![\"Billboard](\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/2HpFicp.png\")
<\/p>\n50. The Drifters<\/h2>\n\n\n\tSigned to Atlantic, the quartet \u2014 formed as the backing group for lead singer Clyde McPhatter \u2014 scored its first R&B Songs chart-topper in 1953 with \u201cMoney Honey.\u201d A string of additional top 10 hits ensued, as did a rotating round of sonorous-voiced lead singers, including Bill Pinkney, Ben E. King and Rudy Lewis. Throughout the course of these various group iterations, the result was the same: heavenly harmonizing that still resonates today thanks to a crop of R&B\/pop hits from the late \u201850s through the mid-\u201860s, like \u201cThere Goes My Baby,\u201d \u201cSave the Last Dance for Me,\u201d \u201cUp on the Roof, \u201cOn Broadway\u201d and \u201cUnder the Boardwalk.\u201d \u2014\u00a0GAIL MITCHELL<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n49. Bar-Kays<\/h2>\n\n\n\tOne of the most storied backing bands in R&B history during their time at Stax Records, the Bar-Kays supported no less a soul icon than Otis Redding during his 1967 peak, while also scoring a crossover smash of their own with the riotous (mostly) instrumental \u201cSoul Finger.\u201d The tragic plane crash that claimed Redding\u2019s life in late \u201967 also took four members of the Bar-Kays. But the group improbably recovered with a new lineup to continue as vital contributors to the soul scene of the late \u201960s and early \u201970s \u2014 notching another signature hit with 1971\u2019s oft-sampled \u201cSon of Shaft\u201d and backing the legendary Isaac Hayes on one of the greatest R&B albums of all time, 1969\u2019s Hot Buttered Soul<\/em>. \u2014 ANDREW UNTERBERGER<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n48. Martha & The Vandellas<\/h2>\n\n\n\tAfter nearly outshining Marvin Gaye on a few of his early classics as backup singers, Martha & The Vandellas took center stage in the mid-\u201960s as Motown\u2019s most versatile, gritty girl group. Martha Reeves\u2019 range (and the irrepressible exuberance of Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard) meant the group could start a pounding party on \u201cDancing in the Street,\u201d serve introspective harmonizing on \u201cIn My Lonely Room,\u201d sell lovelorn sweet sighs on \u201cJimmy Mack\u201d and belt out the ultimate encapsulation of love\u2019s pulsating chaos with \u201c(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave.\u201d \u2014\u00a0JOE LYNCH<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n47. The Dramatics<\/h2>\n\n\n\tThe Dramatics understood that great music must be heard, felt and seen deep in the soul. The Detroit group distinguished itself through impeccable harmonies, coordinated choreography and emotionally rich storytelling. Their catalog includes classics such as \u201cWhatcha See Is Whatcha Get,\u201d \u201cIn the Rain\u201d and \u201cMe and Mrs. Jones.\u201d Their signature ballad, \u201cIn the Rain,\u201d topped Billboard<\/em>\u2019s then-named Hot Soul Singles chart and remains a defining soul recording of the \u201870s. While Motown dominated much of Detroit\u2019s musical narrative, The Dramatics showcased the city\u2019s theatrical side. The group\u2019s blend of showmanship and vocal precision influenced generations of R&B performers, while later collaborations with Snoop Dogg and extensive hip-hop sampling underscore their enduring legacy. \u2014\u00a0RAQUELLE HARRIS<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n46. The Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\t\u201cSomebody bring me a mirror so I can look at myself!\u201d The Time started as an outlet for Prince to write, produce and release music outside of his solo career, but soon morphed into a vehicle for flashy frontman Morris Day and his performative preening. If Prince was distant, Day was audaciously demonstrative. His fun, appealing personality fueled the wild synth-funk of the 1982 classic\u00a0What Time Is It?