Southern soul

Southern soul
Stylistic origins	Soul, blues, country and western, rock and roll, gospel
Cultural origins	Late 1950s Southern United States
Typical instruments	Guitar – Bass – Piano – Organ – Drums – Horn section – Vocals
Mainstream popularity	1960s

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.

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 at its peak during the 1960s, when Memphis soul was created. The most 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, and Isaac Hayes. Atlantic Records artists Sam & Dave's records were released on the Stax label and featured the MGs. Wilson Pickett also launched his solo career through his collaboration with the Stax team.

Another Memphis label, Goldwax Records featured O.V. Wright and James Carr, while Al Green recorded for Memphis's Hi Records, where he was 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 Pickett, Percy Sledge, Joe Tex and Aretha Franklin.

Present

Southern soul music is still being recorded and performed all over the world by artists such as Mel Waiters, Willie Clayton, Carl Marshall, T.K. Soul, Sir Charles Jones, Omar Cunningham, Vick Allen, O.B. Buchana, Jeff Floyd, Wilson Meadows, Bigg Robb, Charles Wilson to name a few.

Notable artists

• Allen Toussaint
• Al Green
• Johnny Adams
• Arthur Alexander
• William Bell
• Bobby "Blue" Bland
• Shirley Brown
• Solomon Burke
• James Carr
• Clarence Carter
• Otis Clay
• Willie Clayton
• Arthur Conley
• Omar Cunningham
• Don Covay
• Tyrone Davis
• Eddie Floyd
• Jeff Floyd
• Aretha Franklin
• Betty Harris
• Jimmy Hughes
• Luther Ingram
• Little Willie John
• Mable John
• Ruby Johnson
• Syl Johnson
• Sir Charles Jones
• King Floyd
• Albert King
• Frederick Knight
• Jean Knight
• Denise LaSalle
• Bettye LaVette
• Carl Marshall
• Jimmy McCracklin
• Wilson Meadows
• Little Milton
• Garnet Mimms
• Dorothy Moore
• Sam (Moore) & Dave (Prater)
• Stan Mosley
• Ann Peebles
• Wilson Pickett
• James & Bobby Purify
• Otis Redding
• Mack Rice
• Bobby Rush
• Joe Simon
• Percy Sledge
• T.K. Soul
• Mavis Staples
• Candi Staton
• Bettye Swann
• Tommy Tate
• Floyd Taylor
• Johnnie Taylor
• Joe Tex
• Mel Waiters
• Marvin Sease
• Carla Thomas
• Rufus Thomas
• Lee "Shot" Williams
• Charles Wilson
• Betty Wright
• O.V. Wright

Rhythm sections

Booker T. & the MGs Steve Cropper – guitar Donald "Duck" Dunn – bass (replaced Lewie Steinberg) Al Jackson, Jr. – drums Booker T. Jones – organ/piano (also) Isaac Hayes – piano/organ The Memphis Horns Wayne Jackson – trumpet Andrew Love – saxophone The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section Barry Beckett – piano Roger Hawkins – drums David Hood – bass Jimmy Johnson – guitar American Gene Chrisman – drums Tommy Cogbill – bass Bobby Emmons – keyboards Reggie Young – guitar

The Hi Rhythm Section Charles Hodges – organ Leroy Hodges – bass Mabon "Teenie" Hodges – guitar Howard Grimes or Al Jackson, Jr. – drums Other notable southern soul musicians James Alexander – bass (The Bar-Kays) Willie Hall – drums (The Bar-Kays, The Isaac Hayes Movement) Clayton Ivey – organ (Muscle Shoals) Bobby Manuel – guitar (Stax), (The MGs) Spooner Oldham – organ/piano (Muscle Shoals, American) Carson Whitsett – organ/piano (The MGs, Malaco Records) Bobby Womack – guitar (American)

Songwriters

• Homer Banks
• William Bell
• Richard Cason
• Steve Cropper
• Bettye Crutcher
• Eddie Floyd
• Al Green
• Carl Hampton
• Isaac Hayes
• Mabon "Teenie" Hodges
• Al Jackson, Jr.
• George Jackson
• Raymond Jackson
• Booker T. Jones
• Percy Mayfield
• Willie Mitchell
• Earl Randle
• Chips Moman
• Spooner Oldham
• Dan Penn
• David Porter
• Otis Redding
• Mack Rice
• Carson Whitsett
• Bobby Womack

External links

• All Music Guide to R&B
• SouthernSoulRnB.com – Daddy B. Nice's comprehensive guide to today's Southern Soul Music
• Getbluesinfo.com – Southern Soul/Blues Channel:
• Resurrection of Soul- Southern Soul/Blues Site
• CarolinaSoul.Org
• Soul Blues Music Website dedicated to Soul Blues & Southern Soul Music

References