Soul
Also known as Rhythm and blues
A broad but well-documented Black American popular-music tradition that grew from R&B and gospel in the 1960s, with multiple regional and label-centered styles.
Origins and context
The genre emerged from African American rhythm-and-blues and gospel traditions in the 1960s, especially in urban recording scenes and Southern soul centers.
How to listen
Start here
- Start with Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' for soul's eloquence and restraint.
- Then hear Aretha Franklin's 'Respect' for the genre's power, command, and public-facing confidence.
Mood
- Urgent
- Tender
- Bold
- Church-inflected
Best for
- Vocal intensity
- Classic 1960s American popular music
- Gospel-rooted phrasing and feel
History
Soul emerged in the United States in the 1960s out of rhythm and blues, gospel, blues, and jazz. The Library of Congress notes that in the 1960s a rhythm-and-blues style known as soul emerged with a stronger gospel vocal influence, while AllMusic places its rise in the urbanization and commercialization of R&B, with regional centers shaping different approaches from Motown’s smoother sound to the grittier Southern styles. (loc.gov) Because the term grew from a living Black musical culture rather than a single scene or manifesto, soul was never just one sound. It spread through labels, cities, and performance traditions, and artists such as Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, and Aretha Franklin helped make its emotional directness unmistakable to wide audiences. In the process, soul also became a major cultural language of the era, especially as music and public life in the 1960s were being reshaped by civil rights संघर्ष and new ideas about Black identity and expression. (loc.gov)
Notable artists
- RCRay Charles
- SCSam Cooke
- JBJames Brown
- AFAretha Franklin
Essential listening
- 1
- 2
Respect
Aretha Franklin
Explore connected genres
Sources and further reading
- Rhythm and Blues
- Soul Music Genre Overview
- Spotify
Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' is a documented soul recording available on Spotify.
- allmusic.com
Aretha Franklin's 'Respect' is documented by AllMusic as a soul recording.
- With Respect: Remembering Aretha Franklin