Soul music, also called R&B or Rhythm and Blues, has its origins in the United States, originating from gospel and other church-related music. It seems to have its roots in the African American culture, especially when related to gospel and revivalist meetings, where the energy and excitement often came through in the music of the day. Some of the greatest female soul singers started in their church choirs.
Probably the best known is Aretha Franklin, who is also called The Queen of Soul. Her long career has culminated in bringing rhythm and blues to the nation, especially with her mega hit "Respect". That song was made to be sung by Otis Redding, but Aretha did it and made it her own. It is one of the most iconic songs in the Motown genre and made her very famous.
A contemporary of Aretha Franklin's was the then lead singer for the group The Pips, Gladys Knight. The group's name was later changed to Gladys Knight and the Pips. Her honorary title was the Empress of Soul, and rightly so. Her smooth and heartfelt vocals, especially on the hit "Midnight Train to Georgia" endeared her to millions of loyal fans.
Many of these singers spanned other genres, including pop, gospel and jazz. Etta James recreated herself many times over her musical lifetime, bringing in fans of many generations with her vocal talents. Her most notable song was "At Last", which was covered by Beyonce at the Obama presidential inaugural ball, where Mr. Obama and first lady Michelle danced to the song. This gave a new life to the music of Etta James and other female blues singers.
Probably one of the most well known and easily recognizable women in this type of music remains to be the former Anna Mae Bullock, known as Tina Turner. Originally in an act with her then-husband, Ike, called the Ike and Tina Revue, her extremely high energy and powerhouse voice drew in the crowds. Once she left the abusive Ike, Tina's career took off, and she became one of the most popular artists around, and she has also acted in a few movies to her credit.
Amy Winehouse was a British singer who brought the soulful music back into modern day focus. With her retro looks and smoky singing voice, her music garnered 5 Grammy awards for the album she did called Back to Black in 2006. Unfortunately, she had a long time substance abuse problem and passed away far too soon at the young age of 27, leaving many to wonder just what she could have accomplished in her lifetime.
Another Londoner, Adele is a superstar of the highest magnitude. She has a beautiful voice and deep lyrics that make people think. She became a star quickly by way of a My Space video, proving how powerful social media can be in the life of a struggling artist. Adele's appeal is undeniable, and she has millions of fans all over the world, of all different ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. She has won many awards and at a young age is likely to have many more in her musical career.
Even though there are many more male vocalists out there, female soul singers are nothing new, as many of these women have been singing their hearts out for many years, long before women became a more acceptable sight on the musical stage. This opens the door for acceptance for many more up and coming young singers to follow their dreams and express themselves in song on the stage.
Probably the best known is Aretha Franklin, who is also called The Queen of Soul. Her long career has culminated in bringing rhythm and blues to the nation, especially with her mega hit "Respect". That song was made to be sung by Otis Redding, but Aretha did it and made it her own. It is one of the most iconic songs in the Motown genre and made her very famous.
A contemporary of Aretha Franklin's was the then lead singer for the group The Pips, Gladys Knight. The group's name was later changed to Gladys Knight and the Pips. Her honorary title was the Empress of Soul, and rightly so. Her smooth and heartfelt vocals, especially on the hit "Midnight Train to Georgia" endeared her to millions of loyal fans.
Many of these singers spanned other genres, including pop, gospel and jazz. Etta James recreated herself many times over her musical lifetime, bringing in fans of many generations with her vocal talents. Her most notable song was "At Last", which was covered by Beyonce at the Obama presidential inaugural ball, where Mr. Obama and first lady Michelle danced to the song. This gave a new life to the music of Etta James and other female blues singers.
Probably one of the most well known and easily recognizable women in this type of music remains to be the former Anna Mae Bullock, known as Tina Turner. Originally in an act with her then-husband, Ike, called the Ike and Tina Revue, her extremely high energy and powerhouse voice drew in the crowds. Once she left the abusive Ike, Tina's career took off, and she became one of the most popular artists around, and she has also acted in a few movies to her credit.
Amy Winehouse was a British singer who brought the soulful music back into modern day focus. With her retro looks and smoky singing voice, her music garnered 5 Grammy awards for the album she did called Back to Black in 2006. Unfortunately, she had a long time substance abuse problem and passed away far too soon at the young age of 27, leaving many to wonder just what she could have accomplished in her lifetime.
Another Londoner, Adele is a superstar of the highest magnitude. She has a beautiful voice and deep lyrics that make people think. She became a star quickly by way of a My Space video, proving how powerful social media can be in the life of a struggling artist. Adele's appeal is undeniable, and she has millions of fans all over the world, of all different ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. She has won many awards and at a young age is likely to have many more in her musical career.
Even though there are many more male vocalists out there, female soul singers are nothing new, as many of these women have been singing their hearts out for many years, long before women became a more acceptable sight on the musical stage. This opens the door for acceptance for many more up and coming young singers to follow their dreams and express themselves in song on the stage.
About the Author:
Read more about Female Soul Singers: Taking Gospel To A New Level visiting our website.
No comments:
Post a Comment