Soul Music Notes
Delta Blues = Chicago Blues = Gospel = Soul (= funk = rap = hip hop)
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Emotional singing and performances
Lyrics are important
Music is meant to say something/express feelings
Mostly solo performers
James Brown (1933-2006)
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“Godfather of Soul”
Grew up during the great depression
Learned gospel music in church and from neighbors
Wanted to play baseball or be a boxer as a kid
Was arrested at age 15 for breaking into cars (went to jail for 3 years)
While in jail he formed the gospel group “The Flames”
Once out of jail “The Flames” were noticed by Little Richard who referred them to King records
First hit song - “Please, Please, Please” (1956)
He was the first to record a Live Concert album – 1963 Live at the Apolllo
Songs became anthems for various black national movements during the 60’s “Say it loud – I’m Black and I’m
Proud” (1968)
First to make his concerts into full productions using choreographed dance routines, full brass sections, costume
changes and backup performers
#1 influential musician on Michael Jackson
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986
Songs: “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”, “I Feel You (I Feel Good)” and two listed above.
Otis Redding (1941-1967)
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Influenced by Little Richard and Sam Cooke (he was a replacement for Little Richard in the band The Upsetters
He was the driver for the band Johnny Jenkin’s Pinetoppers for their trip to Stax Records in Memphis, Tn. After
the bands recording session, Otis went into the studio to just “try-it-out” and sang “These Arms of Mine”
“These Arms of Mine” was recorded by Stax and became a huge hit
Stax Records and Atlantic worked together – Stax recorded him and Atlantic marketed him
Was part of the soul music band “Booker T. and MG’s”
Known for his straight-forward style and quietly powerful voice
He arranged his songs for the band at the same time he was writing them, including horn sections, rhythm
sections and his signature straight-forward vocals
His sound would eventually become part of the “Stax Records” sound
Killed in a plane crash with his back-up band outside of Madison WI in 1967
His most well known song “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay” was not released until 1968.
Three more songs were chart toppers in 1968 (a year after his death)
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989
His music, vocal style and band arrangements continue to influence musicians and bands today
Songs: “Respect” (1965) “Satisfaction” (1966) “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay” (1968)
Aretha Franklin (b. 1942)
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“Queen of Soul”
Father was a Baptist preacher in Detroit Michigan
Her talent was recognized at a very young age
She was self-taught as both a singer and pianist
Influenced by her aunt Clara Ward, a famous gospel singer
She recorded her first album The Gospel Soul of Aretha Franklin when she was 14 years old
First signed with Columbia records but left them for Atlantic Records
Recorded first Atlantic Records song with a young Eric Clapton as guest guitarist
1967 Album I Never Loved a Man (the way I love you) featured her hit single “Respect” (a remake of an Otis
Redding song)
Her 1972 Gospel album Amazing Grace became the best selling gospel album of all time
Performed at the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr.
Performed at the funeral of the world famous gospel singer Mahalia Jackson in 1972
Won eight consecutive Grammy Awards for Best R & B Female Vocal Performance
Had a small role in the movie “The Blues Brothers” and the sequel in 2000
Continued success in 1985 with hit single “Freeway of Love”
Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler helped make her a superstar
She has sang duets with many famous musicians like Ray Charles and George Michael – whom she had the
1985 #1 hit “I Knew You Were Waiting”
2005 Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
2005 she became the second woman inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame
Performed at the inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2009
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987
Songs: “Respect” (1967), “Chain of Fools” (1967), “Freeway of Love” (1985) “You Make Me Feel Like a
Natural Woman” (1967)
Ray Charles (1930-2004)
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Nicknamed “The Genius” and “The Father of Soul”, his full name was Ray Charles Robinson
Born in Albany, Georgia, his family moved to Florida when he was an infant
Became blind from glaucoma at the age of 7
Attended the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind where he learned how to play the piano, organ,
clarinet, sax, and trumpet
Played music of gospel, country, rhythm & blues, and soul styles
At the age of 15, he dropped out of school and started touring
His early style imitated the great singer Nat King Cole
In 1949 at the age of 19, he released his first single “Confession Blues” with the Maxin Trio
In 1953, he landed a recording contract with Atlantic Records and celebrated his first hit single with the
label “Mess Around”
In 1954, Ray Charles’ hit “I Got A Woman” reached #1 on the R & B Charts
In 1959 , “What’d I Say” became #1 on the R & B Chart and crossed over to #6 on the Pop Chart
In 1960, Ray Charles won his first Grammy award for “Georgia On My Mind” and followed that with
another Grammy award for “Hit the Road, Jack”
Released “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music” in 1962 providing soulful renditions of country
classics
Battled heroin addiction for many years and was arrested for possession in 1965
Appeared in “The Blues Brothers” movie in 1980 with John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd
Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, the first year it opened.
Charles recorded more than 60 albums and performed over 10,000 concerts.
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Ray Charles died of liver disease in 2004 at the age of 83.
His life story became a hit film entitled Ray after his death. Jamie Foxx starred as the legendary
performer, and he won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Charles.