Rhythm and blues was an early form of rock and roll but it also contributed to a smoother sounding musical style called soul. In 1960, Berry Gordy, Jr. began a recording label in Detroit, Michigan called Motown that featured soul music. Motown Records became popular with stars such as The Supremes, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, and the Jackson Five.
Soul was just one style of music that has been called pop music. Pop usually describes popular music of the time. One of South Carolina’s most famous pop singers, James Brown, is known as “The Godfather of Soul.” His style of music is also called rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and funk. It may seem confusing but James Brown’s music is an example of how one artist can perform different styles of music that become pop.
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