- Billy Preston
William Everett Preston was an American soul musician from Houston, Texas, raised mostly in Los Angeles, California. In addition to his successful, Grammy-winning career as a solo artist, Preston collaborated with some of the greatest names in the music industry, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Little Richard, Ray Charles, George Harrison, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Sam Cooke, Sammy Davis Jr., Sly Stone, Aretha Franklin, the Jackson 5, Quincy Jones, … - Donny Hathaway
Donny Hathaway was an American soul musician. - Ray Charles
Ray Charles was the stage name of Ray Charles Robinson, a pioneering American pianist and soul musician who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues. He brought a soulful sound to country music, pop standards, and a rendition of "America the Beautiful" that Ed Bradley of "60 Minutes" called the "definitive version of the song, an American anthem - a classic, … - Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American R&B, Pop and Gospel singer, songwriter, and pianist. She has been called for many years "The Queen Of Soul", but many also call her "Lady Soul," as well as the more affectionate "Sister Ree." She is renowned for her soul recordings but is also adept at jazz, rock, blues, pop, gospel, and even opera. She is generally regarded as one of the greatest vocalists ever, … - Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke (January 22, 1931 - December 11, 1964) was a popular and influential American gospel, R&B, soul, pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Indeed, musicians and critics today recognize him as one of the founders of soul music, and as one of the most important singers in soul music history (Greene, 2006). He has been called "the king of soul" by many, and while some may dispute this title, … - Sly Stone
Sly Stone (born Sylvester Stewart, 15 March 1943, in Denton, Texas) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, most famous for his role as frontman for Sly & the Family Stone, a band which played a critical role in the development of soul, funk and psychedelia in the 1960s and 1970s. Sly & the Family Stone was started in Vallejo, California and eventually had artists from around the San Francisco Bay Area. - Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross, Jr. was an eight-time Grammy Award-winning American R&B and soul singer and songwriter. During his career, Vandross sold over 25 million albums and won eight Grammy awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times. He won four Grammy Awards in 2004 including the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for the track "Dance With My Father", co-written with Richard Marx. - Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris), is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Wonder has recorded more than thirty Top 10 hits, won twenty-two Grammy Awards (a record for a solo artist), plus one for lifetime achievement, won an Academy Award for Best Song and been inducted into both the Rock and Roll and Songwriters halls of fame. - El Debarge
Eldra Patrick DeBarge (born June 4, 1961 in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is an American R&B and soul falsetto singer, the focal point and lead singer of the DeBarge family group throughout the early 1980s. He is currently married to Monique DeBarge but the two are separated. - Barry White
Barry Eugene White (born Barrence Eugene Carter, -) was a Grammy Award winning American record producer, songwriter and singer responsible for the creation of numerous hit soul and disco songs. He released 106 gold and 41 platinum albums, 20 gold singles and ten platinum singles. All inclusive, record sales of White's music with singles, albums, compilation usage and paid digital downloads as a singer, … - Anita Baker
Anita Baker (born January 26, 1958) is a eight-time Grammy Award-winning, multi-Platinum rhythm and blues and soul singer and songwriter, renowned for her soaring alto vocal range. - Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. was an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, record producer and performer who gained international fame as an artist on the Motown label in the 1960s and 1970s. Beginning his career at Motown in 1961, Gaye quickly became Motown's top solo male artist and scored numerous hits during the 1960s, among them "Stubborn Kind of Fellow", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", … - Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield (June 3, 1942 - December 26, 1999) was an American soul, funk and R&B singer, songwriter and guitarist best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions and composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film "Superfly." From these works and others, he was highly regarded as a pioneer of funk and of politically conscious African-American music. He was also a bassist, pianist, saxophonist and drummer. - Luther Ingram
