The Best of Southern Soul Music

Looking for the best in Southern Soul music? Look no further than The Best of Southern Soul Music. This blog features the latest and greatest in Southern Soul tunes, so you can stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest in the genre.

The Origins of Southern Soul Music

Southern Soul music is a genre of American music that evolved out of the music of the Southern United States. The genre developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s and is a blend of African-American soul music, gospel music, and rhythm and blues.

The Birthplace of Southern Soul Music

Southern soul music is a genre of music that began in the American South in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It combines elements of rhythm and blues, gospel, and country music. Southern soul is often characterized by a deep, rhythmic groove, call-and-response vocals, and lyrics about love, loss, and the hardships of life.

The genre got its start in the small clubs and juke joints of the American South. It was here that singers like James Brown, Otis Redding, and Wilson Pickett honed their craft. These artists would go on to have massive success in the 1960s with hits like “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay.”

Southern soul music continued to be popular in the 1970s and 1980s with artists like Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge, and Aretha Franklin. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Southern soul music with bands like The Alabama Shakes and Vintage Trouble gaining popularity.

The Influence of Gospel on Southern Soul Music

The Origins of Southern Soul Music – (The Best of Southern Soul Music)

The origins of Southern Soul music can be traced back to the early 1930s when a new style of religious music called “gospel” began to take hold in the southern United States. Gospel music was a form of Christian music that was designed to appeal to a wider range of listeners than traditional hymns and spirituals. It featured elements of both blues and jazz, and its popularity soon spread beyond the churches and into the homes of ordinary people.

As gospel music became more popular, it began to influence other genres of music, including the nascent genre of “soul” music. Soul music is a genre that combines aspects of gospel, R&B, and pop music. It arose in the 1950s and 1960s, and it quickly became one of the most popular genres of music in the United States. Many famous soul musicians got their start singing in church choirs, and they often used gospel-style melodies and harmonies in their songs.

The influence of gospel on soul music is evident in many classic songs from the genre. For example, Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” (1964) borrows its opening melody from a gospel song called “Keep Movin’ On” (1951).Aretha Franklin’s “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” (1967) is based on a gospel song called “Never Grow Old” (1939), while her signature hit “Respect” (1967) takes its main hook from Otis Redding’s 1967 soul song “Respect.” Finally, Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You” (1992) is based on a gospel song called “Jesus Loves Me” (1779).

These are just some examples of how gospel has influenced Southern Soul music over the years. If you’re a fan of this genre, be sure to check out some of these classic songs to see how they were inspired by gospel!

The Pioneers of Southern Soul Music

Southern soul music is a subgenre of soul music that emerged from the Southern United States. The genre developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s and is often characterized by a blend of elements from gospel music, blues, and country music. Southern soul music is a unique blend of music that has influenced many other genres.

James Carr

James Carr was born in 1942 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He was a soul singer best known for his hits “The Dark End of the Street” and “Love Attack”. His voice was described as “honeyed yet tortured”. Carr started singing gospel music in his church choir but he was soon drawn to secular music. In the early 1960s, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he recorded for Goldwax Records. His first hit, “The Dark End of the Street”, was written by Dan Penn and Chips Moman and peaked at number seven on the R&B chart in 1967. Carr continued to record for Goldwax until the early 1970s. He then signed with Atlantic Records and released his only album for the label, A Man Needs a Woman, in 1974. The album failed to find an audience and Carr returned to Goldwax a few years later. In the late 1970s, he had a comeback with the single “Love Attack”, which reached number one on the R&B chart and number sixty-five on the Billboard Hot 100. Carr continued to record and perform until his death from cancer in 2001.

O.V. Wright

O.V. Wright (born Overton Vertis Wright, September 27, 1939 – November 16, 1980) was an American singer of gospel and soul music. Arguably the finest of a generation of Memphis soul singers who rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s, Wright is notable for his distinctive deep voice and the clarity of his diction.

