Stevie Wonder is an American R&B musician, vocalist, songwriter, and producer who began recording for Tamla/Motown in 1962 at age 12. He catapulted to fame with “Fingerprints Pt 2,” an exuberant chant followed by an upbeat run of mid-Sixties hits: “Uptight (Everything’s Alright),” “I Was Made to Love Her,” “For Once In My Life,” and […]
Sly & The Family Stone were an American soul-funk band that released eight albums between 1967 and 1976 on Epic and charted with the generational anthems “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” “Hot Fun In the Summertime,” and “Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin.” Sly Stone’s polyrhythmic soul-psych arrangements sparked innovations in jazz-funk. After […]
James Brown (May 3, 1933 — December 25, 2006) was an American soul singer who was active as a performer and recording artist for more than five decades, issuing his first singles on King Records-subsidiary Federal in 1956. For the ensuing twelve years, he was backed by the Georgian R&B instrumental group The Famous Flames. […]
The Jackson 5 was an American soul-pop group composed of brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael Jackson. They formed in 1964, aged between 6 and 13. After multiple talent wins and a local single, they signed to Motown in 1969 and cut ten albums through 1975. Their hits include “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” […]
Marvin Gaye (April 2, 1939 — April 1, 1984) was an American R&B vocalist, songwriter, and producer from Washington, D.C., who was musically active for a quarter-century, achieving worldwide renown as one of Tamla/Motown’s leading performers. Gaye rose to fame with a string of duets, first with Kim Weston and then with Tammi Terrell, his […]
The Miracles were an American soul group from Detroit, best known for the Motown hits “Shop Around,” “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “Going to a Go-Go,” “I Second That Emotion,” “Tracks of My Tears,” “Ooh Baby Baby,” and “Tears of a Clown.” During their 1960s heyday, Tamla billed them as Smokey Robinson & […]
Aretha Franklin (March 25, 1942 — August 16, 2018) was an American soul singer from Memphis. She began performing gospel in her father’s Detroit church before signing with Columbia Records in 1960. During her Columbia tenure, Franklin recorded jazz, pop, and R&B albums, including Aretha (1961) and The Electrifying Aretha Franklin (1962). Singles such as […]
Ike & Tina Turner were the R&B/soul-rock duo of American guitarist/bandleader Ike Turner and his then-wife, singer Tina Turner. They came together in the late 1950s when Ike hired Tina as a backing vocalist for his band, the Kings of Rhythm. She first sang lead on the 1960 Sue Records single “A Fool In Love,” […]
The Supremes were an American soul-pop trio from Detroit, formed in 1961. Their classic lineup featured singers Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard, and frontwoman Diana Ross, who all grew up on the city’s east side. Signed to Motown, The Supremes were part of that label’s classic roster of chart-topping sixties artists, along with the Four Tops, […]
Donna Summer (December 31, 1948 — May 17, 2012) was an American soul-funk singer. She began performing in the late 1960s with soul and R&B ensembles before relocating to Europe, where she joined the Munich-based musical Hair cast and recorded her early solo work. Her breakthrough came with the 1975 single “Love to Love You […]
The Temptations were an American soul group from Detroit, formed in 1961. They first charted in 1964 with “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” sung by tenor Eddie Kendricks. With baritone David Ruffin at the fore, they hit number-one with the evergreen ballad “My Girl,” co-written and produced by Smokey Robinson, who also […]
Patrice Rushen is an American keyboardist, composer, and singer who started as a sidewoman on mid-Seventies jazz albums by Alphonso Johnson, Azar Lawrence, Donald Byrd, Eddie Henderson, Harvey Mason, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Luis Gasca. As a solo artist, she made three post-bop/jazz-funk albums (1974–77) on Prestige, then transitioned to soul-funk for a five-album run (1978–84) […]
Billy Preston (1946–2006) was an American R&B singer and keyboardist who released 24 albums between 1963 and 1986. After multiple teen-prodigy soul-jazz albums, his profile soared as a fifth Beatle on their 1969 hit “Get Back.” His fame peaked with the 1972–74 R&B crossover hits “Outa-Space,” “Will It Go Round in Circles,” “Space Race,” and […]
