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The Story of Soul in 50 Songs
From Memphis grit to Philly smooth, The Story of Soul in 50 Songs takes readers inside the grooves that transformed American music from 1959 to 1974.
Before disco swept the charts, soul music was the dominant sound rising from Black America’s urban centers. Rooted in gospel, jazz, and the blues, soul became the cultural currency of cool in the early 1960s. Each region shaped its own distinctive style, while artists expanded the music’s reach with psychedelia, Latin influences, jazz, and longer, more-adventurous formats.
By the 1970s, soul’s themes grew increasingly sophisticated, and groups like War and Earth, Wind & Fire filled stadiums, often making a seamless leap into disco. Meanwhile, powerhouse backing bands such as Hi Rhythm and the Bar-Kays in Memphis and MFSB in Philadelphia brought regional flavors into sharper focus.
The Story of Soul in 50 Songs charts this evolution track by track. Each entry not only follows the careers of major artists but also highlights the local roots and community voices that shaped the music. Special features spotlight influential people and organizations, while “Voice Boxes” let songwriters, musicians, and label owners speak directly.
Spanning 1959 to 1974, the book celebrates the Soul Era as both a musical revolution and a uniquely American story of resilience, creativity, and joy.[AuthorName]By Scott B. Bomar and Foreword by Candi Staton[/AuthorName][AuthorBio]Scott B. Bomar, a Nashville native based in Los Angeles, is a Grammy-nominated music historian, producer, and author. He’s worked with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Sony, and Penguin Random House and coauthored books with legends like Lamont Dozier and Wanda Jackson. His projects have earned major critical acclaim.
Candi Staton is a singer and songwriter widely acknowledged as the First Lady of Southern Soul. She started her professional career at the age of twelve years old in a children’s group called the Jewel Trio, where she shared the stage with such greats as Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, the Staple Singers, Lou Rawls, and Mahalia Jackson, to name just a few. She has been nominated for five Grammy awards and inducted into three different halls of fame, and her many hit records include “He Called Me Baby,” “Young Hearts Run Free,” and “You Got the Love.”  [/AuthorBio][NumIllustration]230 color and b/w photos[/NumIllustration][CoAuthor][/CoAuthor][SubTitle][/SubTitle][ColorPattern]230 color and b/w photos[/ColorPattern]
Before disco swept the charts, soul music was the dominant sound rising from Black America’s urban centers. Rooted in gospel, jazz, and the blues, soul became the cultural currency of cool in the early 1960s. Each region shaped its own distinctive style, while artists expanded the music’s reach with psychedelia, Latin influences, jazz, and longer, more-adventurous formats.
By the 1970s, soul’s themes grew increasingly sophisticated, and groups like War and Earth, Wind & Fire filled stadiums, often making a seamless leap into disco. Meanwhile, powerhouse backing bands such as Hi Rhythm and the Bar-Kays in Memphis and MFSB in Philadelphia brought regional flavors into sharper focus.
The Story of Soul in 50 Songs charts this evolution track by track. Each entry not only follows the careers of major artists but also highlights the local roots and community voices that shaped the music. Special features spotlight influential people and organizations, while “Voice Boxes” let songwriters, musicians, and label owners speak directly.
Spanning 1959 to 1974, the book celebrates the Soul Era as both a musical revolution and a uniquely American story of resilience, creativity, and joy.[AuthorName]By Scott B. Bomar and Foreword by Candi Staton[/AuthorName][AuthorBio]Scott B. Bomar, a Nashville native based in Los Angeles, is a Grammy-nominated music historian, producer, and author. He’s worked with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Sony, and Penguin Random House and coauthored books with legends like Lamont Dozier and Wanda Jackson. His projects have earned major critical acclaim.
Candi Staton is a singer and songwriter widely acknowledged as the First Lady of Southern Soul. She started her professional career at the age of twelve years old in a children’s group called the Jewel Trio, where she shared the stage with such greats as Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, the Staple Singers, Lou Rawls, and Mahalia Jackson, to name just a few. She has been nominated for five Grammy awards and inducted into three different halls of fame, and her many hit records include “He Called Me Baby,” “Young Hearts Run Free,” and “You Got the Love.”  [/AuthorBio][NumIllustration]230 color and b/w photos[/NumIllustration][CoAuthor][/CoAuthor][SubTitle][/SubTitle][ColorPattern]230 color and b/w photos[/ColorPattern]
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From Memphis grit to Philly smooth, The Story of Soul in 50 Songs takes readers inside the grooves that transformed American music from 1959 to 1974.
