Soul music emerged in 1950s-60s America, fusing gospel, rhythm and blues, and jazz into a powerful and heartfelt sound. The genre features raw emotional vocal performances, horn sections, and rhythmic grooves expressing love, joy, heartbreak, and social consciousness. Artists like Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Marvin Gaye defined Soul's passionate delivery, influencing R&B, funk, and contemporary African music across the diaspora.