D'Wayne Wiggins (1961–2025), co-founder of Tony! Toni! Toné!

D'Wayne Wiggins was a singer and producer best known as the co-founder of R&B hitmakers Tony! Toni! Toné!, who repeatedly hit the charts in the 1980s and ‘90s with songs like “Feels Good,” “It Never Rains (In Southern California),” “Anniversary,” and “If I Had No Loot.”

Gwen McCrae (1943–2025), Rockin’ Chair singer 

Gwen McCrae was a soul, funk, and disco singer best known for her 1975 hit, “Rockin’ Chair.” 

Roberta Flack (1937–2025), Killing Me Softly with His Song singer

Roberta Flack was a singer who had No. 1 hits with “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love.”

Jerry Butler (1939–2025), first leader of The Impressions

Jerry “Iceman” Butler was the original lead singer for The Impressions, who went on to a successful solo career and later became a Chicago politician.0

Tommy Hunt (1933–2025), Hall of Fame soul singer

Tommy Hunt was a soul singer inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with The Flamingos, whose hits include “I Only Have Eyes for You.” 

Sam Moore (1935–2025), Soul Man singer with Sam & Dave

Sam Moore was the surviving half of the Grammy-winning, Hall of Fame-honored soul and R&B duo Sam & Dave, best known for their enduring hit, “Soul Man.”

Brenton Wood (1941–2025), The Oogum Boogum Song singer 

Brenton Wood was a singer and songwriter best known for a trio of hits released in 1967: "The Oogum Boogum Song," "Gimme Little Sign," and "Baby You Got It." 

Cissy Houston (1933–2024), gospel singer and Whitney Houston’s mother

Cissy Houston was a legendary gospel and soul singer, as well as the mother of and the aunt of Dionne and .

Frankie Beverly (1946–2024), R&B singer and founder of Maze

Frankie Beverly was the frontman for the soul/funk band Maze, known for hits like “Can’t Get Over You” and “Back in Stride.” 

Duke Fakir (1935–2024), last surviving founder of the Four Tops

Duke Fakir was a singer best known as the last surviving founder of legendary Motown group the Four Tops.

Amp Fiddler (1958–2023), musician who worked with George Clinton

Joseph “Amp” Fiddler was a keyboardist, producer, singer, and songwriter known for his collaborations with George Clinton’s Parliament and Funkadelic bands, as well as the R&B and soul band Enchantment.

Rudolph Isley (1939–2023), founding member of the Isley Brothers

Rudolph Isley was a singer and songwriter who was a founding member of the Isley brothers, known for hit songs like “Shout,” “It’s Your Thing,” and “Twist and Shout.”

Bobby Eli (1946–2023), Philadelphia musician, producer, and songwriter

Bobby Eli was a Philadelphia musician, producer, and songwriter known for his work with the studio band MFSB, as well as with artists like The Jacksons, , Jay-Z, and Elton John.

Vicki Anderson (1939–2023), singer with the James Brown Revue

Vicki Anderson, a soul singer with the James Brown Revue, also recorded a number of singles as a solo performer. 

Reuben Wilson (1935–2023), soul jazz organist 

Reuben Wilson was a widely sampled jazz organist who helped innovate the soul jazz subgenre.

Isaac “Redd” Holt (1932–2023), Ramsey Lewis Trio drummer 

Isaac “Redd” Holt was the founding drummer with the Grammy Award-winning Ramsey Lewis Trio.

Bobby Caldwell (1951–2023), What You Won’t Do for Love singer

Bobby Caldwell was a singer and songwriter known for music including the 1978 R&B hit “What You Won’t Do for Love.”

Helen Washington (1944–2023), dancer with Isaac Hayes

Helen Washington was a dancer known for her shaved head and her iconic work with on tour and in memorable photos.

Keith Beaton (1950–2023), singer with Blue Magic

Keith Beaton was a singer with the Philadelphia soul group Blue Magic, known for hits including “Sideshow.”

Walter “Wolfman” Washington (1943–2022), popular New Orleans musician 

Walter “Wolfman” Washington was a guitarist and singer who led the popular New Orleans bar band the Roadmasters.

Dino Danelli (1944–2022), drummer for The Rascals 

Dino Danelli was a drummer and founding member of the rock/soul band The Rascals, known for their hit “Good Lovin.”  

J.J. Barnes (1943–2022), "Baby Please Come Back Home” singer 

J.J. Barnes was a soul singer best known for his 1967 hit song “Baby Please Come Back Home.”  

Jim Stewart (1930–2022), Stax Records co-founder

Jim Stewart was a record producer who co-founded the iconic Memphis label Stax Records.

Ivy Jo Hunter (1940–2022), unsung Motown songwriter 

Ivy Jo Hunter was an unsung Motown songwriter and musician who wrote hits for Martha and the Vandellas, the Isley Brothers, and the Four Tops.

Lamont Dozier (1941–2022), songwriter for the Supremes and the Four Tops

Lamont Dozier was one third of the Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting and production team, known for dozens of hit Motown singles in the 1960s and ‘70s.

Sam Gooden (1934–2022), founding member of The Impressions

Sam Gooden was an original member and baritone voice for the legendary Chicago soul group The Impressions.   

William “Poogie” Hart (1945–2022), Delfonics lead singer

William “Poogie” Hart was the founding lead singer for the Delfonics, known for hits including “La-La (Means I Love You).”

