In most cases, the men featured here were described as soul singers, while their female counterparts tend to wear a jazz or blues label. But as your ears will tell you, it's all about the magic in the grooves. There are artists here whose fame will live forever like James Brown, Smokey Robinson, Sam Cooke and Otis Redding and others whose fame remains confined to enthusiasts. Turn up the volume and celebrate with the first generation of soul brothers and blues sisters characters who brought black music to the mainstream and blazed a trail so many have since followed to our great benefit.