Luther Thomas Ingram (November 30 1937 - March 19 2007) was an R&B soul singer and songwriter. Born in Jackson, Tennessee, his songs appeared in the pop and R & B charts, even though he worked for a small label, Koko Records, owned by his manager and producer, Johnny Baylor. Koko and Baylor were closely associated with the Memphis-based Stax Records label during the height of its commercial success. - Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys (born Alicia J. Augello-Cook on January 25 1980) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer, actress, philanthropist, and author who has won numerous awards, including nine Grammy Awards, eleven Billboard Music Awards, and three American Music Awards. - James Brown
James Joseph Brown (May 3 1933 – December 25 2006), commonly referred to as "The Godfather of Soul" and "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business," was an American entertainer recognized as one of the most influential figures in 20th century popular music. He was renowned for his shouting vocals, feverish dancing and unique rhythmic style. As a prolific singer, songwriter, bandleader, and record producer, … - Isaac Hayes
Isaac Lee Hayes (born August 20, 1942, in Covington, Tennessee) is an American soul and funk singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, arranger, and actor. Hayes is best known as one of the creative forces behind Stax Records, for which he served as both an in-house songwriter/producer and a recording artist. In addition to his work in popular music, Hayes has also written scores for several motion pictures as well. - Diana Ross
Diana Ross (born Diane Ernestine Earle Ross on March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress, whose musical repertoire spans R&B, soul, disco, jazz, and pop. Ross first gained prominence as lead of the successful girl group The Supremes, before establishing a successful solo career in 1970. During the 1970s and 1980s, Ross became one of the most successful female artists of the rock era, also crossing over into film, television and Broadway. - P. P. Arnold
Pat Arnold (born Patrica Ann Cole, on 3 October, 1946, in Los Angeles, California), professionally known as P.P. Arnold, is an American born soul singer who enjoyed considerable success in the United Kingdom in the 1960s and beyond. - Howard Hewett
Howard Hewett (Born October 1, 1955 in Akron, Ohio) is an American R&B and gospel singer and former lead vocalist of the R&B group Shalamar. Raised in Akron, Ohio, Hewett moved to Los Angeles. He would eventually meet "Soul Train" dancer and future first wife Rainey Riley-Cunningham, then a secretary of the show's creator and original host Don Cornelius. It was he who introduced Hewett to fellow "Soul Train" dancers Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel, … - India.Arie
India Arie Simpson (born October 3 1975), professionally known as India.Arie, is a two-time Grammy Award-winning American soul, R&B, and neo soul singer, songwriter, record producer, guitarist, and flautist. - Ike Turner
Izear Luster Turner (born November 5, 1931) is an African American musician (piano, guitar), bandleader, talent scout and record producer, best known for his work with his former wife Tina Turner. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2001 was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame. - Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige (born January 11, 1971), is an American R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, rapper, producer, and actress who has sold over 60 million records around the world since her career began in 1991. In that span she has had thirty-one charting hits on the U.S. pop charts. She has had forty hits on the R&B charts, seventeen of which were in the top ten and six which reached number one. She also has nine singles to reach number one on the dance charts, … - King Curtis
Curtis Ousley, who performed under the name King Curtis, was an American tenor, alto, and soprano saxophonist who played rhythm and blues, soul, rock, and soul jazz. Curtis was born in Fort Worth, Texas. During the 1950s and early to mid 1960s he both worked as a session player on such records as Yakety Yak and recorded his own singles. His best known singles from this period are "Soul Twist" (Enjoy) and "Soul Serenade" (Capitol). - Toni Braxton
Toni Michelle Braxton (born October 7, 1967 in Severn, Maryland) is a six-time Grammy Award-winning American R&B singer, songwriter, and actress who was popular during the 1990s. She is famous for her husky alto vocal timbre. The RIAA named Braxton as one of the top selling artists of all time. - Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu (born Erica Abi Wright on February 26, 1971 in Dallas, Texas) is an American R&B, soul, neo soul, and hip hop singer and songwriter whose work crosses over into jazz. She is best known for the single "You Got Me", her collaboration with The Roots, as well as her own songs "Tyrone", "Next Lifetime", "On & On", "Bag Lady", and "Cleva". Influenced early on by singers such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Chaka Khan (her all-time favorite artist), … - Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. (born June 20, 1949) is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and soul singer, Academy Award-winning songwriter, record producer, and occasional actor. - Anthony Hamilton
