The 150+ Greatest Soul Singer Of All Time, Ranked
Combining elements of jazz, R&B, and traditional gospel music, soul is a genre that became popular in the 1950s and hasn't looked back since. Though there have been periods where soul has thrived more so than others, the best soul singers are widely regarded as some of the most popular figures in music history. In fact, soul singers are considered by many to be the backbone of the modern music movement. Though it may not seem obvious on the surface, soul music came from influential labels like Stax, Motown, and Atlantic Records, all of which played an important role in shaping the music business. That aside, the best soul singers have dominated the charts and their importance has spanned across multiple generations and has led to multiple soul music subgenres. No matter how you slice it, soul music artists are widely important and their rollicking, soulful songs are part of the great American songbook.
So, who are the best soul singers? Any list of soul music artists has to include names like Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Al Green, James Brown and Marvin Gaye. These soul singers are just a tip of the iceberg as there are so many amazing soul music artists that it's impossible to just name a few. Their influence can't be stated enough and even today, their songs are radio staples and some the easiest identifiable songs in music history.
That said, it's up to you to determine who the best soul singers of all time are. If you like soul music and know soul music artists, then feel free to cast your vote on this list. This list answers the questions "who are the best soul music bands of all time?" and "who is the greatest soul music musician ever?"
If you know enough about the genre, please vote based on the quality of the band's music instead of just voting for the most popular soul music bands that you might've heard of.
This legendary artist's smooth, sultry voice and innovative blend of gospel, R&B, and jazz created a unique sound that resonated with audiences worldwide. With his emotive delivery and ability to convey deep emotions through his music, he became an influential figure in the evolution of soul music. His lasting impact on pop culture is evident by the numerous artists who have since cited him as a primary inspiration for their own work.
Often referred to as the "King of Soul," this groundbreaking musician's silky-smooth vocals and innovative songwriting played a pivotal role in shaping the soul genre. His fusion of gospel elements with secular themes helped bring soul music into mainstream consciousness. He continues to be celebrated today for his immense contributions to both music history and civil rights activism.
Dubbed the "Queen of Soul," this powerhouse vocalist's incredible range and technical prowess set her apart from other artists in the genre. Her emotive performances resonated deeply with listeners, earning her widespread acclaim and numerous awards throughout her illustrious career. Her indomitable spirit and trailblazing musical style continue to serve as a source of inspiration for countless artists.
Blind since birth, this multi-talented musician's extraordinary ability to convey emotions through his soulful voice and innovative compositions have earned him worldwide acclaim. His mastery of multiple instruments and genre-defying approach to songwriting have solidified his status as a true musical genius. As one of the most successful recording artists in history, his impact on both the soul genre and popular culture is undeniable.
Known for his passionate, raw vocal performances, this influential singer-songwriter brought new levels of emotion and authenticity to soul music during his tragically short career. His timeless hits have become staples in American popular culture, showcasing his natural talent for storytelling through song. Despite his untimely death at age 26, his undeniable influence on future generations of musicians remains apparent.
With their tight harmonies, polished choreography, and impeccably tailored suits, this quintessential male vocal group set the standard for future soul acts to follow. Their enduring hits showcased their ability to blend sophisticated vocal arrangements with infectious, danceable grooves. As one of the most successful groups in music history, their impact on both the soul genre and popular culture remains apparent today.
Known for his distinctive falsetto voice and smooth, sensual delivery, this influential artist has captivated audiences for decades with his unique blend of soul and gospel. His emotive performances showcased his natural talent for storytelling through song, earning him widespread acclaim throughout his long-lasting career. His contributions to the soul genre have left an indelible mark on both music history and popular culture.
Often referred to as "The Genius," this pioneering artist's fusion of gospel, blues, and jazz laid the groundwork for what would become soul music. His emotive vocal style and innate ability to connect with listeners made him a trailblazer in both music and civil rights activism. His lasting influence on the soul genre can still be heard today in the work of countless contemporary artists.
Dubbed the "Godfather of Soul," this iconic performer revolutionized the genre with his electrifying stage presence, intricate dance moves, and infectious grooves. His groundbreaking fusion of funk, R&B, and soul inspired generations of musicians across various genres, solidifying his status as a true musical innovator. His legacy continues to thrive today through countless samples, covers, and tributes by contemporary artists.
This legendary male vocal group's smooth harmonies and sophisticated stage presence helped define the Motown sound of the 1960s. Their timeless hits showcased their ability to effortlessly blend pop sensibilities with soulful melodies, earning them widespread acclaim throughout their long-lasting career. Their influence on future generations of musicians can still be heard today in countless covers and samples.
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Gladys Knight & the Pips
This legendary female vocalist and her accompanying male vocal group captivated audiences with their tight harmonies, polished choreography, and sophisticated stage presence. Their timeless hits showcased their ability to blend soulful melodies with infectious pop sensibilities, earning them widespread acclaim throughout their long-lasting career. As one of the most successful acts in music history, their impact on both the soul genre and popular culture remains apparent today.
As a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer, this multi-talented musician played a pivotal role in shaping the sound of soul music throughout the 1960s and '70s. His socially conscious lyrics and innovative production techniques set him apart from other artists in the genre while also establishing him as a trailblazer in both music and civil rights activism. His enduring influence can still be heard today in the work of countless contemporary artists.
With her powerful, gritty voice and captivating stage presence, this iconic performer earned widespread acclaim for her ability to convey deep emotions through her music. Her unique blend of blues, gospel, and soul made her a stand-out figure in the world of soul music, while her indomitable spirit and trailblazing musical style continue to serve as a source of inspiration for countless artists.
