Origin: Albany, GA

Decades: 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, and 2000's

Ray Charles was the musician most responsible for developing soul music. Singers like Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson also did a great deal to pioneer the form, but Charles did even more to devise a new form of black pop by merging '50s R&B with gospel-powered vocals, adding plenty of flavor from contemporary jazz, blues, and (in the '60s) country. Then there was his singing; his style was among the most emotional and easily identifiable of any 20th century performer, up there with the likes of Elvis and Billie... Read More

Nat King Cole, Louis Jordan, Guitar Slim and Tampa Red

Billy Joel, Chuck Berry, Michael Jackson, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, The Animals, Van Morrison, James Brown, Jamie Foxx, Joe Cocker, Steely Dan, The Everly Brothers, Marc Cohn, Arthur Blythe, Airto Moreira, Charlie Rich, The Spencer Davis Group, Steve Winwood, The Box Tops and David "Fathead" Newman