New Orleans Soul-Blues
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New Orleans Soul-Blues blends blues changes and feeling with gospel-soul vocals, local R&B rhythm, horn charts, organ or piano, and second-line elasticity. It is warmer and more emotionally sung than jump blues, but more rhythmically New Orleans than generic Southern soul, with heartbreak often riding a sly pocket.
History
The style grew as New Orleans R&B entered the soul era through Minit, Instant, Sansu, Imperial, and local studio bands shaped by Allen Toussaint, though its performers—not its producers—gave the records their identity. Irma Thomas, Aaron Neville, Lee Dorsey, Ernie K-Doe, Robert Parker, Earl King, and Johnny Adams carried blues feeling into soul arrangements while keeping the city’s rhythmic fingerprints intact. New Orleans Soul-Blues influenced deep soul, funk, swamp pop, modern Louisiana roots singing, and the continuing festival repertoire of the city.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- Jeff Hannusch, I Hear You Knockin'
- John Broven, Rhythm and Blues in New Orleans
- Peter Guralnick, Sweet Soul Music
- AllMusic