Before disco swept the charts, soul music was the dominant sound rising from Black America’s urban centers. Rooted in gospel, jazz, and the blues, soul became the cultural currency of cool in the early 1960s. Each region shaped its own distinctive style, while artists expanded the music’s reach with psychedelia, Latin influences, jazz, and longer, more-adventurous formats.
By the 1970s, soul’s themes grew increasingly sophisticated, and groups like War and Earth, Wind & Fire filled stadiums, often making a seamless leap into disco. Meanwhile, powerhouse backing bands such as Hi Rhythm and the Bar-Kays in Memphis and MFSB in Philadelphia brought regional flavors into sharper focus.
The Story of Soul in 50 Songs charts this evolution track by track. Each entry not only follows the careers of major artists but also highlights the local roots and community voices that shaped the music. Special features spotlight influential people and organizations, while “Voice Boxes” let songwriters, musicians, and label owners speak directly.
Spanning 1959 to 1974, the book celebrates the Soul Era as both a musical revolution and a uniquely American story of resilience, creativity, and joy.[AuthorName]By Scott B. Bomar and Foreword by Candi Staton[/AuthorName][AuthorBio]Scott B. Bomar, a Nashville native based in Los Angeles, is a Grammy-nominated music historian, producer, and author. He’s worked with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Sony, and Penguin Random House and coauthored books with legends like Lamont Dozier and Wanda Jackson. His projects have earned major critical acclaim.
Candi Staton is a singer and songwriter widely acknowledged as the First Lady of Southern Soul. She started her professional career at the age of twelve years old in a children’s group called the Jewel Trio, where she shared the stage with such greats as Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, the Staple Singers, Lou Rawls, and Mahalia Jackson, to name just a few. She has been nominated for five Grammy awards and inducted into three different halls of fame, and her many hit records include “He Called Me Baby,” “Young Hearts Run Free,” and “You Got the Love.”  [/AuthorBio][NumIllustration]230 color and b/w photos[/NumIllustration][CoAuthor][/CoAuthor][SubTitle][/SubTitle][ColorPattern]230 color and b/w photos[/ColorPattern]
Before disco swept the charts, soul music was the dominant sound rising from Black America’s urban centers. Rooted in gospel, jazz, and the blues, soul became the cultural currency of cool in the early 1960s. Each region shaped its own distinctive style, while artists expanded the music’s reach with psychedelia, Latin influences, jazz, and longer, more-adventurous formats.
By the 1970s, soul’s themes grew increasingly sophisticated, and groups like War and Earth, Wind & Fire filled stadiums, often making a seamless leap into disco. Meanwhile, powerhouse backing bands such as Hi Rhythm and the Bar-Kays in Memphis and MFSB in Philadelphia brought regional flavors into sharper focus.
The Story of Soul in 50 Songs charts this evolution track by track. Each entry not only follows the careers of major artists but also highlights the local roots and community voices that shaped the music. Special features spotlight influential people and organizations, while “Voice Boxes” let songwriters, musicians, and label owners speak directly.
Spanning 1959 to 1974, the book celebrates the Soul Era as both a musical revolution and a uniquely American story of resilience, creativity, and joy.[AuthorName]By Scott B. Bomar and Foreword by Candi Staton[/AuthorName][AuthorBio]Scott B. Bomar, a Nashville native based in Los Angeles, is a Grammy-nominated music historian, producer, and author. He’s worked with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Sony, and Penguin Random House and coauthored books with legends like Lamont Dozier and Wanda Jackson. His projects have earned major critical acclaim.
Candi Staton is a singer and songwriter widely acknowledged as the First Lady of Southern Soul. She started her professional career at the age of twelve years old in a children’s group called the Jewel Trio, where she shared the stage with such greats as Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, the Staple Singers, Lou Rawls, and Mahalia Jackson, to name just a few. She has been nominated for five Grammy awards and inducted into three different halls of fame, and her many hit records include “He Called Me Baby,” “Young Hearts Run Free,” and “You Got the Love.”  [/AuthorBio][NumIllustration]230 color and b/w photos[/NumIllustration][CoAuthor][/CoAuthor][SubTitle][/SubTitle][ColorPattern]230 color and b/w photos[/ColorPattern]
