Top 5 R&B/Soul Groups 

Matthew Avila, Contributor
March 30, 2021

  1. The Supremesthe supremes | Tsuru1111 | Flickr

The Supremes were a group of 3 female African Americans who were signed to the Motown label in the 60’s. These three African American ladies changed the public image during the civil rights movement.  The Supremes consisted of Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard; they were the most adoored of all of Motown’s groups, and cleared a path for others with music and much more.  

  1. The Jacksons The Jackson 5 – Store norske leksikon

The Jacksons consisted of 5 brothers: Michael, Jermaine, Tito, Marlon, and Jackie who were signed to Motown. In 1968, they were the opening act for Diana Ross (formerly of The Supremes). The Jacksons and Diana were very close. The Jacksons made history with their hits, Like “I’ll Be There,” “ABC,” and more. They finally left Motown and signed with Epic Records and made history once again with their tour, “Victory.”

  1. Earth, Wind & Fire File:Earth, Wind & Fire (2).jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American band that has spanned the musical genres of r&b, soul, funk, jazz, disco, pop, dance, Latin, and Afro-pop they have been described as the most successful acts of all time. The band was founded in Chicago by Maurice White in 1969. It had 13 band members. The band was known for its Kalimba sound and dynamic horn section. They have won many awards and have their own star on the Hollywood walk of fame. 

  1. The TemptationsTemptations miniseries | Karen | Flickr

The Temptations was one of Motown’s famous ensembles. This group performed sharply. The Temptations pushed the tempo to squeeze in as many hits as possible. In 2017, Billboard named successful r&b acts of all time. The group released 16 number one albums, 14 number one singles, and 43 top 10 across four different decades. However, they were not instantly successful. Their music will remain the definition of golden oldies.

  1. The Isley Brothersthe Isley Brothers | Members, Songs & Facts | Britannica

The Isley Brothers have enjoyed one of the longest, most influential, and most diverse careers or popular music. The group originates from Cincinnati, Ohio. started off as a vocal trio consisting of 3 brothers O’Kelly, Rudolph, and Ronald Isley. Their career spans over seven decades. The Isley Brothers have sold 18 million units in the US alone. They have had several hits songs including top 10 singles. The brothers have been honored by several musical awards.-

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