<\/em>\u00a0and sublimely ridiculous jams like \u201cThe Bird\u201d and \u201cJungle Love.\u201d For Morris, more was more, and onstage, the Minneapolis band\u2019s indisputable chops routinely proved they were far more than just Prince proteg\u00e9s. Among its members: future songwriting\/production stars Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. \u2014\u00a0J.L.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n45. Atlantic Starr<\/h2>\n\n\n\tBeginning as a funk-oriented ensemble before evolving into one of the defining R&B vocal groups of the 1980s, the New York-based act built a catalog that resonated with both R&B and pop audiences. Hits such as \u201cSecret Lovers,\u201d \u201cCircles,\u201d \u201cTouch a Four Leaf Clover\u201d and \u201cAlways\u201d showcased the group\u2019s versatility, with \u201cAlways\u201d reaching No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts. Despite lineup changes and shifting musical trends, Atlantic Starr earned nine top 10 R&B hits. Their polished harmonies, romantic ballads and crossover appeal helped define the Quiet Storm era. Later sampled by Usher, Mary J. Blige and others, Atlantic Starr also helped influence the next generation of R&B\/hip-hop. \u2014\u00a0R.H.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n44. DeBarge<\/h2>\n\n\n\tSigned to Motown\u2019s Gordy label in the early \u201880s, the sibling group led by El and Bunny DeBarge instantly stood out for the brothers\u2019 velvety harmonies and lush, melodic songwriting. DeBarge\u2019s blend of pop and soul yielded a run of indelible R&B hits, including \u201cI Like It,\u201d \u201cAll This Love,\u201d and \u201cRhythm of the Night.\u201d Even as the lineup shifted, the group\u2019s signature sound remained: a seamless mix of falsetto leads and tight vocal interplay, earning DeBarge a lasting place among R&B\u2019s elite. The group disbanded in 1989, while as a solo act, El scored the top five R&B\/pop single \u201cWho\u2019s Johnny,\u201d among other R&B hits. \u2014\u00a0G.M.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n43. War<\/h2>\n\n\n\tEmerging from Long Beach, Calif. in the late \u201860s, the intrepid War fused R&B, funk and Latin rhythms into a distinctive, genre-bending sound. The multicultural collective made its mark with crossover hits like \u201cSpill the Wine\u201d (with the Animals\u2019 Eric Burdon), \u201cThe World Is a Ghetto,\u201d \u201cThe Cisco Kid,\u201c \u201cWhy Can\u2019t We Be Friends?\u201d and \u201cLow Rider.\u201d Powered by hypnotic grooves and socially conscious lyrics, War\u2019s ever-evolving lineup delivered both infectious party jams and pointed commentary, with an innovation and crossover appeal that cemented the band\u2019s status as fearless pioneers. \u2014\u00a0G.M.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n42. The Whispers<\/h2>\n\n\n\tFormed in 1964, Los Angeles\u2019 own legends The Whispers built a reputation for silky-smooth harmonies and enduring ballads that defined radio\u2019s Quiet Storm era. Anchored by the identical Scott twins, Walter and Wallace (aka \u201cScotty\u201d), the group \u2014 whose lineup included Marcus Hutson, Nicholas Caldwell and Leaveil Degree (succeeding original member Gordy Harmon) \u2014 found chart-topping success on Dick Griffey\u2019s S.O.L.A.R.\u00a0\u00a0label with the classics \u201cAnd the Beat Goes On\u201d and \u201cRock Steady,\u201d plus top 10 fan faves through the \u201880s into the \u201890s such as \u201cLady,\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s a Love Thing\u201d and \u201cKeep on Lovin\u2019 Me.\u201d Never straying from a signature sumptuous blend of romance and groove, The Whispers remain a lasting touchstone for R&B lovers. \u2014\u00a0G.M.