Otis Redding (Sept. 9, 1941 — Dec. 10, 1967) was an American soul singer who issued a string of singles on Stax-subsidiary Volt between 1962 and 1965, including “These Arms of Mine” and the original “Respect” (later made famous by Aretha Franklin). Over the ensuing two-year period, he recorded multiple albums for the label, charting […]
Dee Dee Bridgewater is an American soul and jazz singer from Memphis. After numerous sessions for noted jazz artists, she made her solo debut with the 1974 album Afro Blue, followed by a self-titled 1976 Atlantic release and the 1977–79 Elektra titles Just Family and Bad for Me. Background Bridgewater was born Denise Eileen Garrett […]
Isaac Hayes (Aug. 20, 1942 – Aug. 10, 2008) was an American R&B musician, singer, composer, producer, and actor with a 50-year career in entertainment. The lavish orchestration and elongated arrangements of his 1969 second album, Hot Buttered Soul, spearheaded the transformation of soul music into a maximalist form. Background Isaac Hayes was born Isaac […]
Minnie Riperton (Nov. 8, 1947 — July 12, 1979) was an American soul singer from Chicago, best known for the R&B hits “Lovin’ You,” “Inside My Love,” and “Memory Lane.” Riperton first recorded with The Gems, a mid-Sixties Chess singles act. In 1967, she joined the soul-psych band Rotary Connection, which made six albums through […]
Curtis Mayfield (June 3, 1942 — December 26, 1999) was an American soul-funk musician, composer, and producer from Chicago who co-founded The Impressions in 1958 and served as the group’s lead vocalist and musical director for twelve years. His songwriting and arrangements combined smooth vocal lines with intricate guitar work, establishing a template for politically […]
Patti LaBelle is an American soul singer who fronted The Blue Belles during the 1960s. In 1970, they morphed into the soul-funk trio Labelle, which released seven albums between 1971 and 1976, scoring a hit with “Lady Marmalade.” After going solo, she released four albums on Epic, starting with her 1977 release Patti LaBelle. Between […]
The Four Tops were an American soul group from Detroit, best known for the 1960s Motown hits “Baby, I Need Your Loving,” “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch),” “It’s the Same Old Song,” “Reach Out,” “Standing In the Shadows of Love,” and “Bernadette.” After fourteen Motown studio albums (including three with The Supremes), […]
The Pointer Sisters were an American soul-pop group from Oakland, formed in 1969 by sisters Anita, June, and Bonnie; later joined by eldest sister Ruth Pointer. Presenting as a retro-1940s cabaret act, they cut four studio albums between 1973 and 1977 on Blue Thumb/ABC. Switching to contemporary soul-pop, the Pointer Sisters (without Bonnie) released six […]
The Isley Brothers were an American soul-funk band from Cincinnati that first performed doo-wop in the early 1950s. Between 1957 and 1967, they released assorted singles on RCA, Atlantic, Wand, and UA, capping this period with two albums on Tamla. Between 1969 and 1983, they released 18 albums on their exclusive imprint T-Neck, distributed by […]
The Spinners were an American soul group, best known for the 1970s hits “It’s a Shame,” “I’ll Be Around,” “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love,” “One of a Kind (Love Affair),” “Mighty Love,” “Then Came You,” “Games People Play,” and “The Rubberband Man.” Formed in 1954, they cut multiple singles for Harvey Fuqua’s Tri-Phi […]
Jean Carn is an American soul singer who cut three albums for the Black Jazz label (1971–73) with her then-husband, keyboardist Doug Carn. She debuted as a solo artist with a 1976 self-titled album on Philadelphia International, followed by the 1978–79 titles Happy to Be With You and When I Find You Love. In the […]
Barry White (September 12, 1944 — July 4, 2003) was an American soul singer, composer, and producer who released ten albums between 1973 and 1979 on 20th Century Records and scored five No. 1 R&B hits: “I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby,” “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe,” “You’re the First, […]
Martha and the Vandellas were an American soul-pop trio from Detroit, signed to the Gordy division of Motown. Between 1963 and 1972, they released eight proper albums and numerous singles, scoring hits with “Heat Wave,” “Jimmy Mack,” “Nowhere to Run,” and the much-covered AM evergreen “Dancing In the Street.” Members: Martha Reeves (lead vocals), Rosalind […]