As a singer-songwriter, producer, and founding member of Motown's first-ever vocal group, this influential artist played an integral role in shaping the sound of soul music throughout the 1960s and '70s. His smooth falsetto voice and heartfelt lyrics resonated deeply with listeners, earning him widespread acclaim both as a solo artist and as a member of his iconic group. His lasting contributions to the soul genre can still be heard today in the work of countless contemporary musicians.
This classically trained pianist and singer's unique fusion of jazz, blues, and gospel made her a stand-out figure in the world of soul music. Her powerful voice and emotive delivery allowed her to tackle complex social issues through her music, making her an influential figure in both the civil rights movement and the evolution of soul music. Her distinctive sound continues to inspire generations of musicians across various genres.
With his rich, velvety voice and heartfelt songwriting, this influential artist brought new levels of emotion and vulnerability to soul music during his tragically short career. His innovative blending of gospel, jazz, and R&B elements helped pave the way for future artists in the genre. Despite his untimely death at age 33, his lasting impact on both music history and popular culture is undeniable.
This influential singer-songwriter's warm, intimate vocal style and heartfelt lyrics made him a stand-out figure in the world of soul music. His timeless hits showcased his ability to convey complex emotions through simple, relatable storytelling, earning him widespread acclaim throughout his career. Despite retiring from the music industry in the 1980s, his lasting impact on both the soul genre and popular culture remains apparent today.
As one of the most successful bands in music history, this iconic group's innovative fusion of funk, jazz, R&B, and Afrobeat elements created a unique sound that resonated with audiences worldwide. Their infectious grooves and tight harmonies showcased their immense musicianship, solidifying their status as true soul legends. Their enduring influence on both the soul genre and popular culture can still be felt today through countless covers, samples, and tributes.
This iconic family group's innovative fusion of gospel, rock 'n' roll, and funk helped shape the sound of soul music throughout the 1960s and '70s. Their enduring hits showcased their ability to effortlessly blend sophisticated vocal arrangements with infectious grooves while also highlighting their impressive musicianship across various instruments. As one of the most successful acts in music history, their influence on future generations of musicians is still apparent today.
With her powerful, crystal-clear voice and emotive delivery, this iconic performer captivated audiences for decades, earning her the title of "The Voice." Her ability to seamlessly blend pop sensibilities with soulful melodies solidified her status as one of the most successful female artists in history. Her indelible mark on both the soul genre and popular culture continues to inspire countless musicians today.
With his silky-smooth voice and heartfelt lyrics, this legendary singer-songwriter brought new levels of emotion and vulnerability to soul music during his long-lasting career. His innovative blending of R&B, gospel, and pop elements helped pave the way for future artists in the genre while also earning him widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike. His lasting impact on both music history and popular culture is undeniable.
With her velvety, emotive voice and heartfelt songwriting, this legendary singer-pianist brought new levels of emotion and vulnerability to soul music during her illustrious career. Her innovative blending of jazz, R&B, and folk elements helped pave the way for future artists in the genre while also earning her widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike. Her lasting impact on both music history and popular culture is undeniable.
This iconic male vocal group's tight harmonies, polished choreography, and sophisticated stage presence set them apart from other acts in the world of soul music. Their enduring hits showcased their ability to blend social commentary with infectious grooves while also highlighting their impressive musicianship across various instruments. As one of the most successful acts in music history, their influence on future generations of musicians is still apparent today.
As Motown's premier female vocal group, this iconic trio's polished stage presence, tight harmonies, and sophisticated sound helped define the 1960s. Their timeless hits showcased their ability to effortlessly blend pop sensibilities with soulful melodies, earning them widespread acclaim throughout their long-lasting career. As one of the most successful acts in music history, their impact on both the soul genre and popular culture remains undeniable.
With his smooth baritone voice and charismatic stage presence, this influential artist captivated audiences with his unique blend of soulful ballads and danceable grooves. His emotive performances showcased his natural talent for storytelling through song, solidifying his status as a true soul legend. Despite facing numerous personal challenges throughout his career, his impact on both the soul genre and popular culture remains undeniable.
As pioneers of psychedelic soul, this groundbreaking band's innovative fusion of funk, rock 'n' roll, and socially conscious lyrics made them stand-out figures in the world of soul music. Their infectious grooves and tight harmonies showcased their immense musicianship, solidifying their status as true musical innovators. Their enduring influence on both the soul genre and popular culture can still be felt today through countless covers, samples, and tributes.
With his gritty voice and heartfelt songwriting, this legendary singer-guitarist brought new levels of emotion and authenticity to soul music during his illustrious career. His innovative blending of gospel, blues, and R&B elements helped pave the way for future artists in the genre while also earning him widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike. His lasting impact on both music history and popular culture is undeniable.
With his deep, velvety voice and sensual delivery, this iconic performer redefined romantic soul music during the 1970s. His innovative blending of orchestral arrangements with funky grooves created a unique sound that resonated with audiences worldwide. As one of the most successful male artists in music history, his impact on both the soul genre and popular culture is undeniable.
Best known as the lead singer of The Drifters before embarking on a successful solo career, this influential artist's rich baritone voice and emotive delivery resonated deeply with listeners around the world. His timeless hits showcased his natural talent for storytelling through song while also highlighting his impressive musicianship across various instruments. Despite facing numerous personal challenges throughout his career, his impact on both the soul genre and popular culture remains undeniable.
With his powerful, soaring voice and electrifying stage presence, this influential artist captivated audiences during his tragically short career. His innovative blending of gospel, R&B, and rock 'n' roll elements laid the groundwork for what would become soul music while also establishing him as an influential figure in both music history and civil rights activism. Despite his untimely death at age 49, his lasting impact on future generations of musicians remains apparent.