Anthony Hamilton (born January 28, 1971 in Charlotte, North Carolina) is an American R&B, soul, and neo soul singer, songwriter, and record producer who rose to fame with his Platinum-selling second studio album "Comin' from Where I'm From" (2003), which featured the singles "Comin' from Where I'm From" and "Charlene". Hamilton first discovered his talent while singing in his church choir at age ten. In 1993, he left Charlotte and headed to New York City, … - John Legend
John Legend (born John Stephens, 28 December 1978, Springfield, Ohio) is a five-time Grammy Award winning R&B singer, songwriter, and pianist. His debut studio album, the platinum-selling "Get Lifted", was released in late 2004, and features collaborations with rap artist and producer Kanye West as well as rapper Snoop Dogg. "Get Lifted" produced two singles: "Used to Love U" (U.S. top 100, … - Angie Stone
Angela Laverne Brown (born January 30 1961), best known by her stage name Angie Stone, is a Grammy Award-nominated American R&B and neo soul singer, songwriter, keyboardist, record producer, and actress. Stone's music possesses a clear old school soul music influence, and her singing vocals recall those of Aretha Franklin. - Bootsy Collins
William "Bootsy" Collins (born October 26, 1951 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is a funk bassist, singer, and songwriter. - Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett was an American R&B/Rock and Roll and soul singer. Known for his raw, raspy, passionate vocal delivery, he recorded some of the most incendiary soul music of the twentieth century. A major figure in the development of Southern soul music, his recordings between 1963 and 1973 left behind a legacy of some of the deepest, funkiest soul music ever to emerge from the South. - Eric West
Eric West (born Eric Rosa on May 18, 1982 in New York City, New York USA) is a R&B/pop singer, actor, and former male fashion model. In 1996, he made his film debut; in 2004, West hit the international model scene, while two more movies followed. West has appeared on "CNN People In The News", MTV, and "The Oprah Winfrey Show". Scouted by New Faces in America, he has also attempted a modelling career in Europe. - Tammi Terrell
Tammi Terrell (born Thomasina Winifred Montgomery was an American soul singer, most notable for her association with Motown and her duets with Marvin Gaye. As a teenager she recorded for the Scepter/Wand, Try Me and Checker record labels. She signed with Motown in 1965 and enjoyed modest success as a solo singer. Once she was paired with Gaye in 1967, her star rose, but in the fall of that year she collapsed on stage into Gaye's arms during a performance. - Donna Summer
Donna Summer (born LaDonna Adrian Gaines, on December 31, 1948) is a legendary American singer, songwriter, and artist, best known for a string of dance hits in the 1970s that earned her the title "Queen of Disco" and as one of the few disco-based artists to have longevity on the charts into the late-1980s. Though she's notable for her disco hits, Summer's repertoire has expanded to include R&B, soul, funk, rock, pop and gospel. - Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin (19th January, 1943 - 4 October, 1970) was an American blues-influenced rock singer and occasional songwriter with a distinctive voice. She was one of the most influential rock singers of the 1960s and is widely considered to be the greatest female rock singer of the decade. - Macy Gray
Macy Gray is an American R&B, soul, and neo soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her raspy voice and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis. To date, Gray has released four studio albums, one compilation album, and one live album — with her fourth studio album, "Big", released in March 2007. "Coming Back to You", her latest song, is featured on the soundtrack to the 2006 film "Déjà Vu". - Nikka Costa
Nikka Costa (born Domenica Costa, June 4, 1972 in Tokyo, Japan), is an American singer whose music combines elements of funk, soul, and blues, among other genres. Though she is relatively unknown in the United States, she has achieved impressive commercial success overseas, most notably in Australia, Italy and Germany. She is the daughter of Don Costa, a legendary arranger and producer of pop music, with whom she recorded several albums as a child, … - Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker (born February 14, 1943) is a noted American funk and soul jazz saxophonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s. Parker was a prominent soloist on many of Brown's hit recordings, and a key part of his band, playing alto, tenor and baritone saxophones. Parker's rhythmic and rapid playing style draws on the earlier innovations of be-bopper Charlie Parker (no relation), and Cannonball Adderley, mixed with Brown's own innovations in funk music. - Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon, better known as Nina Simone, was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. Although she disliked being categorized, Simone is generally classified as a jazz musician. Her work covers an eclectic variety of musical styles, such as jazz, soul, folk, R&B, gospel, and even pop music. Her vocal style is characterized by passion, breathiness, and tremolo. Simone recorded over 40 live and studio albums, …
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