Soul music (often referred to simply as soul) is a popular music genre
that originated in the African American community throughout the
United States in the 1950s and early 1960s. It combines elements of
African-American gospel music, rhythm and blues and jazz. Soul music
became popular for dancing and listening in the United States, where
record labels such as Motown, Atlantic and Stax were influential
during the Civil Rights Movement. Soul also became popular around the
world, directly influencing rock music and the music of
Africa.According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music
that arose out of the black experience in America through the
transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of funky,
secular testifying". Catchy rhythms, stressed by handclaps and
extemporaneous body moves, are an important feature of soul music.
Other characteristics are a call and response between the lead
vocalist and the chorus and an especially tense vocal sound. The style
also occasionally uses improvisational additions, twirls and auxiliary
sounds. Soul music reflected the African-American identity and it
stressed the importance of an African-American culture. The new-found
African-American consciousness led to new styles of music, which
boasted pride in being black.Soul music dominated the U.S. R&B chart
in the 1960s, and many recordings crossed over into the pop charts in
the U.S., Britain and elsewhere. By 1968, the soul music genre had
begun to splinter. Some soul artists developed funk music, while other
singers and groups developed slicker, more sophisticated, and in some
cases more politically conscious varieties. By the early 1970s, soul
music had been influenced by psychedelic rock and other genres,
leading to psychedelic soul. The United States saw the development of
neo soul around 1994. There are also several other subgenres and
offshoots of soul music.
that originated in the African American community throughout the
United States in the 1950s and early 1960s. It combines elements of
African-American gospel music, rhythm and blues and jazz. Soul music
became popular for dancing and listening in the United States, where
record labels such as Motown, Atlantic and Stax were influential
during the Civil Rights Movement. Soul also became popular around the
world, directly influencing rock music and the music of
Africa.According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music
that arose out of the black experience in America through the
transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of funky,
secular testifying". Catchy rhythms, stressed by handclaps and
extemporaneous body moves, are an important feature of soul music.
Other characteristics are a call and response between the lead
vocalist and the chorus and an especially tense vocal sound. The style
also occasionally uses improvisational additions, twirls and auxiliary
sounds. Soul music reflected the African-American identity and it
stressed the importance of an African-American culture. The new-found
African-American consciousness led to new styles of music, which
boasted pride in being black.Soul music dominated the U.S. R&B chart
in the 1960s, and many recordings crossed over into the pop charts in
the U.S., Britain and elsewhere. By 1968, the soul music genre had
begun to splinter. Some soul artists developed funk music, while other
singers and groups developed slicker, more sophisticated, and in some
cases more politically conscious varieties. By the early 1970s, soul
music had been influenced by psychedelic rock and other genres,
leading to psychedelic soul. The United States saw the development of
neo soul around 1994. There are also several other subgenres and
offshoots of soul music.
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