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n41. The Stylistics<\/h2>\n\n\n\tThe Stylistics defined Philadelphia soul. Led by frontman Russell Thompkins Jr.\u2019s signature falsetto and songwriting\/production duo Thom Bell and Linda Creed, the group raised a generation of yearners on lush romantic R&B ballads. Their dominant run in the \u201870s was capped off by 12 straight top 10 hits on the R&B chart: \u201cYou Make Me Feel Brand New,\u201d \u201cYou Are Everything\u201d and \u201cBreak Up to Make Up\u201d to name a few, as The Stylistics became a key cog in the machine powering Quiet Storm radio, while also providing an early example for groups like fellow Philly natives Boyz II Men to build on.\u00a0\u2013\u00a0MICHAEL SAPONARA<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n40. The Dells<\/h2>\n\n\n\tIllinois\u2019 The Dells would arguably merit placement on this list just for the swooning \u201cOh, What a Nite,\u201d a signature doo-wop smash that proved enduring enough to become a hit twice 13 years apart, reaching the top five on the R&B charts on its 1956 release and making the Hot 100\u2019s top 10 upon its 1969 rerecording as \u201cOh, What a Night.\u201d But the group\u2019s peerless harmonies also graced several classics throughout the decade in between, including invaluable supporting work on Barbara Lewis\u2019 all-time last-call love song \u201cHello Stranger,\u201d and lead duty on their own inimitable loyalty plea \u201cStay in My Corner,\u201d another top 10 Hot 100 hit in 1968. \u2014\u00a0A.U.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n39. The Impressions<\/h2>\n\n\n\tA pioneering R&B group known for its pure harmonies and socially conscious lyrics, The Impressions hit the scene in the late \u201850s. Led by the legendary Curtis \u201cSuperfly\u201d Mayfield \u2014 with a changing membership that included additional future solo stars Jerry Butler and Leroy Hutson \u2014 The Impressions\u2019 sound blended gospel, soul and doo-wop while laying the foundation for Chicago soul. Rolling out top 10s into the \u201870s like \u201cPeople Get Ready,\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s All Right\u201d and \u201cWe\u2019re a Winner\u201d (No. 1) plus \u201cFool for You\u201d and \u201c(Baby) Turn on to Me,\u201d The Impressions provided timeless \u2014 and still powerful songs \u2014 about civil rights, hope and love. \u2014G.M.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n38. The S.O.S. Band<\/h2>\n\n\n\tThe S.O.S. Band could make the rare claim of being both one of the last great disco bands and one of the first great \u201980s R&B bands. \u201cTake Your Time (Do It Right)\u201d proved the leisure-suit era\u2019s demise to be premature by becoming a top five Hot 100 hit and enduring genre classic in 1980. However, the group proved to have far more to offer with the patient, emotionally complex and sonically adventurous grooves of electro-soul smashes like \u201cJust Be Good to Me,\u201d \u201cTell Me If You Still Care\u201d and \u201cThe Finest.\u201d The writers\/producers on that trio of classics, by the way? Just a couple of dudes named Jam and Lewis, who helped define the rest of the century of R&B through their work with Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men and countless other hitmakers. \u2014 A.U.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n37. Zapp<\/h2>\n\n\n\tNo soul group could compare with the ratio of bounce-to-the-ounce that the Troutman family band Zapp offered in the early \u201980s. Led by the signature futurism of frontman Roger\u2019s Vocodored vocals, Zapp helped push R&B out of the disco era and into a postmodern \u201980s era where soul could be just as influenced by the electronic grooves and robotized vocals of Kraftwerk as by conventional touchstones like Sam, Smokey and Marvin. Which isn\u2019t to say that the group lacked humanity: Despite its techno-chic title, \u201cComputer Love\u201d connected through man\u2019s most basic impulses, becoming one of the most enduring get-down slow jams of the late century. \u2014\u00a0A.U.