Most important artists
Sam Cooke was one of the greatest soul singers of all time. He began his career singing gospel music but in the 50s he switched to secular music (single ‘Lovable’). ‘Over the next few years he released "You Send Me," "Chain Gang," "Cupid," "Twistin' The Night Away," "Another Saturday Night," "A Change Is Gonna Come" and many more’.
'Marvin Gaye's musical accomplishments – from his late Fifties run in the Moonglows through his Eighties comeback with "Sexual Healing" – are simply staggering’. He was one of the most reliable hitmakers of Motown during the 60s. ‘After Terrell's death in 1970, he switched gears and began recording the politically charged LPWhat's Going On – which is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time’.
Stevie Wonder scored his first hit record when he was only 13 (‘Fingertips, part 2’) and he would become one of the best musicians of the 20th century. In the 60s he was one of Motown’s hitmakers. ‘When he turned 21 he gained creative control of his career, and began one landmark LP after the next’.
Aretha Franklin’s career started with her singing at her father’s church. ‘Her debut album, 1956's Songs of Faith, came out when she was just 14’. However, her talent took the spotlight during the 60s, and she began an incredible run of hits such as ‘I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)’, ‘Respect’, or ‘Think’.
James Brown became really popular in the 50s when he released the song ‘Please, Please, Please’. He was often called ‘the hardest-working man in show business’ because of the amount of touring that he did. He recorded a lot of incredibly good songs that became classics such as ‘I Feel Good’ or ‘It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World’.
Al Green grew up listening to Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Jackie Wilson and in the 70s, ‘he joined their ranks when a released a stunning series of soul singles, including ‘Let's Stay Together’, ‘Take Me To The Rive’ and ‘Tired Of Being Alone’’. In the 80s he devoted himself to gospel music.
'"Otis had the softness of Sam Cooke and the harshness of Little Richard, and he was his own man," Booker T. & the MGs guitarist Steve Cropper told Rolling Stone in 2004. "He was also fabulous to be around, always 100 percent full of energy. So many singers in those days, with all due respect, had just been in the business too long. They were bitter from the way they were treated. But Otis didn't have that. He was probably the most nonprejudiced human being I ever met. He seemed to be big in every way: physically, in his talent, in his wisdom about other people. After he died, I was surprised to find out I was the same age as he was, because I looked up to him as an older brother."' Rolling Stone