Country Soul

Soul music developed out of black rhythm and blues in the 1950s and '60s. The soul sounds that came out of southern cities like Memphis and Atlanta shared a gritty, raw approach with traditional country music. Both musics stayed close to the ground and paid tribute -- each in their own way -- to the blues. Many soul musicians were in fact country fans and over the years have included more than a few country songs in their repertoires. Ray Charles even cut two records in the early '60s called Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, which featured soulful renditions of country classics like "Born to Lose," "It Makes No Difference Now," and "Together Again." These albums became hugely popular. Other black soul singers like Solomon Burke, Etta James, and Arthur Alexander recorded country songs too, and in 1968, Joe Tex cut an album called Soul Country. Memphis pianist Charlie Rich, with his soaring voice and penchant for jazz and blues rhythms, was as much a soul singer as he was a country or Rockabilly artist.