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n36. Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes<\/h2>\n\n\n\tOne of the \u201870s quintessential R&B groups, Harold Melvin & the Blue\u00a0Notes\u00a0were\u00a0instrumental in cultivating\u00a0the Philadelphia\u00a0Soul\u00a0sound\u00a0with assistance from legendary production duo Gamble\u00a0&\u00a0Huff.\u00a0The group also held another key asset:\u00a0a drummer\/lead singer by the name of\u00a0Teddy Pendergrass. The group\u2019s first R&B\/Hot 100 smash \u201cIf You Don\u2019t Know Me\u00a0by Now\u201d (No. 1 and No. 3, respectively) and subsequent hits, like \u201cThe Love I Lost\u201d and \u201cWake Up Everybody\u201d launched Pendergrass and his rich baritone into orbit as a solo star. While the Blue Notes\u2019 string of hits waned after Pendergrass\u2019 1976 exit, the group\u2019s songs have been sampled by Jay-Z, Big Boi and the Wu-Tang Clan.\u00a0\u2014 ANGEL DIAZ<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n35. Cameo<\/h2>\n\n\n\tTwo of the soul-funk group\u2019s greatest hits, \u201cWord Up!\u201d and \u201cCandy,\u201d are perennial classics: R&B chart No. 1s that you still hear on the radio and in clubs while going viral via next-gen TikTok posts. Fronted by Larry Blackmon \u2014 famous in his own right with his attention-grabbing red codpiece and trendsetting hi-top fade (aka \u201cthe Cameo cut\u201d), Cameo notched 15 top 10 R&B hits including their third No. 1 with \u201cShe\u2019s Strange\u201d plus \u201cSingle Life\u201d and \u201cBack and Forth.\u201d True fixtures of Black popular culture, Cameo\u2019s music has been sampled by some of the greatest artists of all time including Tupac Shakur, Beyonc\u00e9, Aaliyah, Jacquees, Wu-Tang Clan and Snoop Dogg. \u2014 CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n34. The Chi-Lites<\/h2>\n\n\n\tGuided by songwriter, producer and vocalist Eugene Record \u2014 who later launched a solo career \u2014 the Chicago group crafted classics with their impeccable harmonies on songs such as \u201cOh Girl,\u201d \u201cHave You Seen Her\u201d and \u201cHomely Girl.\u201d Their signature hit \u201cOh Girl\u201d topped both the Hot 100 and R&B charts in 1972, while \u201cHave You Seen Her\u201d became one of soul music\u2019s defining breakup anthems. Beyond romance, socially conscious songs like \u201c(For God\u2019s Sake) Give More Power to the People\u201d broadened their impact. The group\u2019s influence was introduced to new generations in 2003 when Beyonc\u00e9 sampled the horn riff and vocal loop from the Record-penned 1970 R&B hit \u201cAre You My Woman? (Tell Me So)\u201d for her Hot 100 chart-topper \u201cCrazy in Love.\u201d \u2014 R.H.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n33. The Delfonics<\/h2>\n\n\n\tWhen defining Philadelphia Soul, you must cite the Delfonics.\u00a0The group broke through in 1968 with the top five R&B\/pop crossover\u00a0\u201cLa-La (Means I Love You).\u201d In addition to 1970\u2019s \u201cDidn\u2019t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)\u201d (No. 3 R&B\/No. 10 Hot 100), The Delfonics built a solid reputation for exquisitely capturing the ups and downs of romantic relationships through a string of indelible tracks like \u201cBreak Your Promise, \u201cYou Got Yours and I\u2019ll Get Mine\u201d and \u201cTrying to Make a Fool of Me.\u201d Primarily penned by William \u201cPoogie\u201d Hart,\u201d the group\u2019s founding member and lead vocalist and 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Thom Bell, those classics\u2019 enduring legacy is tied to the group\u2019s sweet harmonies. Trivia note: director Quentin Tarantino used both \u201cLa-La\u201d and \u201cDidn\u2019t I\u201d in his 1997 film Jackie Brown<\/em>. \u2014 A.D.