott, and Justin Timberlake.

Soul

The term “soul” first came into popular music usage in the late 1950s/early 1960s, when it was used to describe a style that blended African-American gospel music with R&B. The style was pioneered by artists like Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, and reached its commercial peak in the 1960s with Motown Records, which featured artists like Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder. In the 1970s, soul music underwent a number of changes, pushing into new territory with artists like Curtis Mayfield, Al Green, and Marvin Gaye. The 1980s saw the rise of funk and disco-influenced soul music, led by artists like Prince, Aretha Franklin, and Michael Jackson.

The End of Funk and Soul

The 80s were a time of change for funk and soul music. With the rise of disco, many funk and soul artists found themselves out of work. The genre began to decline in popularity, and many artists left the music industry altogether. As a result, the 80s were a tough time for funk and soul music.

Funk

Funk is a style of danceable, rhythm and blues-based music that originated in the mid-1960s. Funk songs are often based on a strong but complex groove with elements of syncopation, melodic embellishment, and counterpoint. The style is often characterized by extended vamps, dynamic contrast between sections, and the use of electronic instruments.

The term “funk” was first used to describe this type of music in 1967 by writer and producer Alan Winters. He used it to describe James Brown’s single “Cold Sweat”, which was released that year. The term was later popularized by writer and producer George Clinton, who used it to describe the music of Parliament-Funkadelic, a group he led.

Clinton has been credited with creating the “funk” sound, which is a fusion of black musical styles including soul, rhythm and blues, and gospel. Funk songs typically have a strong groove that is accentuated by basslines, drums, and horns. The lyrics are often sexually suggestive or humorous.

Funk became popular in the 1970s with bands like Parliament-Funkadelic and Earth, Wind & Fire. The genre declined in popularity in the 1980s, but experienced a revival in the 1990s with artists like George Clinton, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Prince.

Soul

The term “soul” originates from the African-American experience in the United States. It emerged as a musical genre in the 1950s, featuring singers and musicians who combined elements of gospel, rhythm and blues, and jazz. The soul sound was characterized by a call-and-response style of singing, horns, and a strong backbeat.

The early 1960s saw the rise of artists like James Brown and Otis Redding, who helped to define the soul sound. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Curtis Mayfield took soul music in new directions with their innovative lyrics and melodies. By the mid-1970s, soul music had lost some of its commercial appeal, but artists like Aretha Franklin continued to produce hits in the genre.

In the 1980s, soul music experienced a resurgence with the advent of “new jack swing” bands like Guy and Bell Biv DeVoe. These groups updated the sound of soul for a new generation of listeners. In recent years, soul music has once again begun to gain popularity thanks to contemporary artists like D’Angelo and Erykah Badu.