It is the essence of soul music. The silky, sultry voice of a lead singer pouring out their emotions in song. Bread out of the black experience in the US, soul music came to define a generation. It was the de-facto soundtrack of the Civil Rights movement and with it provided the roots for the ever expanding music umbrella that is black music today. The voices of James Brown, Ray Charles and Aretha Franklyn sang hard on the elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. The pains and joys of everyday life were the context in which the music was understood.

read full post »