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n32. The Spinners<\/h2>\n\n\n\tRooted in Detroit, The Spinners initially signed with Motown\u2019s V.I.P. label, where the group scored a top five hit with the Stevie Wonder co-written \u201cIt\u2019s a Shame.\u201d But after signing with Atlantic, the group became synonymous with sophisticated stylings of Philadelphia soul through its celebrated partnership with producer Thom Bell. That fortuitous pairing racked up more than a dozen top 10 R&B classics (including six No. 1s) such as \u201cI\u2019ll Be Around,\u201d \u201cCould It Be I\u2019m Falling in Love,\u201d \u201cThe Rubberband Man\u201d and \u201cOne of a Kind (Love Affair). Led by the charismatic and colorful Philippe Wynne during their commercial peak, The Spinners perfectly projected the balance between heavenly harmonies, relatable storytelling and elegant choreography.\u00a0\u2014R.H.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n31. The Gap Band<\/h2>\n\n\n\tThe Gap Band \u2014 sibling trio Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson \u2014 opted for a \u201870s funk sound before homing in on P-Funk with 1979\u2019s \u201cI Don\u2019t Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops!),\u201d reaching No. 4 on the R&B charts.\u00a0More success followed in the\u00a0early\u00a0\u201880s with\u00a0\u201cEarly in the Morning,\u201d \u201cYou Dropped a Bomb on Me\u201d and \u201cOutstanding,\u201d plus a No. 1 R&B with 1989\u2019s \u201cAll of My Love.\u201d Irrespective of Charlie\u2019s estimable solo success, the group boasts a vast legacy. Via sampling and covers, their catalog has been reimagined by\u00a0countless artists, including\u00a0Tina Turner, Ashanti, Tyler, the Creator and\u00a0George Michael. Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars\u2019 2014 smash\u00a0\u201cUptown Funk!\u201d also features an interpolation of the band\u2019s aforementioned \u201cOops!\u201d\u2014 KYLE DENIS<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n30. Commodores<\/h2>\n\n\n\tA fusion of two student bands at Tuskegee Institute, the Commodores helped Motown transition from its \u201860s pop-minded heyday to the \u201870s funk-focused R&B scene. \u201cBrick House\u201d \u2013 you\u2019re already singing it, right? \u2013\u00a0 and \u201cToo Hot Ta Trot\u201d endure with their nasty riffs and invitations to the nearest dance floor. But the band also scored huge success with their heartfelt ballads, particularly the Lionel Richie contributions \u201cEasy,\u201d \u201cStill\u201d and \u201cThree Times a Lady\u201d \u2013 the latter two both No. 1 Hot 100 hits. Given his entire r\u00e9sum\u00e9, Richie is often tagged as the sole face of the group\u2019s legacy. However, later hit \u201cNightshift,\u201d the Commodores\u2019 Grammy-winning No. 3 hit following his departure \u2013 proves the band was never a one-man show. \u2014 TREVOR ANDERSON<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n29. En Vogue<\/h2>\n\n\n\tTerry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron and Maxine Jones were brought together as En Vogue in the late \u201880s. Embodying the spirit of \u201850s and \u201860s girl groups, En Vogue wasn\u2019t built around one powerhouse voice but four vocal virtuosos. Exploding onto the scene via the 1990 R&B\/Hot 100 hit (No. 1\/No. 3) \u201cHold On,\u201d the ladies rang up five more R&B chart-toppers and five top 10 Hot 100 crossovers like \u201cMy Lovin\u2019 (You\u2019re Never Gonna Get It)\u201d and \u201cGiving Him Something He Can Feel.\u201d Not to mention gutsier cuts like the heavy metal-nodding \u201cFree Your Mind\u201d and the sultry \u201cDon\u2019t Let Go (Love).