Southern soul

Southern soul is a type of soul music that emerged from the Southern United States. The music originated from a combination of styles, including blues (both 12 bar and jump), country, early rock and roll, and a strong gospel influence that emanated from the sounds of Southern African-American churches. The focus of the music was not on its lyrics, but on the "feel" or the groove. This rhythmic force made it a strong influence in the rise of funk music. The terms "Deep soul", "Country soul",[1] "Downhome soul" and "Hard soul" have been used synonymously with "Southern soul"[2]p.18

History

Pioneers of southern soul include: Georgia natives Ray Charles and James Brown; Little Willie John, Bobby "Blue" Bland, New Orleans R&B artist Allen Toussaint; and Memphis DJ Rufus Thomas. Southern soul was influenced by blues and gospel music.

Southern soul was at its peak during the 1960s, when Memphis soul was created. In 1963, Stan Lewis founded Jewel Records in Shreveport, Louisiana, along with two subsidiary labels, Paula and Ronn. Jewel and Ronn Records were among the leaders for R&B, blues, soul and gospel tunes. Lewis signed artists such as John Lee Hooker, Charles Brown, Bobby Rush, Buster Benton, Toissaint McCall, Lightin’ Hopkins, Ted Taylor, Little Johnny Taylor and The Uniques. The Carter Brothers in 1965 landed Jewel Records its first national hit on the R&B charts.

In 1966, the Shreveport-based Murco Records released “Losin’ Boy” by Eddie Giles, which registered for five weeks on Cashbox magazine’s Hot 100. Murco Records released other artists which included Reuben Bell and the Belltones, Dori Grayson, Charles Crawford, Ann Alford, Abraham & the Casanovas and Marion Ester.

The other significant contributors were Stax Records and their house band Booker T. & the MGs. The Stax label's most successful artist of the 1960s, Otis Redding, was influenced by fellow Georgia native Little Richard and the more cosmopolitan sounds of Mississippi-born Sam Cooke. Other Stax artists of note included Carla Thomas, Eddie Floyd, Johnnie Taylor, The Staple Singers, The Dramatics and Isaac Hayes. Atlantic Records artists Sam & Dave's records were released on the Stax label and featured the MGs. Wilson Pickett launched his solo career through his collaboration with the Stax team.

After Sam & Dave moved from Stax to Atlantic Records, Stax producer David Porter and his songwriting and production partner Isaac Hayes decided to put together a new vocal group of two men and two women. They recruited J. Blackfoot, together with Norman West, Anita Louis, and Shelbra Bennett, to form The Soul Children. Between 1968 and 1978, The Soul Children had 15 hits on the R&B chart, including three that crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, and recorded seven albums.[3][4]

Another Memphis label, Goldwax Records, featured O.V. Wright, James Carr, Spencer Wiggins, Willie Walker, and The Ovations[5], while Al Green, Don Bryant, Ann Peebles recorded for Memphis's Hi Records, where they were produced by Willie Mitchell. Also influential was the "Muscle Shoals Sound", originating from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section played on hits by many Stax artists during the late 1960s through the mid-1970s, and Atlantic Records artists Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge, Joe Tex and Aretha Franklin. But disco era(mid 70s to late 70s) deep soul was faded. Dorothy Moore(Malaco Records) released big hit "Misty Blue" in 1976. In 80s Bobby Womack had soul album "The Poet"(1981). And J. Blackfoot got soul hit "Taxi" in 1983. Malaco Records Z.Z.Hill and Bobby Bland had hit in 1980s.

2000s - Present

Southern soul music is still being recorded and performed by artists such as Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley, Candi Staton, Betty Wright, Betty Lavette, Howard Tate, Peggy Scott- Adams, Lee Fields, Rawls & Luckett, Gary Clark Jr.[6], Millie Jackson, Shirley Brown, Sir Charles Jones, Barbara Carr, Willie Clayton, Bobby Rush, Denise LaSalle, TK Soul, Ms Jody[7], Karen Wolfe[8], Redd Velvet, Floyd Taylor, Bigg Robb, Gwen McCrae, William Bell, Roni, Theodis Ealey[9], Rosalyn Candy[10], Roy C, Sam Dees, Summer Wolfe and many other famous and unknown Southern Soul artists.[11]

Notable artists

Singer, Group

Rhythm sections

Songwriters and record producers

See also

References

  1. ↑ Felix, Stanford (2010). The complete idiot's guide music dictionary. New York: Alpha. ISBN 9781101198094. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  2. ↑ Pruter, Robert (1992). Chicago Soul. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252062599. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "Deep Soul Column - J. Blackfoot interview". Soulexpress.net. 1946-11-20. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  4. ↑ "The Soul Children - Story and Interview". Soulexpress.net. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  5. ↑ http://www.bsnpubs.com/bell/goldwax.html
  6. ↑ http://www.noise11.com/news/2015-blues-awards-winners-20150508
  7. ↑ http://www.soulbluesmusic.com/msjody.htm
  8. ↑ http://www.southernsoulrnb.com/artistguide.cfm?aid=357
  9. ↑ http://www.soulbluesmusic.com/2006bluescriticawards.htm
  10. ↑ http://www.southernsoulrnb.com/artistguide.cfm?aid=609
  11. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-10. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
  12. ↑ "Homer Banks". Discogs.com. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
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