Origin: Memphis, TN

Decades: 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, and 1990's

Aretha Franklin is one of the giants of soul music, and indeed of American pop as a whole. More than any other performer, she epitomized soul at its most gospel-charged. Her astonishing run of late-'60s hits with Atlantic Records -- "Respect," "I Never Loved a Man," "Chain of Fools," "Baby I Love You," "I Say a Little Prayer," "Think," "The House That Jack Built," and several others -- earned her the title "Lady Soul," which she has worn uncontested ever since. Yet as much of an international institution as... Read More

Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Sam Cooke and Sarah Vaughan

Angie Stone, Candi Staton, Culture Club, Janis Joplin, Jean-Jacques Goldman, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Kelly Clarkson, The Pointer Sisters, Natalie Cole, Fantasia Barrino, Queen Latifah, Patti LaBelle, Bonnie Pointer, Jill Scott, Margie Joseph, Monie Love, Jennifer Holliday, Deniece Williams, Dennis Brown, Rita Coolidge, Tweet and Judy Mowatt