\u201d Now a trio sans Robinson, En Vogue joined TLC and Salt-N-Pepa (remember \u201cWhatta Man,\u201d En Vogue\u2019s empowering collab with the rap trio?) for the fittingly titled It\u2019s Iconic tour during the summer of 2026. \u2014 K.D.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n28. Tony! Toni! Ton\u00e9!<\/h2>\n\n\n\tThe R&B\/funk trio \u2014 brothers D\u2019Wayne Wiggins and Raphael Saadiq with cousin Timothy Christian Riley \u2014 blended live instrumentation, rich harmonies and timeless lyrics to craft a catalog that produced a host of top 10 R&B hits in the \u201880s and \u201890s including five No. 1s. Among the latter: debut single \u201cLittle Walter,\u201d \u201cFeels Good,\u201d \u201cIt Never Rains (In Southern California)\u201d and \u201cWhatever You Want.\u201d In addition to \u201cFeels Good,\u201d the self-contained band garnered top 10 mainstream popularity with \u201cIf I Had No Loot\u201d and \u201cAnniversary.\u201d Via their inventive concoction of classic soul, funk and contemporary R&B, the group laid the foundation for the neo-soul movement. Saadiq has since become a Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated songwriter-producer. \u2014 R.H.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n27. Jodeci<\/h2>\n\n\n\tNext to\u00a0Boyz\u00a0II Men\u2019s polished,\u00a0clean-cut\u00a0image, Jodeci personified the edgier, bad boy side of \u201890s R&B. Garbed in black leather accessorized by baseball caps and sunglasses, DeVant\u00e9 Swing,\u00a0Mr. Dalvin,\u00a0K-Ci and\u00a0JoJo traversed beyond the borders of traditional R&B to forge the game-changing hip-hop soul sound. Their raw yet emotional and vulnerable approach to addressing desire, romance and heartbreak sparked three consecutive R&B No. 1s: \u201cForever My Lady,\u201d \u201cStay\u201d and \u201cCome & Talk to Me.\u201d Down the road would come two additional chart-toppers with \u201cLately\u201d (their sole Hot 100 top five) and \u201cCry for You\u201d plus the lustful \u201cFreek\u2019n\u00a0You\u201d not to mention K-Ci & JoJo\u2019s own duo success. \u2014 A.D.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n26. Kool & the Gang<\/h2>\n\n\n\tKool & the Gang reigned as gods of R&B, soul and funk in the \u201870s and \u201880s. Posting 12 Hot 100 top 10s, the group reached the R&B and Hot 100 summits in 1980 with \u201cCelebration.\u201d Its string of nine R&B chart-toppers also includes \u201cHollywood Swinging,\u201d \u201cLadies Night\u201d and \u201cJoanna.\u201d The New Jersey band is one of the most sampled acts as well by way of rap icons from Nas and 2Pac to Eric B. & Rakim and Snoop Dogg. \u201cMeasuring Kool & the Gang\u2019s influence is like asking what the influence of the Beatles was over pop music,\u201d producer Mark Ronson told\u00a0Rolling Stone<\/em>. Thirty years after becoming eligible, Kool & the Gang won its Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2024.\u00a0\u2014 M.S.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n25. The Staple Singers<\/h2>\n\n\n\tLed by Roebuck \u201cPops\u201d Staples and powered by Mavis Staples\u2019 unparalleled vocals, the family gospel group became popular musical catalysts for change during the civil rights era. Their Stax Records run in the early \u201870s includes the hits \u201cRespect Yourself,\u201d \u201cI\u2019ll Take You There\u201d (No. 1 R&B and Hot 100) and \u201cIf You\u2019re Ready (Come Go with Me)\u201d \u2014 still timely some 50 years later. The group charted another R&B\/pop No. 1 in 1975 with the Curtis Mayfield-penned \u201cLet\u2019s Do It Again,\u201d since sampled by Xscape, Ice Cube and John Legend. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. Mavis extended the group\u2019s legacy through a Grammy-winning solo career, collaborating with artists from Prince to Wilco\u2019s Jeff Tweedy. \u2014 R.H.