Gil Scott-Heron (1949–2011) was an American jazz-funk poet who made fourteen albums between 1970 and 1982, including seven co-billed to his music partner, Brian Jackson. Background Gil Scott-Heron was born on April 1, 1949, in Chicago; the only child of Bobbi Scott and Gilbert Saint Elmo Heron (1922–2008). Bobbi hailed from Mississippi and sang opera […]
Bobby Womack (1944–2014) was an American soul singer/songwriter who first recorded with his four brothers in The Valentinos, a protege act of Sam Cooke. They originated the Rolling Stones first international hit, “It’s All Over Now.” Womack launched his solo career with the 1968/69 Minit albums Fly Me to the Moon and My Prescription. On […]
The O’Jays were an American soul group that made 21 albums between 1965 and 1989, including the Seventies classics Back Stabbers, Ship Ahoy, and Family Reunion. Formed in 1958 in Canton, Ohio, began their career recording singles and one album for Imperial between 1963 and 1966. Throughout the late 1960s, they released albums on Minit, […]
The Stylistics were an American soul group from Philadelphia, formed in 1966. They released seven albums between 1971 and 1975 on Avco, followed by stints on H&L (1976/77) and Mercury. Their first album, The Stylistics, landed R&B crossover hits with “You Are Everything,” “Betcha by Golly, Wow,” and “People Make the World Go Round.” From […]
Deniece Williams is an American soul singer and songwriter with a musical career that dates back to the early 1970s. Between 1976 and 1984, she released seven albums on Columbia/CBS. Distinguished by her high-octave quiver, she scored international hits with “Free,” “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle,” and “Let’s Hear It for the Boy.” Background Williams […]
The Impressions were an American soul group from Chicago that launched the careers of Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield, and Leroy Hutson. Formed in 1958, the Impressions cut five local Butler-led singles. Mayfield emerged as a singer, songwriter, and arranger on their 1961–65 hits “Gypsy Woman,” “It’s All Right,” “Keep On Pushing,” and “People Get Ready.” […]
Syreeta Wright (1946–2004) was an American R&B singer who began as a backing vocalist at Motown, where she met and married Stevie Wonder. They co-wrote his 1970 hit “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” and his 1971 album Where I’m Coming From. He produced her 1972–74 Motown/MoWest albums Syreeta and Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta. Between 1977 […]
Marlena Shaw (1939–2024) was an American soul singer who recorded two albums and assorted singles for Cadet during the late 1960s, culminating with the popular 1969 release The Spice of Life. Between 1972 and 1976, she released five albums on Blue Note, followed by three 1977–79 titles on Columbia. In the 1980s and ’90s, she […]
Bill Withers (1938–2020) was an American soul singer/songwriter, best known for the 1971/72 AM evergreens “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Lean On Me” and the 1981 AC ballad “Just the Two of Us,” a duet with Grover Washington Jr. Background He was born William Harrison Withers, Jr. on July 4, 1938, in Slab Fork, West Virginia; […]
Labelle was an American soul-funk trio best known for their 1974 hit “Lady Marmalade.” The three women — Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash — first grouped in The Blue Belles, a 1960s Motown-style quartet. Labelle collaborated with Laura Nyro on the Columbia release Gonna Take a Miracle and made the 1971–72 Warner albums […]
Chaka Khan (born March 23, 1953) is an American soul singer who first emerged as the featured vocalist of Chicago funksters Rufus. She fronted the band on a string of 1970s hits, including “Tell Me Something Good,” “Sweet Thing,” and “Ain’t Nobody,” before launching a solo career in 1978 with Chaka and its crossover anthem […]
Loleatta Holloway (1946–2011) was an American soul singer from Chicago who made the 1973–75 albums Loleatta and Cry to Me on the Atlanta-based Aware Records. She made four subsequent albums (1976–80) on Gold Mind/Salsoul and scored R&B/dance hits with “Hit and Run,” “Love Sensation,” “I May Not Be There When You Want Me (But I’m […]
Thelma Houston is an American soul singer who emerged with a pair of 1966/67 Capitol singles, followed by the 1969 ABC release Sunshower, produced by Jimmy Webb. In 1972, she cut a self-titled album on MoWest. After multiple stop-gap singles, she fronted the jazz-funk big band Pressure Cooker on the 1975 Sheffield Lab title I’ve […]
Melba Moore (born Oct. 29, 1945) is an American R&B singer and actress who got her start in showbiz as part of the off-Broadway cast in the musical Hair in 1967. She released two albums and a live disc on Mercury between 1970 and 1972, followed by four albums on Buddah and three on Epic […]
Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer from Detroit who began her solo career in 1970 after serving as lead vocalist of The Supremes. Her self-titled debut album that year included the #1 hit “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”. She followed with further #1 singles such as “Touch Me in the Morning” […]
Evelyn “Champagne” King is an American soul-funk singer who released eight albums between 1977 and 1985 on RCA Victor. She emerged with Smooth Talk (1977), which featured the gold-certified hit “Shame” produced by Theodore Life. She reached new heights in the early 1980s working with Kashif on I’m in Love (1981) and Get Loose (1982), […]
Phyllis Hyman (July 6, 1949 — June 30, 1995) was an American soul singer who released two albums on Buddah in 1977 and 1978, four albums on Arista between 1979 and 1983, and a trio of titles on Philadelphia International Records between 1986 and 1995. Background She was born Phyllis Linda Hyman on July 6, […]
Luther Vandross (April 20, 1951 — July 1, 2005) was an American soul singer, songwriter, and producer who emerged as a backing vocalist for Roberta Flack and David Bowie. He fronted the soul-funk combo Luther on two albums in 1976–77 on Cotillion. In 1979, he sang on a soundtrack album by the New York City […]
Gladys Knight & the Pips was an American soul group from Atlanta, formed in 1952 and active until 1989. They cut ten singles between 1961 and 1965 on the Fury and Maxx labels and scored and early hit with “Every Beat of My Heart.” In 1966, they signed with Motown and made eight albums through […]
Sister Sledge was an American soul group from Philadelphia comprised of sisters Debbie, Kim, Joni, and Kathy Sledge. They cut three 1973–74 singles on ATCO, which issued their 1975 debut album Circle of Love. On Cotillion, they cut six albums between 1977 and 1983, including their 1979 Chic-backed mega-seller We Are Family. Members: Debbie Sledge […]
Shuggie Otis is an American R&B musician, songwriter, and producer who released three albums between 1970 and 1974 on Epic. His 1971 album Freedom Flight contains the original “Strawberry Letter 23,” a later hit for the Brothers Johnson. His work enjoyed a 21st century resurgence following the reissue of his third album, Inspiration Information, noted […]
Angela Bofill (May 2, 1954 – June 13, 2024) was an American soul singer/songwriter who released seven albums between 1978 and 1985 on Arista. She landed early hits with “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter,” “What I Wouldn’t Do (For the Love of You),” and “Something About You.” Her career peaked in 1983 with the R&B […]
Narada Michael Walden is an American jazz-funk/soul musician and producer who drummed in the second lineup of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, which made the 1974/75 albums Apocalypse and Visions of the Emerald Beyond. In 1976, he played on jazz-rock albums by Weather Report, Jaco Pastorius, Jeff Beck, Allan Holdsworth, and Nova. As a solo artist, Walden […]
Sylvia Robinson (May 29, 1935 — September 29, 2011) was an American singer, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur from New York who first recorded in the early 1950s as Little Sylvia. Between 1955 and 1958, she cut eleven singles as half of the R&B duo Mickey & Sylvia, which scored a 1956 crossover hit with “Love […]
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes were an American soul group, formed in 1954 as The Blue Notes. They cut four albums between 1972 and 1975 on Philadelphia International and scored R&B crossover hits with “If You Don’t Know Me by Now,” “The Love I Lost,” “Bad Luck,” “Hope That We Can Be Together Soon,” […]
Millie Jackson is an American soul singer who made nineteen albums between 1972 and 1983 on Spring/Polydor, followed by seven further titles on Jive and Ichiban during the subsequent 12-year period. She rose to prominence with the albums Caught Up (1974) and Still Caught Up (1975), which combined deep soul balladry with candid spoken-word monologues. […]
Al Jarreau (April 12, 1940 — Feb. 12, 2017) was an American soul and jazz singer who released eleven albums between 1975 and 1988 on Warner/Reprise. Jarreau rose to prominence with We Got By (1975) and Glow (1976), then expanded his audience through This Time (1980), Breakin’ Away (1981), and Jarreau (1983), which featured the […]
