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Description of Quiet Storm

 
A mellow, romantic strain of R&B, Quiet Storm is soft, smooth and adult-oriented. Named after Smokey Robinson's 1975 album A Quiet Storm, artists in this style focus on soul ballads cushioned by radio-friendly strings and gentle percussion. When Soul and R&B merged with hip-hop in the late '80s, Quiet Storm artists were relegated to Adult Contemporary radio.
 

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Quiet Storm Key Artists

 
Al Jarreau

This vocal stallion has
succeeded with jazz, soul,
Adult Contemporary and TV
theme songs. In the '80s,
Jarreau scored a hit with...

Anita Baker

Baker dominated 1980s
Quiet Storm with a rich,
soaring voice that sent
tingles down nearly every
spine in America. Sarah V...

Atlantic Starr

Originally a Funk band,
Atlantic Starr toned it down
and found love on the
charts with their gorgeously
crafted Quiet Storm. Brot...

Freddie Jackson

Freddie Jackson's sensitive
bedroom ballads give Quiet
Storm stalwart Luther
Vandross a run for the
money. "You Are My Lady...

Larry Graham

Larry Graham was a member
of Sly and the Family Stone
as well as Graham Central
Station. According to
several sources, Graham...

Lionel Richie

Former Commodores front
man goes solo and finds
success in the '80s as a
romantic balladeer. Lionel
Richie's songs dominated...

Luther Vandross

The enduring soul singer
whose husky crooning
appeals across generations
-- and candle-lit tables.
Vandross's self-titled 2001...

Patti LaBelle

She's got a voice to die for
and Soul cred to burn. She's
Patti LaBelle, and she'll
croon or belt the socks off
you. Although she's had o...

Sade

Sade has enjoyed over a
decade of enduring
success thanks to her
elegant, sensual voice and
classy material. Sade's full...

Teddy Pendergrass

A rugged vocalist,
Pendergrass' name is
synonymous with urban
love ballads that uncork the
wine before you even to...

The Commodores

These Motown stalwarts
were led by Lionel Ritchie
and dabbled in everything
from funk ("Brick House") to
sentimental ballads. The C...

Will Downing

Songwriter and R&B crooner
Downing has never quite
clicked with American
audiences, though he's
been poised to for years....

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