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 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, …

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, …

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, …

James Booker - Pianist, Vocalist, Recording Artist (December 17, 1939 - November 8, 1983)

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.

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.

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)", …

Joe Liggins (July 9, 1915 - July 26 1987) was a notable jazz, blues, and mostly R&B pianist, who played with the band Joe Liggins and the Honeydrippers in the 1940s and 1950s, as their front man. His band was often a staple on the R&B charts in those years, with their biggest hit being "The Honeydripper", released in 1945. That single topped the R&B "race" chart for 18 weeks; more than 60 years later, …

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.

Buddy Johnson (born Woodrow Wilson Johnson was an influential jazz and blues pianist and bandleader active from the 1930s through the 1960s. His songs were often performed by his sister Ella Johnson, most notably "Since I Fell for You" which later became a jazz standard. Born in Darlington, South Carolina, Buddy took piano lessons as a child, and classical music remained one of his passions. In 1938 he moved to New York City, …

Jermaine Paul (born Jeremiah Jermaine Paul on July 18, 1979), is a Grammy Award-nominated American R&B/soul singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.

D'Angelo (born Michael Eugene Archer on February 11, 1974 in Richmond, Virginia) is a Grammy Award winning American soul singer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. A virtuoso musician, D'Angelo is known for his production and songwriting talents as much as for his vocal abilities, and often draws comparisons to his influences, Marvin Gaye, and Prince. He has influenced the sound of modern R&B, particularly neo-soul.

Van "Piano Man" Walls (born Harry Eugene Vann 24 August 1918, died 24 February 1999) was an American rhythm and blues piano player.