Soul music has merged with many other genres since its beginnings in the 50s, fusing with styles ranging from blues and jazz, to hip hop and R'n'B. It continues to offer inspiration to artists today.

Soul borrowed the hysteria from sanctified church services and applied it to more sensual themes. Its artists sung messages of painful sincerity and personal redemption. This was sacred music made ...

but Ray Charles is the man who made soul music what we know today. Charles fused all sorts of influences – jazz, blues, gospel, even a bit of country – to come up with the classic soul sound.