Wright was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He began singing gospel music as a child, and by his teens had become a soloist in the choir of Holy Land Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1956 he began singing with the Song Fellows Quartet; when they disbanded the following year he joined the Sunset Quartet. In 1959 he made his first recordings as a solo artist, for Bobbin Records; “That’s How Strong My Love Is” and “Having a Party” were local hits.

Percy Sledge

Percy Sledge will always be remembered as one of the pioneers of Southern soul music. His signature song, “When a Man Loves a Woman,” was released in 1966 and immediately shot to the top of the charts, where it remained for over a month. It was followed by a string of other hits, including “Cover Me” and “Warm and Tender Love.”

Sledge’s career spanned five decades, during which time he released 23 albums and toured extensively. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, and his work continues to be celebrated by fans around the world.

The Golden Age of Southern Soul Music

The 1960s and 1970s were the golden age of Southern soul music. This was a time when the genre was just beginning to find its feet, and the results were nothing short of spectacular. The best of Southern soul music is a reflection of the hard work and dedication that went into creating it.

The 70s

The 1970s were the golden age of Southern soul music. The decade saw the rise of artists like Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and Al Green, who helped to define the sound of soul music. The 70s also saw the release of some of the most iconic soul albums of all time, including Gaye’s What’s Going On and Franklin’s I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You. Southern soul music reached its height in the 70s, and the decade is fondly remembered by fans of the genre.

The 80s

The 80s is the golden age of Southern Soul Music. The music was a blend of R&B, Gospel, and Blues, with a focus on the emotions and experiences of working-class African Americans in the South. The sound was raw and honest, with soulful vocals and driving rhythms. Southern Soul music reached its peak in popularity in the late 80s and early 90s, before fading from the mainstream. However, the genre has continued to be popular among fans of soul music, and many of the biggest names in Southern Soul are still making music today.

Some of the most popular Southern Soul artists of the 80s include:

-Otis Redding
-Wilson Pickett
-Aretha Franklin
-Sam Cooke
-Percy Sledge
-Johnnie Taylor
-Ray Charles
-Isaac Hayes

The 90s

The 1990s saw the continued rise of Southern soul music, with a number of artists achieving mainstream success. The genre was spurred on by the popularity of Atlanta-based record label LaFace Records, which was founded in 1989 by producers L.A. Reid and Babyface. LaFace would go on to sign a number of hugely successful Southern soul artists, including Toni Braxton, Outkast, TLC, and Usher.

Other notable Southern soul artists of the 1990s include R&B singer Mary J. Blige, whose 1992 debut album What’s the 411? established her as one of the leading voices of the genre; Houston-based rapper Uncle Luke, whose X-rated lyrics helped bring the subgenre of Miami bass to prominence; and New Orleans group The Hot Boys, who helped put Southern rap on the map with their 1999 album Guerrilla Warfare.

The Legacy of Southern Soul Music

Southern soul music is a genre that has its roots in the southern United States. The genre is a mix of African-American musical styles such as gospel, soul, and rhythm and blues. Southern soul music has been around for decades and has produced some of the most iconic artists in American history.

The Impact of Southern Soul Music on Today’s Music

Southern soul is a type of soul music that emerged from the Southern United States. The music evolved from a combination of African-American spirituals, gospel music, blues, and rhythm and blues.

The term “soul” refers to the emotional quality of the music and the ability of the music to evoke feeling in the listener. Southern soul is often characterized by its laid-back, easy-going sound and its focus on themes of love, relationships, and heartbreak.

Southern soul has had a significant impact on the development of other genres of music, including rock and roll, rhythm and blues, disco, and hip hop. Southern soul artists such as Ray Charles, Otis Redding, James Brown, and Ike Turner helped to define the sound of these genres and set the stage for subsequent generations of musicians.

Today, southern soul continues to be a popular genre of music, with many modern artists incorporating elements of southern soul into their music. Artists such as Bruno Mars, Adele, Justin Timberlake, and Beyonce have all cited southern soul as an influence on their work.