If you wanted to understand the thoughts and attitudes of a group of people, you simply must look at the music they are listening to and creating. Music has always been shaped by the events and attitudes of our society, whether they are positive or negative and that very music can then go on to shape another group of people. It is tragically ironic that one of the most profound influences on the early development of rock and roll music in America was born not out of American creativity, but out of the injustice, suffering and hardship of the people from another nation. We are, of course talking about the influx of African slaves into America, which began in the 19 in the 1600s. Along with their broken dreams and grief over the loss of their Liberty and Homeland, they also brought with them, their music.

Although slavery was abolished in America in 1865, the influences of African culture in music remain today. Slaves developed work songs, many of which were in the call and response form, to enable them to work at the same pace and to past the time. Singing was also a comfort in an otherwise terrible life and it gave them some hope that their life would get better period this style of singing would eventually evolve into many different genres, including soul, R&B, Gospel, Blues, Doo-Wop, and later on, Hip Hop. 

The two most notable soul record labels are Motown and Stax records Motown. Motown Records was started by Berry Gordy, Jr. in Detroit, Michigan. The word Motown is a combination of the words motor and town, as Detroit was the US base of the auto industry and often referred to as Motor City. The Stax label comes from the combination of the name names of the two original owners of the label Jim Stewart and his sister Estelle Axton. 

The sound of Soul depended on its location. Think of different urban areas as different people, each having their own soul. Detroit Soul (Motown) was more pop in style, with lots of hand clapping, small percussion instruments, melodic basslines, orchestral strings. Philadelphia, or “Philly Soul” featured Doo-Wop vocals and orchestral string parts. Memphis soul (Stax) incorporated more organ and horns in contrast with Motown's traditional trademark vocal harmonies. New Orleans and Chicago were also major urban areas were soul music flourished. 

Some of the most notable soul artists include Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Ray Charles, Isaac Hayes, Patti LaBelle, The Supremes, the Temptations, and Curtis Mayfield. Aretha Franklin's well-known song I Never Loved A Man, Respect and Do Right Woman, Do Right Man are classics of the soul genre. Soul music was highly influential in the development of various genres such as Disco, House Music and contemporary R&B.