The Best Soul Music Artists of 2016

Looking for a little soulful inspiration? Check out our list of the best soul music artists of 2016. From classic legends to modern masters, these artists have it all.

Intro

When it comes to soul music, there are a lot of great artists out there. But, who are the best soul music artists of 2016? Here is a list of the top 10 soul music artists of 2016, in no particular order.

Al Green

Al Green is a legendary soul singer whose unique voice and style have influenced generations of R&B and soul artists. Green’s string of hits in the 1970s, including “Let’s Stay Together” and “Tired of Being Alone,” cemented his place as one of the greatest soul singers of all time. In addition to his musical talents, Green is also a successful businessman and preacher.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye (/ɡeɪ/; born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Gaye helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of hits, including “Ain’t That Peculiar”, “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”, and duet recordings with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Diana Ross and Tammi Terrell, later earning the titles Prince of Motown and Prince of Soul. During the 1970s, he recorded the albums What’s Going On and Let’s Get It On and became one of the first artists in Motown (“The Sound of Young America”) to break away from the reins of a production company. His later recordings influenced several contemporary R&B subgenres, such as quiet storm and neo-soul.

Gaye was born in Washington, D.C., the second child of church minister Marvin Gay Sr. and domestic worker Alberta Gay. As a child he had to deal with his father’s abusive behavior and later saw his parents’ marriage fail. At school he was a shy student but excelled at singing; charged withstage fright by his choir teacher Mae Carden, however, he joined several doo-wop groups during high school. He enlisted in 1959 but his music career began taking off in 1961 when he joined Harvey Fuqua’s Moonglows as NG leader singing lead on several hit singles including “Mama Loocie” (1962) before replacing lead singer Smokey Robinson in 1962 upon Robinson’s retirement from touring due to health issues .

With record sales exceeding million copies worldwide,[1] Gaye was one of the most successful soul artists of his era. At Motown Records he gained creative control over his records which led him towards more personal material such as What’s Going On(1971), an album about drug abuse, poverty and social issues that many critics rank as one of the finest albums ever made.[2][3] His later hits included “Sexual Healing” (1982) which revived his career after years of personal problems.[4] gaye has been ranked number 19 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list 100 Greatest Singersof All Time[5] In 2004 he was posthumously inducted into boththe Rock & Roll HallFame[6]and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.[7][8]

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She is a legendary figure in the world of soul music, and her career has spanned more than five decades. She is best known for hits such as “Respect” (1967), “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” (1967) and “Natural Woman” (1968). She has won 18 Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and she was the first female performer to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Aretha Franklin is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with estimated worldwide sales of more than 75 million records.

Otis Redding

Otis Redding is a singer, songwriter, and record producer who is considered one of the greatest soul artists of all time. He wrote and recorded some of the most popular soul songs of the 1960s, including “Respect,” “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay,” and “Try a Little Tenderness.” Redding’s powerful voice and emotional performances made him one of the most popular soul singers of his era. He died tragically in a plane crash at the age of 26, but his music continues to live on and influence generations of soul musicians.

Sam Cooke

When it comes to soul music, there are few artists who are as legendary as Sam Cooke. Born in 1931, Cooke is often credited as being one of the founders of soul music. His unique blend of gospel, pop, and R&B made him a massive success, both commercially and critically. Cooke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and his influence can still be felt today.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of the best soul music artists of 2016. These artists have brought us some truly amazing music this year and we can’t wait to see what they do next.

Do you agree with our choices? Who would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.