Al Green

Al Green was the first great soul singer of the '70s and perhaps the last great Southern soul singer. Green bridged the divide between deep soul and smooth Philadelphia soul with his alluring singles for Hi Records in the early ' the 70s. He blended gospel elements, interjecting his performances with wild moans and wails. Still, his records were elegant, boasting flawless productions that rolled along with a tight groove, sexy back vocals, and lush strings.

Al Green is known to have released a series of soul hit singles in the early 1970s. He released a series of gospel albums on Myrrh Records in the '80s. In 1982, Green appeared with Patti Labelle in the gospel musical Your Arms Too Short to Box With God. Al Green was added to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. That same year, Your Heart's in Good Hands was released, a new urban record that marked his first secular album to release in America since Truth and Time. He was the recipient of the 11 Grammy Awards. His third Blue Note album, 2008's Lay It Down, featured an up-to-date sound that still mirrored the feel of his classic early soul style.