Ashford & Simpson were an American soul-pop duo from N.Y.C. comprising the husband-and-wife musical team of Nickolas Ashford (May 4, 1941 – Aug. 22, 2011) and Valerie Simpson (b. Aug. 26, 1946). The pair debuted with a standalone single in 1964, followed by a half-decade behind the scenes as staff writers for Motown. The couple […]
Love Unlimited was an American soul trio from Los Angeles comprised of two sisters, Glodean and Linda James, and their cousin Diane Taylor. Barry White served as their writer, arranger, and producer. They debuted with a 1972 album on Uni Records, followed by the 1973/74 titles Under the Influence and In Heat on 20th Century. […]
Betty Davis (1944–2022) was an American soul-funk singer who released the 1973/74 small-label albums Betty Davis and They Say I’m Different and the 1975 Island title Nasty Gal. Her two subsequent albums, Is It Love or Desire (recorded 1976) and Crashin’ From Passion (recorded 1979), remained vaulted until her 21st century reappraisal. Background Davis was […]
Jerry Butler (December 8, 1939 — February 19, 2025) was an American soul singer who first fronted The Impressions, which he co-founded in 1958 with Curtis Mayfield. After three Impressions singles, he went solo and scored his first hit with the 1960 R&B No. 1 “He Will Break Your Heart.” Butler made four albums between […]
Blue Magic was an American soul group from Philadelphia that released five albums on ATCO between 1974 and 1978, followed by an album apiece on Capitol and Omni during the early 1980s. Members: Keith “Duke” Beaton (tenor vocals), Ted “The Wizard” Mills (lead vocals, 1972-90, 2012-present), Wendell Sawyer (baritone vocals, tenor vocals, lead vocals, 1972-77, […]
Stephanie Mills is an American R&B singer and actress who emerged (at 17) with the 1974 ABC release Movin’ in the Right Direction and its 1975 Motown followup For the First Time, a Burt Bacharach production. After roles in 1976/77 Broadway productions of The Wiz and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Mills reemerged with the […]
Terry Callier (May 24, 1945 — Oct. 27, 2012) was an American singer/songwriter from Chicago whose songs appear on 1970s albums by Jerry Butler, Dee Dee Sharp, and The Dells. As a solo artist on Cadet Records, he made the 1971–73 albums Occasional Rain, What Color Is Love, and I Just Can’t Help Myself. He […]
Cheryl Lynn is an American soul-funk singer who released six albums on Columbia between 1978 and 1985, scoring big with the post-disco/boogie evergreen “Got to Be Real.” Background She was born Lynda Cheryl Smith on March 11, 1957, in Los Angeles. As a child, she sang in her church choir. In early 1976, she performed […]
Johnnie Taylor (1934–2000) was an American soul singer who first recorded for Sam Cooke’s SAR label. On Stax (which dubbed him the “Philosopher of Soul”), he scored R&B crossover hits with the 1968–73 singles “Who’s Making Love,” “Take Care of Your Homework,” “Jody’s Got Your Girl and Gone,” “I Believe in You (You Believe in […]
Chairmen of the Board were an American soul trio from Detroit that released four albums between 1970 and 1974 on Invictus. They scored a pop crossover hit with their debut single “Give Me Just a Little More Time,” followed with “Pay to the Piper” and the R&B hits “(You’ve Got Me) Dangling on a String,” […]
Clarence Carter (Jan. 14, 1936 – May 13, 2026) was an American R&B singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Alabama who first recorded in the C&C Boys with fellow blind singer Calvin Scott, issuing multiple early 1960s singles on Fairlane and Duke. As a solo singer, Carter cut three 1966/67 singles on soul-press Fame, followed by […]
Wilson Pickett (March 18, 1941 – Jan. 19, 2006) was an American soul singer who released ten albums on Atlantic between 1965 and 1971, scoring hits with “In the Midnight Hour,” “Land of 1,000 Dances,” “Mustang Sally,” and “Funky Broadway.” During the 1970s, he released five soul-funk albums on RCA Victor. Background Wilson Pickett was […]
Candi Staton is an American Southern soul singer who emerged on FAME Records with the 1970–72 albums I’m Just a Prisoner, Stand by Your Man, and Candi Staton. She signed with Warner Bros. for her 1974 release Candi, her first of six soul-funk albums. In 1976, Candi scored a transatlantic hit with “Young Hearts Run […]
Ann Peebles is an American soul singer from St. Louis who released seven albums between 1969 and 1977, including the Hi Records classics Straight From the Heart and I Can’t Stand the Rain. She landed R&B hits with “Part Time Love,” “I Pity the Fool,” “Breaking Up Somebody’s Home,” “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” and […]
