Though success in anything gives birth to many parents, Chicago makes the strongest claim as the “Home of Soul Music.” Its artistic roots and commercialization began here. Described succinctly, Soul formed in the merger of Chicago’s Gospel and Blues traditions.
Though success in anything gives birth to many parents, Chicago makes the strongest claim as the “Home of Soul Music.” Its artistic roots and commercialization began here. Described succinctly, Soul formed in the merger of Chicago’s Gospel and Blues traditions. From those resources strong Gospel choirs populated the churches. The largest churches had trained music directors, who could not find work elsewhere.
Of the three major hotbeds for soul music during the 1960s, Motown had the hits and Memphis had the grit. Unfortunately, Chicago’s fertile soul community is often left off the map — and if it’s recognized at all. The Chicago Soul scene obviously fostered a variety of production styles — including “The Monkey Time” by Major Lance, “Get on Up” by the Esquires, “People Get Ready” by the Impressions, and “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” by Jackie Wilson — featured a sound based on laid-back yet effervescent soul, with sweet vocals and a stinging horn section. Often in tandem with Mayfield, Pate’s productions for ABC-Paramount and Davis’ productions (first for OKeh and later for Brunswick and his own label, Dakar) created a parade of definitive hits for Chicago’s best soul singers: the Impressions, Major Lance, Jackie Wilson, Gene Chandler, Jerry Butler, the Chi-Lites, Barbara Acklin, and Tyrone Davis. the collapse of many independent labels proved a tragic blow to the fortunes of many fine soul singers. SOURE: Soul Of America; All Music
“Don’t Gain The World & Lose Your Soul, Wisdom Is Better Than Silver Or Gold.”― Bob Marley
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