This list is not based only on albums sales, nor pure vocal power, this list takes into account the artist impact. Each of these artist created music that represents how we look at life, how we deal with and cultivate relationships, and some of went so far as to show how we view the world. R & B is no longer the soulful rhythm genre of music it once was. It has now been co-opted by hip hop and pop. I am sure that many people will have issue with some of the people on my list. If you’re favorite artist doesn’t have enough material for a greatest hits albums, they’re probably not on this list.
1. Stevie Wonder is pure musical genius! Mr. Stevie Wonder is a gifted musician who has one of the smoothest, melodic, and recognizable voices to every be heard on radio, hands down. Since the age of 13 Mr. Wonder and produced hit after hit and here it is four decades, 30 top ten hits and 22 Grammys later and his music still makes us smile. He was never one to sing easy song, he sung songs with difficult choruses, abrupt stops and unpredictable changes. His accomplishments and impact on the music world is unrivaled.
2.Michael Jackson as a 10 year-old he blew most competition young and old out the water! M.J. wasn’t just a talent, he was a true student of music. To Michael Jackson music is art and he used his versatility to navigate musical genres effortlessly. His songs went the extra mile, with sound and vocal effects to create a deeper ambiance. Through his voice you could hear the anxiety, sadness or stress of a song, it was Jackson’s musical experimentations that led to the creation of modern-day pop-music. Michael’s voice is as distinctive, his smooth harmonic sounds are timeless. He has been often imitated (Donnell Jones, Usher, Beyonce, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown and countless others), but never duplicated! You can also credit him with the needless explosion of choreography in videos and stage performance.
3. Prince was musically and thematically ahead of his time. Compiling ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. He infused dark funk, pop, gospel soul with R & B passion. It was Prince and Michael Jackson who and sustained Music Television and music video. He is also the uncredited father of the “text message”. Prince is an ambitious, creative, inspired musician. His off-kilter, feminine voiced songs are not duplicate. From ballads, to love songs, to dance melodies Prince did it all.
4. R. Kelly is an incredibly gifted versatile singer. Robert Kelly can bring you from high and passionate, to a playful sing-song flow with the greatest of ease. Kells, or the Pied-Piper of R & B manages to reinvent himself with each album. He has sung songs about topics that are relevant to the everyday man from finances, to love problems, to having faith in oneself. Billboard has acknowleded R. Kelly as #1 R & B artist of the last 25 years, go figure. His collaborations are legendary and the next time you are “Stepping”, or doing the “Slide” at a club or wedding reception remember that R. Kelly made it possible.
5. Ray Charles: His records were always filled with an expressed assortment of slurs, glides, moans, shrieks, wails, shouts, and hollers that were all beautifully controlled, disciplined and inspired by his musicianship. For over 40 years Ray Charles filled us with thought and empowerment. He composed, arranged and produced his music long before there was a corporate vehicle to do so. Whether he was tackling country music, putting in Latin-esque blues motif or call and responses with the back-up singer, Ray Charles was a musical explorer who pushed boundaries and the boundaries of race, a pioneer. He had one of the most distinctive and powerful voices the industry has ever known and it’s a shame that more people don’t know his work.
Also in order and deserving to be mentioned for the great music and contributions to the R & B genre are James Brown, Luther Vandross, Lionel Richie, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pentergrass, Al Jereau, Usher, Ron Isley, Smokey Robinson, Keith Sweat, Al Green, Freddie Jackson, Baby Face, Barry White, Jackie Wilson, Peabo Bryson, Frankie Beverly, Brian McNight, Maxwell, Howard Hewett, Jackie Wilson, Jeffrey Osbourne, James Ingram, Avant, Lou Rawls, Brian Mcknight, Musiq and Joe.
What’s Your Top 5?
March 29, 2011 at 5:45 am
The Art Of War…
Another good post I found which you’ll probably be…
May 1, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Where is David Ruffin?
Where is Ben E. King?
The top s/b cooke, ruffin,charles,king, rawls,gaye and bryson. Not necessarily in that order
my 2nd tier would be luther, Al Green,Jackie, michael, and James.
3rd would be Lionel, Teddy, Al Joureau,R. Kelly, Smokey, Prince, Levi Stubbs
March 30, 2011 at 11:36 am
I agree this is quite an impressive list, but a top 10 list would’ve been much more fair…that way you could’ve included the famous R&B crooners like Barry White and Luther Vandross…
April 6, 2011 at 10:21 am
It is a nice list. I like most of them, Especially Jackson, he is amazing. Songs of these singers I downloaded from http://www.torrentoff.com for free and know listen to them all day long )
April 7, 2011 at 10:45 pm
Why would you rate R Kellye in top 5 instead Luther, Teddy, or Marvin? You going to have explain that to me?
May 4, 2011 at 11:09 pm
A Top Five is tough. As much as I LOVE the genious of R Kelly, MJ, Prince, and Stevie Wonder, they would not make my top five. Yes, they are all incredible song writers and performers. But SINGERS?! Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Ray Charles, Smokie Norful, and someone like Luther, Brian McKnight, or Gerald Levert would round out my top five. It is a really tough choice.
May 31, 2011 at 12:27 am
My all time fave singer is # 1 . I love me some Steveland Morris.
July 18, 2011 at 3:22 am
great choices!
July 29, 2011 at 10:31 am
(-_-) Um… where in sand hell is Marvin Gaye?
November 11, 2011 at 9:07 pm
Luther Vandross DEFINATELY should have been on the top five!!!
November 11, 2011 at 9:09 pm
Can’t forget about Donnie Hathaway…one of the GREATEST voices EVER ANYWHERE!!!!!!
November 11, 2011 at 10:54 pm
I strongly feel Marvin Gaye should have made the list!
December 27, 2011 at 11:35 am
yo i respect al those musicians except Mr Jackson. I mean if u cant possibly find peace with yo nature as a humanbeing worse stil an artist. Then pple wil find it hard trying 2 find peace and a place 4 yo music/art. Yo! his music wasnt R.n.B.
January 25, 2012 at 10:39 pm
LISTEN ANYONE WHO PUTS R KELLY OVER MARVIN GAY IS SMOKING CRACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
R KELLY SHOULD NOT BE IN THE TOP TEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 25, 2012 at 10:49 pm
top TEN
1 STEVIE WONDER
2 PRINCE
3 M JACKSON
4 MARVIN GAYE
5 LUTHER VANDROSS
6 RAY CHARLES
7 JACKIE WILSON
8 SAM COOK
9 JAMES BROWN
10 SMOKEY ROBINSON
July 31, 2012 at 1:40 pm
keith powell’s top ten is the same as mine…different order but exactly the same 10 men
July 31, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Honorable mention to: Teddy Pendergrass and David Ruffin
September 21, 2012 at 3:20 am
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January 19, 2013 at 11:25 pm
Completely shocked that Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield, & Eddie Levert didn’t even get a mention. Usher???? Are you serious? Otis Blue might be the greatest “soul” album ever. Maybe no one remembers the Superfly soundtrack or Mayfield’s legendary work with the Impressions. Eddie Levert’s vocals on the O’Jays Backstabbers are peerless. R. Kelly is alright but he ain’t no where near the greats. I put Sam Cooke #1, Ray Charles #2, Marvin #3, Otis #4. #5 Could be a lot of the brothers left..
October 17, 2013 at 7:14 pm
I would not have prince in the top five his presents was not one of longevity and his music was not all that appealing to the masses.