Natalie Cole (Feb. 6, 1950 — Dec. 31, 2015) was an American soul singer from Los Angeles. She recorded soul, pop, jazz, and standards across a career that began with a sequence of Capitol albums produced by Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy. Her first four albums spawned the 1975–77 R&B No. 1’s “This Will Be,” […]
Randy Crawford is an American soul and jazz singer featured on albums by Harvey Mason, Steve Hackett, and The Crusaders. As a solo artist, she released eleven albums between 1976 and 1993 on Warner Bros. Crawford’s R&B hits include “Same Old Story (Same Old Song),” “One Hello,” “Nightline,” and “Your Precious Love,” a duet with […]
Side Effect an American soul-funk vocal group from Los Angeles, formed in 1972 by producer–arranger Augie Johnson. They debuted on Canada’s G.A.S. label in 1973 and recorded four albums for Fantasy Records between 1975 and 1978. During this period, the group featured a sequence of female vocalists—Sylvia Nabors, Helen Lowe (Helen Baylor), and Sylvia St. […]
Kellee Patterson is an American singer who released the 1973 album Maiden Voyage on Black Jazz Records, followed by the 1976–79 soul-funk albums Kellee, Turn On the Lights, and All the Things You Are on Shadybrook. Background She was born Karen Lynette Patterson and grew up in Gary, Indiana, where she competed in child talent […]
The Sylvers were an American soul-funk family act from Memphis, best known for the 1975/76 hits “Boogie Fever,” “Hot Line,” and “High School Dance.” As a sextet, the Sylvers cut three 1972–74 albums on Pride/MGM, then welcomed three younger siblings for the 1975/76 Capitol titles Showcase and Something Special. After 1977’s New Horizons (as a […]
The Delfonics were an American soul group from Philadelphia, best known for the smooth-soul evergreen “La-La-Means I Love You,” the inaugural hit of the Philly Soul genre. Between 1968 and 1974, they released five albums on Philly Groove Records and scored further hits with “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time),” “I’m Sorry,” and “Ready […]
Buddy Miles (Sept. 5, 1947 — Feb. 26, 2008) was an American drummer, singer, producer, and songwriter from Omaha. He co-founded the Electric Flag before he led the Buddy Miles Express, which cut the 1968/69 albums Expressway to Your Skull and Electric Church. Miles sang “Changes” on the 1970 Hendrix live album Band of Gypsys, […]
The Chambers Brothers were an American soul-psych band from Los Angeles, formed in 1954. After a pair of mid-’60s albums on Vault, they released four albums on Columbia between 1967 and 1971. There biggest hit was an edit of their 11-minute album track “Time Has Come Today” from their 1967 release The Time Has Come. […]
Eddie Kendricks (born Dec. 17, 1939 — Oct. 5, 1992) was an American soul singer, who served as the lead tenor vocalist in The Temptations between 1961 and 1971. He’s most recognized for his falsetto voice on the hits “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “Get Ready,” and “Just My Imagination (Running Away […]
Betty Wright (Dec. 21, 1953 – May 10, 2020) was an American soul singer from Miami. She cut her debut album, My First Time Around, at age 14 in 1968. Her 1972 Alston release I Love the Way You Love spawned the Billboard Top 10 hit “Clean Up Woman.” She issued six further Alston albums […]
Barbara Mason is an American soul singer and songwriter, best known for her 1965 hit “Yes, I’m Ready.” She landed fourteen singles on the Billboard R&B Top 40, including the crossover hits “Sad, Sad Girl,” “Oh, How It Hurts,” “Give Me Your Love,” “From His Woman to You,” and “Shackin’ Up.” Mason released fourteen singles […]
Gloria Gaynor is an American singer whose recording career began with a 1965 Jocida single and expanded through MGM, Polydor, Atlantic, Silver Blue, and Stylus releases. She reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “I Will Survive” and placed “Never Can Say Goodbye” and “I Am What I Am” in the Top […]
Nancy Wilson (Feb. 20, 1937 — Dec. 13, 2018) was an American soul and jazz singer who released thirty albums between 1960 and 1980 on Capitol Records. She landed twenty-one songs on the Billboard R&B Top 100, including “Save Your Love for Me” (with Cannonball Adderley), “Tell Me the Truth,” “You’re as Right as Rain,” […]
Leon Haywood (February 11, 1942 — April 5, 2016) was a Houston-born singer-keyboardist who moved to Los Angeles in the early 1960s and worked with saxophonist Big Jay McNeely before he joined the Sam Cooke touring band. After early Fantasy and Fat Fish sides, Haywood reached the R&B chart with the Imperial single “She’s With […]
