Stars of Soul and Rhythm & Blues

This book examines 180 of the greatest R&B artists of the past half-century, from the gritty soul of James Brown to the modern funk of Janet Jackson, from the solo vocal heroics of Al Green and Otis Redding to the group harmonies of the Coasters and the Shirelles, from the Motown sweetness of the Four Tops and the Temptations to the contemporary flash of Prince and Bobby Brown. The book covers each artist's career in detail, tracking their hits and explaining how their work has fit into the surrounding musical landscape. Examining the singers and players who have brought R&B from its rough and tumble origins to its current crossover success, this book presents a special view of pop music, from the perspective of its most gifted black artists.