Andrew Woolfolk (1950–2022), Earth, Wind & Fire saxophonist

Andrew Woolfolk was the longtime saxophonist for Earth, Wind & Fire.

Joe Messina (1928–2022), guitarist with Motown’s Funk Brothers

Joe Messina was a guitarist with the Funk Brothers, the longtime studio band for Motown Records artists.

Richard Pratt (2022), singer with Blue Magic

Richard Pratt was the bass singer with Philadelphia soul group Blue Magic, known for hits including “Sideshow.”

Howard Grimes (1941–2022), drummer for Al Green, Ann Peebles

Howard Grimes was a drummer with the Memphis soul session band the Hi Rhythm Section, who backed singers including Al Green and Ann Peebles.

Syl Johnson (1936–2022), frequently sampled soul and blues musician

Syl Johnson was a soul and blues singer and guitarist known for songs including “Different Strokes,” “Is it Because I’m Black,” and “Take Me to the River.”

James Mtume (1946–2022), legendary jazz and R&B musician

James Mtume was a legendary jazz and R&B percussionist, producer, and composer known for the hit single ‘Juicy Fruit.’    

Wanda Young (1943–2021), singer with the Marvelettes

Wanda Young was a singer with the Motown group the Marvelettes, who sang lead vocals on hit singles including “Don’t Mess with Bill.”

Joe Simon (1936–2021), Grammy-winning R&B singer

Joe Simon was an R&B singer known for hit singles including “The Chokin’ Kind,” “Power of Love,” and “Get Down, Get Down (Get on the Floor).”

Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas (1951–2021), founding member of Kool & the Gang

Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas was one of the founding members of Kool & the Gang, playing saxophone and other instruments.

Danny Ray (1935–2021), James Brown’s longtime emcee and cape man

Danny Ray was longtime personal valet and emcee, who became an integral part of the singer’s stage show as his “cape man.”

Rance Allen (1948–2020), gospel music legend

Rance Allen was the lead singer of the popular gospel band the Rance Allen Group.

Roy Charles Hammond (2020), legendary soul singer

Roy Charles Hammond was a legendary soul singer known as Roy C. His best-known song was “Shotgun Wedding,” a top 20 R&B hit in 1965.   

Edna Wright (1944–2020), Honey Cone lead singer

Edna Wright was the lead singer of the R&B group Honey Cone, known for their 1971 hit “Want Ads.” She was the sister ofpopular singer Darlene Love.

Marvin Brown (2020), Softones singer

Marvin Brown was a singer with the soul music vocal group The Softones. He was known for his high falsetto voice.  

Betty Wright (1953–2020), Grammy-winning soul and R&B singer

Betty Wright was a soul and R&B singer known for songs including “Clean Up Woman,” “Tonight Is the Night,” and “Where Is the Love.”

Bill Withers (1938–2020), legendary soul singer & songwriter

Bill Withers was a legendary and musician known for the hit songs “Lean on Me,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and “Use Me.”

Phil Phillips (1926–2020), “Sea of Love” singer

Phil Phillips was a singer and songwriter best known for his 1959 hit “Sea of Love.” The song was a million-seller that was later covered by other artists, including popular versions by Del Shannon in 1981 and the Honeydrippers in 1984.

George Chambers (1931–2019), Chambers Brothers bassist

George Chambers  was the bass player for the pioneering psychedelic soul rock band, the Chambers Brothers. George and his brothers Lester, Joe, and Willie started singing in church together as children in Mississippi and formed the band in Los Angeles in the mid-1950s. They started out as a gospel group but later became known in the LA folk music community and were invited by to play at the Newport Folk Festival. The band went electric, adding drummer Brian Keenan, making them one of the first interracial bands. They embraced psychedelic soul music and had a huge hit in 1968 with “Time Has Come Today.” They continued to perform and record as the Chambers Brothers until the mid-1970s. George would go back to gospel music and he would occasionally get back together with his brothers and perform.

Bill Isles (1941–2019), co-founder of legendary R&B group The O’Jays

Bill Isles was one of the original members of soul music hit-makers The O’Jays. He formed a singing group called the Mascots with friends in his hometown of Canton, Ohio, in 1958. They changed their name to the Triumphs and released their first single in 1961. In 1963, they changed their name to The O’Jays and released a successful single in 1965 titled “Lipstick Traces.” Shortly after, Isles left the group and would get married. The O’Jays went on to greater fame in the 1970s with the hit songs “Back Stabbers” and “Love Train.”

Roy Hargrove (1969–2018), Grammy-winning visionary jazz trumpeter

Worked with Common and Erykah Badu.

Aretha Franklin (1942–2018), the "Queen of Soul"

Aretha Franklin (1942–2018) was affectionately called “the Queen of Soul.” Blessed with an incredible voice, she was a giant of soul music. Franklin’s signature song was her version of Otis Redding’s “Respect,” released in 1967. Her many hit songs included “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “Freeway of Love,” and “Rock Steady.”

Legend Is Too Small a Word for Aretha Franklin

“Legend” becomes a small word when applied to someone like . Her influence on music is so profound, it is as if she has always been with us, her gospel-tinged siren call both able to kick off a house party or send someone on their loving way into the afterlife. Once she was crowned “the Queen of Soul” fifty-plus years ago, no other artist could assume the mantle, ever. Even after her death, time will likely prove that any attempt to transfer the title will be met by ridicule.