'Sprinkle a Little Soul on That': Soul, Music & Aretha Franklin

Sprinkle a Little Soul on that!

When you think of Soul Music, who or what comes to mind? How do you describe it? What does it sound like, and who performs it? Is Soul Music something to understand or a genre of music meant to be appreciated? What’s Soul Music's History and what has been its Journey....

In African American culture, Soul is exhibited as an emotion and expressed via performance, music dance, language, fashion, hairstyles and cuisines. Through these factors, Soul has shaped popular culture in America and thus, helped to propel Black culture around the World. Soul as performance, have created 'Soul Music, 'Soul Power', ‘Soul Brothers & Sisters’, The Godfather of Soul, Hip Hop Soul, Neyo Soul, blue-eyed Soul and the reason for this Blog... Soul has produced the ‘QUEEN OF SOUL', Ms. Aretha Franklin and among the accolades she has received, and you may certainly google all of them… ‘The Queen of Soul' stands out the most. During her career, which spans over 60 years, Aretha Franklin has broken barriers by performing and recording several genres of music including, Pop, Jazz, Gospel, R&B, Pop /Rock, Blues and Doo-wop crowning her the 'Queen of Soul’, but where does soul come from? What is its journey?

Before there was Soul Music and Soul Singers, Ms. Franklin, like so many African American vocalists, began singing and performing spirituals especially in a church setting. While Ragtime, Blues, Jazz and Swing preceded Soul, It was the essence of these spirituals that allowed singers like Franklin to express various lyrics in a way that would move an audience to tears, to their feet or just 'A closer walk with Thee'. Her dynamic vocal range and undisputed manner in which she could deliver vocal tones, indeed dubbed her the ‘Queen' who could exhibit and deliver Soul music effectively.

Today, Thursday August 16th, 2018, we say farewell to the Queen Of Soul’. Her music will forever live on, so take time out today to listen to a few of her hits such as ‘Natural Woman’, Say a little Prayer', 'Respect', ‘Giving him something’ ‘Call me’ and 'Freeway of Love' just to name a fraction. In closing, goggle a Soul Food recipe, play some SOUL Music by the Queen and enjoy Black Culture….. Thank you Ms. Aretha Franklin for blessing the world with your vivaciousness.... Now, 'Sprinkle a Little Soul on that’

Charmel A. Joiner