At the high school dance, it was critical to be near the girl or boy you wanted to dance with when the soulful ballad was played. No genre of music was more in tune with slow dancing that the soul, rhythm and blues, which we call R&B. What were the best or most successful male vocalists of this genre?
1. Jackie Wilson
2. Maurice White (Earth Wind & Fire)
3. Barry White
4. Sam Cooke
5. Marvin Gaye
6. Tony Williams (Platters)
7. Harold Melvin/Teddy Pendegrass
8. Levi Stubbs (Four Tops)
9. Jeffrey Osborne (LTD)
Conclusions: This list is (in our opinion) the Cooperstown of sexy soulful men who could set the mood like no others. Marvin, Barry, and Jeffrey had different vocal ranges, but wow, were they effective. We believe Teddy Pendergrass and Harold Melvin from Philly were the most under rated in the group, while Sam Cooke and Tony Phillips were the founders of male soul sounds.
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