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n24. Chic<\/h2>\n\n\n\tBetween Nile Rodgers\u2019 crisp, funky guitar lines and Bernard Edwards\u2019 loin-rumbling bass, Chic defined the sound of dancefloor ecstasy and bedroom release in the late \u201870s. The lush, mesmerizing \u201cI Want Your Love\u201d proved you could seduce without losing the groove. \u201cGood Times\u201d boasted an all-timer bass line (pivotal to the evolution of hip-hop), while \u201cLe Freak\u201d demonstrated the group\u2019s ability to turn anger (over being denied entry into Studio 54) into a party-starting net positive. Unfairly lumped into the \u201cdisco\u201d bin and declared pass\u00e9 after a string of club-dominating hits, Chic had the last laugh \u2013 the next decade of R&B balladry and dance-pop followed their prescient vision. \u2014 J.L.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n23. The Pointer Sisters<\/h2>\n\n\n\tSiblings Bonnie, June, Anita and Ruth refused to be pigeonholed. Beyond R&B\/soul, the group (as a trio and quartet) experimented with country, rock, dance, pop and funk. After notching an R&B No. 1 with 1975\u2019s \u201cHow Long (Betcha\u2019 Got a Chick on the Side),\u201d the sisters turned the Bruce Springsteen-penned \u201cFire\u201d into Hot 100 top five pop-rock gold. In the \u201880s, the Pointer Sisters became MTV darlings behind \u201cNeutron Dance,\u201d featured in Eddie Murphy\u2019s\u00a0Beverly Hills Cop,<\/em>\u00a0while \u201cJump (For My Love)\u201d dominated aerobics classes and R&B\/pop radio airwaves. Their music also contained messages advocating for female empowerment and social justice: Barack Obama used the group\u2019s 1973 R&B chart debut \u201cYes We Can Can\u201d during his 2008 presidential campaign. Overall, The Pointer Sisters earned seven Hot 100 top 10 hits, three Grammys and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. \u2014 M.S.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n22. Sam & Dave<\/h2>\n\n\n\tThe electrifying chemistry of tenor Sam Moore and baritone\/tenor Dave Prater set the bar for dynamic duos. Through \u201860s classics like \u201cSoul Man,\u201d \u201cHold On, I\u2019m Comin\u2019\u201d and \u201cI Thank You,\u201d the pair became standard-bearers of Stax Records\u2019 gritty, gospel-honed Southern soul. Sam & Dave\u2019s kinetic live performances earned the duo\u2019s nickname \u201cDouble Dynamite.\u201d Their Grammy-winning signature anthem \u201cSoul Man\u201d (written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter) stoked an R&B\/blues resurgence in the \u201880s when The Blues Brothers covered the immortal track. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Sam & Dave have been cited as influences by a who\u2019s who in music from Al Green and Bruce Springsteen to Billy Joel and Michael Jackson. \u2014 R.H.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n21. Guy<\/h2>\n\n\n\tInstrumental to the evolution of\u00a0modern\u00a0R&B,\u00a0pop\u00a0and hip-hop, the chart-topping trio of\u00a0Teddy Riley, Aaron Hall and Damion Hall\u00a0landed at storied Uptown Records in 1988, spawning a litany of\u00a0percussive hits like \u201cGroove Me, \u201cTeddy\u2019s Jam,\u201d \u201cMy Fantasy\u201d and the Heavy D-assisted \u201cDo Me Right.\u201d Inspired by the \u201870s R&B groups that defined their childhoods, Guy turned that ebullient\u00a0funk foundation into the era-defining sound new jack swing.\u00a0From the trio\u2019s appearance in Mario Van Peebles\u2019\u00a0New Jack City<\/em>\u00a0to Riley\u2019s solo production work for superstars like Michael Jackson\u00a0(plus contributions to\u00a0BLACKstreet), Guy\u2019s sprawling legacy spans decades: 1989\u2019s \u201cI Like\u201d \u2014 the group\u2019s first Hot 100 entry \u2014 scored a TikTok-led revival\u00a033 years later.\u00a0\u2014 K.D.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n20. SWV<\/h2>\n\n\n\tSimply put, Sisters with Voices \u2014\u00a0Cheryl \u201cCoko\u201d Gamble, Tamara \u201cTaj\u201d\u00a0George\u00a0and Leanne \u201cLelee\u201d Lyons \u2014 have never\u00a0played about\u00a0their crisp three-part harmony.