The American disco, R&B, soul vocalist Cheryl Lynn was born Lynda Cheryl Smith on March 11, 1957, in Los Angeles, California, to Opal Smith, a pianist and minister of music at the city’s Church of the Living God. Growing up, Cheryl was a member of … Read MoreCheryl Lynn (1957- )
Often called the Queen of Neo-Soul, R&B lyricist, vocalist, poet, actor, and social activist Jill Heather Scott was born on April 4, 1972, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to the single mother, Joyce Scott. She graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls in 1990. Afterward, Scott … Read MoreJill Scott (1972- )
The Emotions were an American Grammy Award-winning soul/R&B vocal ensemble from Chicago, Illinois who began as a gospel group called the Hutchinson Sunbeams in 1962. The group transitioned into R&B music in 1963. The Emotions were four sisters: Wanda Hutchinson-Vaughn, born December 17, 1951; Jeanette … Read MoreThe Emotions (1962-2020)
The Mad Lads were vocalists of soul/funk, R&B from Memphis, Tennessee. They were led by founding members tenor John Gary Williams who was born in the city on September 15, 1946. Other members included bass/baritone Julius Eichenfeldt Green, born October 30, 1947, in Memphis, tenor … Read MoreThe Mad Lads (1964–1972)
The Soul-funk R&B ensemble, known as the Dramatics and formed in 1964 in Detroit, Michigan, began as the Dynamics, a vocal sextet. The original members included countertenor Ron Banks born on May 10, 1951, tenor Cleveland Larry Reed, born on October 17, 1948; and baritone … Read MoreThe Dramatics (1964-2000)
Legendary composer, lyricist, guitarist Roebuck (Pop) Staples, born on December 28, 1914, in Winona, Mississippi, and his wife, Oceola Staple, a pianist from Louisville, Mississippi, was born on September 10, 1917, The couple met as children at the Rosenwald’s Little Red Schoolhouse in Drew, Mississippi … Read MoreThe Staple Singers (1954-2018)
Established in 1966 as the Friends of Distinction, this California pop/soul sound R&B vocal quartet added a new dimension to the sound of African American contemporary music. They first thought to name the group, Distinctive Friends, but one of the members reversed the words. The … Read MoreFriends of Distinction (1966-1996)
Major Lance was a popular R&B and soul singer and a prominent figure of Chicago’s soul scene in the 1960’s. Born in Winterville, Mississippi, on April 4th, 1939, Lance moved to Chicago, Illinois as a child. Before turning to music, the multitalented Lance showed interests … Read MoreMajor Lance (1939- 1994)
Earth, Wind & Fire (EWF) is multi-genre band that spans across R&B, soul, jazz, disco, funk, rock, and Latin musical styles. Some of the band’s most prominent members included Maurice White, Phillip Bailey, Verdine White, Fred White, Larry Dunn, Ralph Johnson, John Paris, Johnny Graham, … Read MoreEarth, Wind & Fire (1970-2013)
Formed in 1960, The Temptations were an American vocal group widely recognized for their blended harmonies and detailed choreography. As one of the most popular performers of soul music in the 1960s and 1970s, the Temptations recorded almost exclusively for Motown Records. Although the group … Read MoreThe Temptations (1960- )
