bluzman61
Diamond Member
And this would also include those that got their start before the 1960's or continued recording after the 1970's. Some of my favorites include - 1) Otis Redding, my absolute favorite soul singer and musician, he had a perfect voice for the music. He could croon gently and emotively AND fiercely belt out a song with equal precision. And he sometimes did BOTH within the same song! Just an incredible live performer, as well, he was taken from us at the horribly too young age of 26. 2) Marvin Gaye, another fantastic singer and musician, he started out as a session drummer for Motown! And what an incredibly smooth and emotive voice the man had. Unfortunately he had personal problems which caused him to be living with his father, who shot Marvin to death. It should've never happened, and was a shock to the music world. 3) Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, who definitely deserved that moniker. Like Otis Redding, she could sing gently and softly AND also really had the ability to belt out a song. I've yet to hear a recording by her where her voice was not incredibly fantastic. 4) Stevie Wonder, just a WONDERFUL singer, songwriter, and musician. His two album/CD release in the 1970's, Songs In The Key Of Life, is my favorite double album/CD all-time. Stevie has always been able to create nice ballads, as well as wonderful bouncy, energetic songs with equal ease. He is a true American treasure. 5) The Four Tops, my favorite soul and r&b group all-time, they get my pick JUST over The Temptations. The Tempts, I believe, had more hit songs than the Four Tops, but I prefer the music of Levi Stubbs and his fellow singers in the group. Here are some of my favorites, who are some of yours?