[Western Music] A Recommendation of the Lady of Soul: Wonderful Female Soul Singers

Lovin’ YouMinnie Riperton

loving you minnie riperton

Sung with an instantly recognizable, strikingly high-toned voice, Lovin’ You is a song that even people not particularly interested in soul or R&B have likely heard at least once.

The original version of this timeless classic—now a standard tackled by many singers—was sung by Minnie Riperton, the legendary artist born in Chicago, Illinois in 1947 who passed away from cancer in 1979 at the young age of 31.

Minnie began her music career as a teenager but struggled to find major hits; however, in 1971 she was selected as a backing vocalist for Stevie Wonder, who had recognized her talent early on.

In 1974 she released Perfect Angel, produced by Stevie, and the following year the single Lovin’ You became a hit, topping the U.S.

charts.

Minnie continued to pursue ambitious projects—such as venturing into the disco sound that was popular at the time—so it’s heartbreaking to think how much more wonderful music she might have left behind had she lived longer.

Many people may only know Lovin’ You, but if this piece has sparked your interest in Minnie, please be sure to listen to her other works as well!

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Killing Me SoftlyRoberta Flack

Roberta Flack – Killing Me Softly

Even if you don’t recognize Roberta Flack’s name, you’ve probably heard “Killing Me Softly With His Blues,” known in Japan as “Yasashiku Utatte,” from the Nescafé commercial.

Born in 1937 and older than Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight, Roberta grew up in a musical family with a pianist father and an organist mother.

She excelled in competitions as a pianist, entered university, and studied classical music and vocal performance—an impressively intellectual background.

Her album debut came in 1969 with First Take, which included “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” the theme song for Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut Play Misty for Me; it topped the U.S.

charts and won a Grammy, making her something of a late bloomer who broke through after turning thirty.

In 1973, her cover of Lori Lieberman’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song” hit No.

1 in the U.S.

and won a Grammy, earning Roberta the unprecedented achievement of winning Record of the Year two years in a row.

From the 1970s onward, Roberta’s work has incorporated elements that bridge not only soul but also classical, jazz, and AOR, showcasing her talent as a sophisticated, cosmopolitan arranger.

She has remained a rare figure who continues to perform actively throughout a long career.

Even if gritty soul isn’t your thing, you may find Roberta’s gentle, soaring voice very accessible.

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Up on the RoofLaura Nyro

Laura Nyro ” Up On The Roof ” (Studio Recording)

Singer-songwriter Laura Nyro, who captured the urbane atmosphere of New York in the melodies of her piano.

She is known for a musical style that uniquely fuses soul, jazz, and gospel.

After her debut in 1966, she achieved major success with songs she wrote for other artists, such as Wedding Bell Blues and Stoned Soul Picnic, which became big hits when covered by The 5th Dimension.

Her own vocal album Eli and the Thirteenth Confession is also highly regarded as a classic, and she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame posthumously in 2012.

Alongside Carole King, she can be considered a pioneering female songwriter.

On nights when you want to feel solitude and love amid the city’s bustle, her passionate, deeply resonant voice is sure to touch your heart.

When Will I See You AgainThe Three Degrees

The Three Degrees – When Will I See You Again (Audio)

The Three Degrees are a female vocal group that has been loved around the world for more than half a century as a leading act of Philadelphia soul.

Since their formation around 1963, they have continued to perform as a trio, maintaining that format despite multiple lineup changes.

Their signature song is undoubtedly “When Will I See You Again,” released in 1974, which achieved international success, reaching No.

2 in the U.S.

and No.

1 in the U.K.

In addition, their collaboration with MFSB, “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia),” was used as the theme for the music program Soul Train and reached No.

1 in the U.S.

Their sophisticated harmonies are said to have captivated even the then–Prince Charles, making them a group that every soul music lover should hear.

Young Hearts Run FreeCandi Staton

Candi Staton – Young Hearts Run Free (Official Music Video) [HD]

When it comes to Southern soul divas known for gospel-infused vocals, surely Alabama-born Candi Staton comes to mind.

She began her career in the late 1960s and drew attention in 1970 with her cover of the country song “Stand By Your Man.” Later, the title track of her 1976 album “Young Hearts Run Free” became a worldwide hit.

With multiple Grammy nominations, her talent is beyond question.

Her greatest appeal lies in her urgent, convincing vocals, which seem to reflect her tumultuous personal life.

She’s a singer you’ll want to hear if you resonate with strong, independent women or are seeking soul music that truly moves the heart.

This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)Natalie Cole

This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) (2003 Remaster)

Natalie Cole, the biological daughter of America’s legendary jazz pianist and singer Nat King Cole, began her own singing career in childhood.

She made a full-fledged professional debut in 1975, and her first album, Inseparable, topped the R&B chart.

The single This Will Be (An Everlasting Love), a superb fusion of sophisticated R&B, jazz, and soul, won two Grammy Awards: Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best New Artist.

Although Natalie launched a promising career without relying on her father’s fame, she struggled from the 1980s onward with a lack of hits and turmoil in her personal life.

In 1989, she made a comeback with the hit R&B ballad Miss You Like Crazy, and in 1991, Unforgettable…

with Love—an album of covers of her father’s songs—reached No.

1 on the U.S.

charts and became a massive success, selling seven million copies in America alone.

The album, which was also a hit in Japan, drew attention for making a duet with her late father possible.

This record, which seems to have awakened her identity as a jazz singer, is of course highly recommended for soul fans as well.

Although Natalie reportedly faced many misfortunes in her private life, we hope you’ll experience her remarkable talent as a singer at least once.

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Don’t Leave Me This WayTHELMA HOUSTON

Thelma Houston – Don’t Leave Me This Way (Long Version) • TopPop

The talented singer Thelma Houston, who hails from Mississippi and has roots in gospel.

She began her career in the late 1960s and is known for leaving behind classic soul and disco recordings on labels such as Motown.

Her career gained full momentum with the 1969 album Sunshower, but it was the 1976 single “Don’t Leave Me This Way” that cemented her worldwide popularity.

With that song, she earned high acclaim, including winning the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in February 1978.

It’s also well known that she is not related to Whitney Houston.

If you’re looking to lift your spirits with a powerful voice, why not give her work a listen?