Soul Music: Where Do Its Parent Genres Come From?
Contents
A look at the origins of soul music and its parent genres, including gospel, R&B, and funk.
The Origins of Soul Music
Soul music is a genre that is rooted in both the African American experience and the music of the African diaspora. The term “soul” can be traced back to the African concept of Ubuntu, which is the belief that all humans are interconnected. This Ubuntu philosophy is reflected in the way that soul music is created, with artists drawing from their personal experiences to create something that is universally relatable.
Gospel music
Gospel music is a religious genre that dates back to the 18th century. It is typically characterized by its use of harmonies, Kiswana Browne notes in the African American Music Encyclopedia. Negro spirituals, which were originally sung by slaves in the United States, are one of the most well-known subgenres of gospel music. Gospel music became more popular in the 20th century, with artists such as Mahalia Jackson and James Cleveland helping to propel it into the mainstream.
Today, gospel music is still very popular among African Americans. It has also influenced other genres of music, such as soul and R&B.
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated as R&B or RnB, is a genre of popular African-American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed towards racially diverse audiences. At the time, most Rhythm and Blues music was performed by African-American artists such as Louis Jordan, Cab Calloway, and Benny Goodman. In the 1950s, Rhythm and Blues evolved into a new style of music called Rock and Roll. Rock and Roll was a combination of Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, and Country music. Many of the original architects of Rock and Roll were African-American, including Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Bo Diddley, and Little Richard.
The Development of Soul Music
Soul music is a genre that emerged in the United States in the 1950s. It is a combination of African-American gospel music, rhythm and blues, and jazz. Soul music became popular in the 1960s with artists such as James Brown, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, and Marvin Gaye.
The influence of Motown
Motown played a crucial role in the development of soul music, which began to take shape in the early 1960s. Motown’s signature sound was a blend of black gospel, R&B, and pop. The genre appealed to both black and white audiences, and Motown’s artists enjoyed crossover success on the pop charts.
The term “soul” was originally coined in the 1950s to describe African American popular music that combined elements of gospel and R&B. By the early 1960s, soul music had emerged as a distinct genre with its own style and sound. Motown was at the forefront of this new sound, and its artists helped to define and popularize soul music.
Motown’s founders, Berry Gordy Jr. and Smokey Robinson, were both influenced by gospel music. Gordy was also inspired by the pop sounds of performers like Frank Sinatra and Dee Dee Sharp. These various influences came together to create Motown’s signature sound: a unique blend of black gospel, R&B, and pop that appealed to both black and white audiences.
Motown’s artists enjoyed crossover success on the pop charts, thanks in part to the label’s slick production values and radio-friendly songs. The Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles were all huge stars on both the R&B and pop charts. In addition to their commercial success, Motown’s artists also helped to shape the sound and style of soul music.
The influence of Stax Records
In the early 1960s, Stax Records in Memphis was at the forefront of a new sound in soul music, one that would come to be known as the “Memphis sound.” The label’s house band, Booker T. & the MGs, were one of the first groups to achieve national success with this new style, which blended elements of gospel, R&B, and rock and roll.
While other labels had dabbled in this style before, Stax was the first to really perfect it. The label’s artists were able to take the sound in different directions, creating soul subgenres like funk and disco. Stax’s success helped to launch the career of many famous soul artists, including Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, and the Staple Singers.
The Legacy of Soul Music
Soul music is a genre that emerged from the African American community in the mid-1960s. It combines elements of rhythm and blues, gospel, and jazz. Soul music became popular in the mainstream in the 1970s with artists like Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder. The genre has influenced other genres like disco, funk, hip hop, and pop.
The influence of soul music on other genres
While soul music is commonly thought of as a distinctly African American genre, its roots are actually in a mix of different genres, including gospel, R&B, and blues. Soul music was developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and it quickly became one of the most popular genres of the time. Its popularity has only grown in the intervening years, and today, soul music is widely considered to be one of the most influential genres of all time.
Soul music is known for its emotionally charged lyrics and its ability to capture the feeling of pain and struggle that many African Americans experienced during the Civil Rights Movement. Soul music is also known for its use of call-and-response vocals, which was a popular technique in African American religious songs. This technique would later be adopted by other genres, including funk and hip hop.
The influence of soul music can be heard in a wide range of contemporary genres, including R&B, hip hop, pop, and rock. Many artists who have been influenced by soul music have gone on to achieve massive success, including Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Prince, and Beyonce.
The influence of soul music on popular culture
Soul music is a genre that has its roots in African American culture. The genre is a fusion of gospel, rhythm and blues, and jazz. Soul music became popular in the early 1960s, and its popularity has continued to grow in the decades since.
The genre has had a significant impact on popular culture, both in the United States and around the world. Soul music has influenced other genres of music, such as rock, pop, and hip hop. The sound of soul music is often characterized by its use of violins, horns, piano, and bass guitar.
Soul music has also been a significant force in the civil rights movement. Many soul artists used their music to speak out against racism and injustice. The genre continues to be popular today, with new artists emerging all the time.
