Genre: R&B/Soul/Urban
Decades Active: 80s, 90s, 00s
As a singer, producer, and songwriter, Babyface was an inescapable presence in virtually every major facet of pop music during the '90s. His own recordings helped rejuvenate the R&B tradition of the smooth, sensitive, urban crooner and made him a staple of urban contemporary radio. Yet their considerable success was eclipsed by his songwriting... [+] Read More
Genre: R&B/Soul/Urban
Decades Active: 80s, 90s, 00s
As a singer, producer, and songwriter, Babyface was an inescapable presence in virtually every major facet of pop music during the '90s. His own recordings helped rejuvenate the R&B tradition of the smooth, sensitive, urban crooner and made him a staple of urban contemporary radio. Yet their considerable success was eclipsed by his songwriting... [+] Read More
Genre: R&B/Soul/Urban
Decades Active: 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s
Say the name Barry White and you'd be hard pressed to follow it with the name of any other recording artist with such a huge, cross-sectional following. He was at home appearing on Soul Train, guesting with a full band on The Today Show, and appearing in cartoon form in various episodes of The Simpsons. During the '70s, Dinah Shore devoted a... [+] Read More
Genre: R&B/Soul/Urban
Decades Active: 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s
An outlandish, in-your-face stage presence, a strange sense of humor, and a hard-driving funk sound that criss-crossed a few musical boundaries earned Cameo countless comparisons to Parliament/Funkadelic in their early days. However, Cameo eventually wore off accusations of being derivative by transcending their influences and outlasting almost... [+] Read More
Genre: R&B/Soul/Urban
Decades Active: 80s, 90s, 00s
Gregory Abbott's roots stem from Venezuela, his mother's homeland, and the island of Antigua, his father's homeland; making him a dual citizen of the small tropical island and the U.S., where he was born. His career as an award-winning singer, composer, producer, and musician began in New York City. While in New York City, his mother taught him... [+] Read More
Genre: R&B/Soul/Urban
Decades Active: 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s
Harold Melvin was one of the driving forces behind Philadelphia soul, leading his group the Blue Notes to the top of the charts during their stint on Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International label. Despite Melvin's billing out front, the Blue Notes' focal point was lead singer and onetime drummer Teddy Pendergrass, whose surging... [+] Read More
Genre: R&B/Soul/Urban
Decades Active: 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s
Stephanie Mills first came to fame as "the little girl with the big voice" as the star of the hit Broadway play, The Wiz, an adaptation of L. Frank Baum's classic book, The Wizard Of Oz. She had many R&B hits such as "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love," "I Feel Good All Over," "(You're Puttin') A Rush On Me," "Something in the Way (You... [+] Read More
Genre: R&B/Soul/Urban
Decades Active: 60s, 70s
As the first group to score hits with the songwriting/production team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the Intruders played a major role in the rise of Philadelphia soul, but are sometimes lost in the shuffle amid better-known acts like the O'Jays or Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. The Intruders were originally formed as a doo wop group in 1960,... [+] Read More
Genre: R&B/Soul/Urban
Decades Active: 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s
With their slinky, horn-powered grooves, impeccable musicianship, and eye-popping album covers, the Ohio Players were among the top funk bands of the mid-'70s. Emerging from the musical hotbed of Dayton in 1959, the group was originally dubbed the Ohio Untouchables, and initially comprised singer/guitarist Robert Ward, bassist Marshall "Rock"... [+] Read More
Genre: R&B/Soul/Urban
Decades Active: 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s
The Spinners were the greatest soul group of the early '70s, creating a body of work that defined the lush, seductive sound of Philly soul. Ironically, the band's roots lay in Detroit, where they formed as a doo wop group during the late '50s. Throughout the '60s, the Spinners tried to land a hit by adapting to the shifting fashions of R&B and... [+] Read More
Genre: R&B/Soul/Urban
Decades Active: 80s, 90s
Troop was a California teen band that got its start by winning $1000 in a talent show in the mid-'80s. The Pasadena, California group were then signed to Atlantic, and their debut single, "Mamacita," reached number two on the R&B charts in 1989. It was modeled after their inspiration, New Edition, whose "Cool It Now" they had lip synched to win... [+] Read More