70s Soul Superstars: My Music
If you’re a fan of 70s soul music, then this blog is for you! I’ll be sharing my favorite tracks, albums, and artists from the era.
Introduction
The term “soul” music was coined in the late 1950s by Jerry Wexler, a white journalist working for Billboard magazine. He used it to describe a new style of music that was being created by African American musicians in the south. This new style combined elements of gospel, blues, and jazz. It was a powerful and emotive form of music that quickly became popular with both black and white audiences.
In the early 1970s, a number of African American musicians achieved mainstream success with their soulful sounds. These artists included Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder. They became known as the “superstars” of soul music.
Marvin Gaye was one of the most successful soul artists of the 1970s. His hits included “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Let’s Get It On”. Aretha Franklin was another superstar of the genre. She was known as the “Queen of Soul” thanks to her powerful voice and hits such as “Respect” and “Chain of Fools”. Gladys Knight had a string of successful hits with her group The Pips including “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)”. Stevie Wonder was one of the most successful solo artists of the 1970s Soul era. His hits included “Superstition”, “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”, and “Living for the City”.
These four artists were just some of the performers who helped make soul music one of the most popular genres of the 1970s.
The Temptations
The Temptations are an American vocal group who achieved fame with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group’s repertoire includes psychedelic soul, R&B, baroque pop, and funk music. They were known for their unique choreography,rowdy stage presence, and the distinctive voice of their lead singer, Otis Williams.
The Temptations were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. Five of their singles (“My Girl”, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”, “Get Ready”, “I Can’t Get Next to You”, and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone”) have been listed on Rolling Stone’s “Greatest Songs of All Time” list. In 2010, The Temptations were ranked by Billboard magazine as the 37th most successful artist on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (which includes all musical genres).
The Spinners
The Spinners are an American rhythm and blues vocal group that formed in 1954 in Ferndale, Michigan. They enjoyed a string of hit singles and albums during the 1960s and 1970s, culminating in their 1975 release Pick of the Litter. The group still tours today.
The Spinners were one of the first groups to bring the classic sound of Motown to a wider audience, and they were also one of the first black groups to find success with a primarily white audience. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
The Stylistics
The Stylistics are an American R&B/soul vocal group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 1968. They were created by Harris and Harvey Fuqua of the Motown record label’s Philadelphia International Records, and they have been active for over 50 years. The Stylistics’ hits include “You Make Me Feel Brand New”, “Break Up to Make Up”, and “Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)”.
The group’s name comes from a term used by physiognomists, [1] and was suggested by Harris. The Stylistics combined several contemporary music styles including pop, doo-wop, Philly Soul, and 60s soul. The bulk of their success occurred between 1970 and 1976 when they had twelve consecutive US Billboard Hot 100 chart entries, including three number ones:
“You Make Me Feel Brand New”, “Break Up to Make Up”, and “I’m Stone in Love with You”. They are one of the best-selling vocal groups of all time.[2][3]
Conclusion
The ’70s was a decade of great music, and soul was one of the most popular genres. There were many soul superstars who made great music during this time. This list highlights some of the best soul music of the ’70s.
