They say the only difference between gospel and Memphis Soul is that instead of singing “Oh, Lord,” you sing “Oh, baby.” This small change in perspective speaks to the city’s unique distinction of being the home to so many different musical influences.

As the capital of the Mississippi Delta during the Great Migration, Memphis benefited from its geographic position, attracting singers and musicians from the cotton fields and juke joints of the rural South. From W.C. Handy to Bessie Smith, from the improvisational jug bands that filled the streets to the lone bluesmen moving in and out of the city, this confluence of culture laid the groundwork for one of popular music’s most distinct forms, Memphis Soul.

In this section, learn about the history of soul music and its most heralded artists and contributors, like Otis Redding, Al Green, Ann Peebles, Isaac Hayes, Al Bell and Willie Mitchell, through informative biographies, timelines and trivia games.