Soul music, also translated as spiritual music, is a branch of American pop music. It originated from black music in Detroit and once occupied a dominant position in both pop music and rhythm and blues music charts. From late 1963 to early 1965, it actually kept rhythm and blues music off the (Billboard) magazine charts for 14 months. It was also a unique time for both whites and blacks, because they were all competing to buy the same style of records. From August 23, 1969 until the decline of spiritual music, the spiritual music charts once became synonymous with the black music charts. Ray Charles (CHARLES, RAY) was the first spiritual artist. In his rhythm and blues music, he absorbed a lot of the passion and singing methods of black gospel music, especially the vocal method called "flower singing". He sang secular songs in an almost sacred way, which in some people's eyes was simply treason. Black rock stars represented by LITTLERICHARD are more enthusiastic about exploring the same goal. The novelty and uniqueness of this unknown musical style, which contained a large number of black musical elements, excited white teenagers. COOKE (SAM) was the first to break away from the gospel music genre [he is the lead singer of the Soul Stirrers and has a large number of fans]. One of his songs, "You Send Me" (1957 No. 1 song), embodies the essence of "flower singing" and marked the beginning of the era of police songs. However, some of his subsequent compositions fell short of standard and greatly disappointed the audience. .

James Brown (BROWN, JAMES) of King Records had a unique style and entered the pop music charts in 1958. In 1960, Jim Stewart founded Satellite Records in Memphis, focusing on cultivating local singers. That same year he released a series of chart-topping songs recorded by Rufus Thomas and his daughter Carla. Of course, their large-scale success must be attributed to the training of Otis Redding (REDDING, OTIS). Because there was already a Satellite record label on the West Coast, they had to change their name to Stax Records. Soon, they reached sales agreements with Atlantic Records and Muscle Shoals Recording Studio's Fame Company. Jerry Wexler was responsible for connecting Atlantic artists to record records in the South. Stax had its own house orchestra thanks to the addition of a local rhythm and blues band, the Royal Spades, and later the Booker Tand the MGs and the Memphis Horns. Young producer Chips Moman soon began building his own recording studio. Isaac Hayes and David Porter also wrote extensively for "Sam & Dave." The eccentric and fantasy-filled Tom Stafford recruited several young producers such as Rick Hall and Billy Sherill, as well as keyboardist Spooner Spooner Oldham, singer Dan Penn [who has sung many more black songs than Elvis Presley], composer Donny Fritz (Donnie Fritts) and others founded Fame Records. Their first chart-topping songs were all by Arthur Alexander. These set off an upsurge in soul music creation among black artists. In addition to the people mentioned above, FRANKLIN, ARETHA, PICKETT, WILSON, Joe Tex ), Percy Sledge (Percy Sledge), Ben E. King (KING, BENE), William Bell (William Bell) and Solomon Burke (BURKE, SOLOMON) were respectively run by some white amateurs. Recording in a small studio. Their approach was supported by quick-thinking, energetic young musicians in the South who risked everything and trudged on a road fraught with hardships. At that time, these artists did not have the conditions to discuss together at any time, but the early music synthesis competition emerged under such circumstances (although it happened by accident, it is absolutely true). It touched the hearts of an entire generation.

As we all know, the golden age of spiritual music ended quietly with the assassination of Martin Luther King on April 4, 1968. Afterwards, black people all over the United States launched a series of retaliatory activities without blame. Because the personal safety of employees could not be guaranteed, Stax had to temporarily suspend operations.

At the 1968 National Association of Radio and Television Commentators convention, Wexler was mock-hanged and others were beaten so severely that many reportedly began carrying guns. In fact, despite the complete victory of blacks in the pop music scene, black entertainers and businessmen [with the exception of Chicago's Berry Gordy] were unable to maintain the success they had achieved and were forced to resort to White people's companies (until the 1980s, this situation did not change much. If you are not a "Lionel Richie" type figure, big companies will not pay attention to you). The golden age of spirituals also marked the end of years of de facto racial segregation, and the human rights movement began to flourish. Of course, it will take the American people 20, 30 or more years to eliminate the profound impact of more than 300 years of racial oppression. Artists involved in this music revolution at Stax and Fame are also showing off their skills and exploring various possibilities. However, some classic music genres are still being created conscientiously, and their works still occupy a high position in the hearts of listeners.

Arnold Shaw elaborated on such a theory in his book "Black Popular Music in America'86" that rhythm and blues music is dogmatic, while soul music Motown is popular Music is anti-dogmatic. White music combines these two music forms into one. The singing group "RIGHTEOUSBROTHERS" successfully realized the true meaning of spiritual songs. People call their unique music style "Blue Eyed Spirituality". Song". Steve Winwood (WINWOOD, STEVE) won the Grammy Award in 1987, which was another achievement of the spiritual era. The term "northern soul" refers to the fact that white pop music in the north of England drew a lot from the great black music, rather than from the dull and pretentious performances on London TV shows, even in British club dance halls. The music here is also greatly influenced by spiritual songs. GREEN, AL, who was born in the church, became one of the greatest entertainers throughout the 1970s. "Sweet spirituals" refers to black romantic singers like Peabo Bryson. Al Jarreau's records, like many others published in the 1980s, were slow to sell, but his soulful singing moved thousands of listeners. In the mid-1980s, people working in the advertising, film and television, and recording industries were between 30 and 40 years old. They know how great classic spirituals are. Atlantic used the original recordings and reissued seven double albums.

As long as it is not done hastily, spiritual songs are a sign of beauty