While most soul singers are men, there have been quite a few female soul singers that have been notable over the years, with their voices and style. Soul originated in the United States, particularly in the African American churches and gospel music. The combined enthusiasm and soaring vocals made for a new genre of music that is still often imitated today.
Probably the best known is Aretha Franklin, who is also called The Queen of Soul. Her long career has culminated in bringing rhythm and blues to the nation, especially with her mega hit "Respect". That song was made to be sung by Otis Redding, but Aretha did it and made it her own. It is one of the most iconic songs in the Motown genre and made her very famous.
A contemporary of Aretha Franklin's was the then lead singer for the group The Pips, Gladys Knight. The group's name was later changed to Gladys Knight and the Pips. Her honorary title was the Empress of Soul, and rightly so. Her smooth and heartfelt vocals, especially on the hit "Midnight Train to Georgia" endeared her to millions of loyal fans.
Many of these singers spanned other genres, including pop, gospel and jazz. Etta James recreated herself many times over her musical lifetime, bringing in fans of many generations with her vocal talents. Her most notable song was "At Last", which was covered by Beyonce at the Obama presidential inaugural ball, where Mr. Obama and first lady Michelle danced to the song. This gave a new life to the music of Etta James and other female blues singers.
Anna Mae Bullock, who changed her name to Tina Turner, is one of the most iconic female soul and R&B singers to ever take the stage. First appearing with her then husband, Ike Turner, she burned up the stage with her energetic dance moves, often shaking and shimmying her way across the stage. Her high powered vocals and many talents have made her instantly recognizable for many years, as well as completing some acting in movies.
One of the most notable modern day singers was the late Amy Winehouse, whose quirky looks, smoke-filled voice and personal lyrics brought her many fans across the world. She won 5 Grammy awards for her album Back to Black in 2006, but died at the age of 27 after battling substance abuse for several years.
Another modern vocalist who has taken the world by storm is the London born and raised Adele. She was discovered through social media, through a My Space video, and became an iconic superstar practically overnight. Her voice has been described as "flawless" and her lyrics expressive and real. Her appeal is widespread, spanning many generations and social classes. She is only 24 but has won many awards and apparently has a long career life ahead of her in the world of music.
While most vocalists in this genre are male, female soul singers have been around for some time, even before it became more socially acceptable for women to be on stage. This has encouraged and opened up the doors for a younger generation of singers to make their way in the world of soul and rhythm and blues music.
Probably the best known is Aretha Franklin, who is also called The Queen of Soul. Her long career has culminated in bringing rhythm and blues to the nation, especially with her mega hit "Respect". That song was made to be sung by Otis Redding, but Aretha did it and made it her own. It is one of the most iconic songs in the Motown genre and made her very famous.
A contemporary of Aretha Franklin's was the then lead singer for the group The Pips, Gladys Knight. The group's name was later changed to Gladys Knight and the Pips. Her honorary title was the Empress of Soul, and rightly so. Her smooth and heartfelt vocals, especially on the hit "Midnight Train to Georgia" endeared her to millions of loyal fans.
Many of these singers spanned other genres, including pop, gospel and jazz. Etta James recreated herself many times over her musical lifetime, bringing in fans of many generations with her vocal talents. Her most notable song was "At Last", which was covered by Beyonce at the Obama presidential inaugural ball, where Mr. Obama and first lady Michelle danced to the song. This gave a new life to the music of Etta James and other female blues singers.
Anna Mae Bullock, who changed her name to Tina Turner, is one of the most iconic female soul and R&B singers to ever take the stage. First appearing with her then husband, Ike Turner, she burned up the stage with her energetic dance moves, often shaking and shimmying her way across the stage. Her high powered vocals and many talents have made her instantly recognizable for many years, as well as completing some acting in movies.
One of the most notable modern day singers was the late Amy Winehouse, whose quirky looks, smoke-filled voice and personal lyrics brought her many fans across the world. She won 5 Grammy awards for her album Back to Black in 2006, but died at the age of 27 after battling substance abuse for several years.
Another modern vocalist who has taken the world by storm is the London born and raised Adele. She was discovered through social media, through a My Space video, and became an iconic superstar practically overnight. Her voice has been described as "flawless" and her lyrics expressive and real. Her appeal is widespread, spanning many generations and social classes. She is only 24 but has won many awards and apparently has a long career life ahead of her in the world of music.
While most vocalists in this genre are male, female soul singers have been around for some time, even before it became more socially acceptable for women to be on stage. This has encouraged and opened up the doors for a younger generation of singers to make their way in the world of soul and rhythm and blues music.
About the Author:
To discover more about female soul singers like Pauline Newman go to http://www.paulineenewman.com. This site contains a lot of info and also links to her music.
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