The moment you bring up the subject of the best rhythm and blues artists, it can lead to a debate. The absence of Rihanna, whose astonishing success is more heavily entrenched in pop than R&B, will undoubtedly be noted by naysayers. Singers whose iconic reputation arose solely from their roles as frontmen in bands rather than as solo artists were excluded. Game-changing influence, sales, effect, and enduring musical legacy are among the factors considered.
These artists we have definitely heard and will always remember.
Al Green – When it comes to soul music, you can’t talk about it without bringing up Al Green. He used to spark magic through songs like “Tired of Being Alone,” “Let’s Stay Together,” “I’m Still in Love With You,” and “Love and Happiness.”
Whitney Houston – “You Give Good Love,” Whitney Houston’s debut single and first R&B No. 1, was released in 1985. Houston, aka The Voice, became an overnight sensation thanks to her powerful, soaring four-octave mezzo-soprano and a string of subsequent songs and top-selling soundtracks.
Stevie Wonder – He has been blind since birth but has natural abilities as a singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, is one of the rare performers who has successfully transitioned from teen to adult prominence.
Michael Jackson moonwalked his way to solo superstardom as the pre-teen frontman of the chart-topping family group The Jackson 5.
James Brown – During a six-decade career that impacted the birth of funk and introduced black pride into the musical mainstream, James Brown was all of these things and more. Brown’s rough, street-edged vocals — a mix of singing and talking — were also essential in laying the groundwork for rap/hip-hop.