THE BIRTH OF SOUL MUSIC 

Soul music took form in the 1950s and '60s, combining gospel’s fervent vocals, blues’ raw emotion, and rhythm and blues’ infectious grooves. Artists like Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, and Otis Redding pioneered this genre, crafting songs that resonated deeply with both personal and collective struggles. During the civil rights era, soul music became a powerful voice for social change, with artists like Aretha Franklin and James Brown leading the charge.