Southern soul  

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Southern soul is a type of soul music that emerged from the Southern United States. It has also been tagged deep soul or even country soul. Southern soul is often identified with artists like Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Carla Thomas, The Staple Singers, Sam and Dave and many others.

The music originated from a combination of styles, including blues (both 12 bar and jump), country and western, 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.

History/1960s-1980s

Some soul musicians were from southern states such as Georgia natives Otis Redding(from Tennessee), Eddie Floyd(from Alabama), Lee Dorsey (from Louisiana). Southern soul was influenced by blues and gospel music.

Southern soul was at its peak late 1960s, when Memphis soul was popular. 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 and Little Johnny Taylor. 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 had soul chart success with its other artist included Reuben Bell and the Belltones.

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 (from Detroit) 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.

Another Memphis label, Goldwax Records, featured O.V. Wright, James Carr, and Spencer Wiggins, while Al Green, Don Bryant, and 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. In 1983, former Soul Children singer J. Blackfoot saw success on soul chart with his single "Taxi".

1990s-Present

Southern soul music is still being recorded and performed by artists such as Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley, Peggy Scott-Adams, David Sea(Temptations Revue), Shirley Brown, Sir Charles Jones, Barbara Carr, Willie Clayton, Bobby Rush, Mel Waiters, Denise LaSalle, Redd Velvet(USA), Floyd Taylor (son of Johnnie Taylor), Bigg Robb (Zapp family), Gwen McCrae, William Bell, Roy C, Millie Jackson, and Sam Dees among many other known Southern Soul artists that receive worldwide recognition and airplay.

Notable artists

Rhythm sections

Songwriters

See also

Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures* Northern soul

• Rhythm and blues
• Blues
• Soul music
• Gospel music
• Doo wop
• Jazz
• Beach music