Soul Gospel Music Playlist: The Best of the Best

This is a collection of the best Soul Gospel music out there. If you’re looking for something new to add to your playlist, look no further!

Introduction

Welcome to our ultimate soul gospel music playlist. This is a collection of what we believe to be the best songs in the genre, so it’s perfect for both diehard fans and newcomers alike.

We’ve included a mix of both classic and contemporary tracks, from legendary artists like Mahalia Jackson and Mavis Staples to modern-day icons like Kirk Franklin and Tasha Cobbs Leonard. So whether you’re in the mood for some old-school gospel or something a little more current, we’ve got you covered.

We hope you enjoy this playlist!

What is Soul Gospel Music?

Soul gospel music is a genre that combines elements of both soul music and gospel music. It is a popular choice for many gospel choirs because it allows them to use both their spiritual and musical skills to create a unique and powerful sound.

Soul gospel music has its roots in the black church, where traditional gospel music was mixed with the soulful sounds of R&B and funk. This new style of music quickly gained popularity, and by the 1970s, soul gospel groups were recording hits that crossed over into the mainstream pop charts.

Today, soul gospel music is as popular as ever, and continues to evolve as new artists add their own spin to the genre. If you’re looking for some great soul gospel tunes, check out our playlist below.

The Best of the Best

This playlist is dedicated to the best soul gospel music. From the old school legends to the new school up-and-comers, this playlist has it all. So sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the best soul gospel music out there.

James Cleveland

James Cleveland (December 5, 1931 – February 9, 1991) was an American gospel singer, musician, and music arranger, dubbed “The King of Gospel Music” and “Father of Black Gospel Music.” He organized some of the first nationally known integrated gospel choirs in the 1950s.

Cleveland was born in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were Thomas and Letha Cleveland. In 1948, at the age of sixteen, he started the first gospel choir at Antioch Baptist Church in Beaumont, Texas. The following year he returned to Chicago, where he became music director of Ebenezer Baptist Church. There he trained the junior choir, which he took on concert tours across the United States. The group recorded several albums for Savoy Records.

In 1953 he moved to New York City and two years later joined forces with Reverend Claude Jeter and The Swan Silvertones to form The Soul Stirrers. The group recorded for several labels including Chicago’s Vee-Jay Records and Cleveland’s own Song Bird label before settling with Specialty Records in 1955. They toured widely and appeared on shows such as Soul Train. In 1960 their hit “Oh My Lord” reached number one on Billboard’s Hot R&B Sides chart; it was their only pop chart hit.

Cleveland left The Soul Stirrers in 1961 due to disagreements with Jeter over finances as well as creative differences; he wanted to move in a more denominationally acceptable direction while Jeter wanted to keep the group firmly rooted in the classic quartet tradition. He then formed his own group, James Cleveland and the Angelic Choir, which recorded for Savoy Records throughout most of the 1960s. By 1967 he had moved to Los Angeles where he served as Minister of Music at West Angeles Church Of God In Christ under Bishop Charles E. Blake; during this time his choir won two Grammy Awards: Best Sacred Performance (Album) for Peace Be Still in 1968 and Best Sacred Performance (Single) for “Jesus is All” in 1969.

Cleveland remained active as a musician and recording artist until his death from cancer in 1991; among his final recordings were two duets with Whitney Houston which appeared on her 1987 album Whitney. His work has been cited as an influence by artists such as Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, critics such as Jon Landau have praised his unique blend of religious feeling and secular stylings which helped paved the way for contemporary Christian music; AllMusic describes him as “one of the most influential figures in modern gospel music.” In 2002 Cleveland was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame; posthumously he received Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2005 and 2007.

The Fairfield Four

Any discussion of the best gospel groups of all time would be incomplete without the Fairfield Four. The venerable quartet, which formed in the early 1920s, influenced not only future generations of gospel singers but also popular music as a whole.

The Fairfield Four’s sound was characterized by complex harmonies and a powerful lead singer in the mold of James Cleveland. The group had a string of hits in the 1950s and 1960s, including “I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray,” “Lonesome Valley,” and “The Rock.” In recent years, the Fairfield Four has been featured on albums by Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, and Steve Earle.

The Swan Silvertones

The Swan Silvertones, was an American gospel music group, considered one of the best of the best in soul gospel music. The Swan Silvertones were originally formed in 1938 as a gospel quartet in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The original members were Clayton “Dick” Burnett, Lucius Bourgeois, Eugene Mumford, and Arthur Lee Riley. The group’s first recordings were made for the Chicago-based Mercury label in the early 1940s. In the 1950s, the group changed its name to The Silvertones and began recording for the Philadelphia-based Apollo label. The group achieved its greatest popularity in the 1960s with a series of hit records for Vee-Jay Records. The Swan Silvertones disbanded in 1968, but have been revived several times since then and continue to perform and record.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our Soul Gospel Music Playlist: The Best of the Best. This playlist is perfect for any occasion, whether you’re looking to get pumped up for Sunday service, or just seeking some soulful inspiration. There are so many fantastic artists and songs out there, and we encourage you to explore and find your own favorites. Thanks for listening!