Soul

Aless
 What is soul music?
- Subgenre of R&B emphasizes an earthier sound
with a strong influence of African-American
gospel
- Characterized by an emphasis on vocals and
heartfelt improvisation by intensity of feeling and
earthiness
- Emphasis on the piano and drums vs guitar
 Characteristics
➢ Strong, “infectious” rhythms
➢ Heavily influenced by R&B and gospel styles
➢ Blues
➢ Funk
➢ uses melodic and rhythmic ostinato (repeated figures or phrases)
➢ Behind The beat
➢ Syncopation
➢ Space (Lets the music breathe)
➢ “Flows”
Brief History
Became popular between the 1950’s-60’s
The first soul songs were created when gospel songs were
changed into secular songs by rewriting the lyrics.

Wonderful Lovable
 History cont.
Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, James Brown are considered the earliest
pioneers of soul music
“It wasn’t until the coming together of Burke and Atlantic Records that
you could see anything resembling a movement”-Peter Guralnick
Some
Subgenres
⊗ Philadelphia
⊗ Motown
⊗ Smooth
⊗ Memphis
⊗ Neo
⊗ Chicago
⊗ Soul Blues
⊗ Southern
⊗ others
People
➢ Otis Redding (Southern Soul) ➢ Diana Ross (Motown)

➢ Percy Sledge (Southern Soul) ➢ Stevie Wonder (Motown)

➢ Wilson Pickett (Southern Soul) ➢ The Temptations (Motown)

➢ Al Green (Smooth Soul, Memphis Soul) ➢ James Brown (Motown)

➢ Marvin Gaye (Smooth Soul, his 70s music. In ➢ B.B. King (Blues Soul)
the 60s he was Motown)
➢ ➢ Ray Charles (Blues Soul)
Earth, Wind & Fire (Smooth Soul, Funk,
Disco, Quiet Storm…) ➢ Aretha Franklin (Blues Soul)

➢ The O’Jays (Philly Soul) ➢ The Rascals (Blue-Eyed Soul)

➢ The Spinners (Philly Soul) ➢ Amy Winehouse (Blue-Eyed Soul)

➢ Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes (Philly ➢ Adele (Blue-Eyed Soul)
Soul)
 ● Originated from a
combination of styles

● (Blues, country, early

rock & roll, gospel)

● The focus was on the

groove

● Influence for Funck

Southern Soul
 ● Primarily based on the
Philadelphia
International record
label

● Lush string & horn

arrangements

● Doo-Wop inspired vocals

Philly
 ● Strongly Rhythmic

● Hand-Clapping,
powerful bassline,
strings, brass

● Motown was the

pioneering label of
pop-soul, style of soul
with raw vocals
Motown Soul
 ● Blend of 1970’s
soul-style vocals with
contemporary R&B
sounds

● Hip-Hop beats with

poetic interludes

Neo Soul
 ● Maintains vocal
quality, techniques
and style but includes
the movement
towards technology
● Heightened
“sensationalism” in
the rhythm

Hypersoul
Music in the
soul can be
heard by the
Universe
Sources
- https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/music-soul.htm
- https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/zcgq7ty/revision/3
- http://www.soulmusicsanctuary.net/soul-musics-history.ht
ml
- http://www.southernmuseumofmusic.com/Spotlight/01-Ge
nre/Soul.htm
- https://swanvocals.com/the-different-sub-genres-of-soul-
music/
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