\u00a0Originally a gospel quartet, SWV signed to RCA as an R&B trio in 1991. By the following year,\u00a0their aptly titled\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0About Time<\/em>\u00a0debut hit No. 8 on the Billboard 200, spawning\u00a0three consecutive Hot 100 top 10s including the No. 1 \u201cWeak.\u201d\u00a0Their sophomore set housed the Hot 100 top five \u201cYou\u2019re the One,\u201d followed by the beloved \u201cAll Night Long\u201d from the classic\u00a0Waiting to Exhale<\/em>\u00a0soundtrack. Their \u201cRain\u201d-anchored third album solidified SWV as one of the most commercially successful R&B girl groups of its era thanks to Coko\u2019s distinctive runs, Tag\u2019s buttery mezzo-soprano and\u00a0Lelee\u2019s\u00a0rich lows. From sanctified covers of \u201cRain\u201d and \u201cWeak\u201d by Ye\u2019s Sunday Service Choir to K-pop group EXO sampling \u201cYou\u2019re the One\u201d and TikTok launching a\u00a0pandemic-era\u00a0\u201c#SWVRainChallenge,\u201d SWV\u00a0remains\u00a0R&B royalty.\u00a0\u2014 K.D.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n19. Gladys Knight & the Pips<\/h2>\n\n\n\tGladys Knight, aka the Empress of Soul, remains one of R&B\u2019s defining vocalists. Her candor, grit and conviction remain unrivaled. And her pairing with the velvety-voiced Pips \u2014 brother Merald \u201cBubba\u201d Knight and cousins William Guest and Edward Patten \u2014 was a match made in music heaven. Joining Motown in 1967, the future Rock & Roll Hall of Famers notched the first in a string of popular top 10 hits with \u201cI Heard It Through the Grapevine.\u201d Segueing to Buddah Records in the \u201870s, Gladys Knight & the Pips kicked off a second run of top 10s, including their first and only Hot 100 No. 1 with their signature gem \u201cMidnight Train to Georgia,\u201d which the Library of Congress added to its National Recording Registry in 2026. \u00a0\u2014 M.S.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n18. Four Tops<\/h2>\n\n\n\tOne of Motown\u2019s signature hitmaking outfits of the \u201960s, the Four Tops made their name on perfect pop crossover jams like \u201cI Can\u2019t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)\u201d and \u201cBaby I Need Your Loving,\u201d with similarly immaculately choreographed and styled performances. But they also were able to evolve with the times \u2014 getting tenser and more urgent with the rest of the world in the decade\u2019s second half via tightly wound soul bursts like \u201cBernadette\u201d and the all-timer \u201cReach Out I\u2019ll Be There,\u201d and even embracing both the lushness and the muscle of \u201970s soul on a respectively pillowy and hard-edged pair of 1973 hits: \u201cAin\u2019t No Woman (Like the One I Got)\u201d and \u201cAre You Man Enough.\u201d \u2014\u00a0A.U.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n17. The Miracles<\/h2>\n\n\n\tIt\u2019s not an exaggeration to say that Motown changed how white Americans saw (and accepted) Black Americans in the \u201860s. And aside from founder Berry Gordy, no man shaped Motown\u2019s sound more than Smokey Robinson. As The Miracles\u2019 lead singer and primary songwriter, Robinson blazed a trail for R&B that was smooth yet springy (\u201cI Second That Emotion\u201d) and sweet but street smart (\u201cShop Around\u201d). Songs like \u201cTracks of My Tears\u201d found quiet strength in sadness while \u201cYou Really Got a Hold on Me\u201d pulled off the high-wire act of making raging hormones sound romantic, something everyone from Bobby Brown to Drake would build careers on. When Robinson departed for a solo career, Billy Griffin took the group back to the top of the Hot 100 with the funky, spirited \u201cLove Machine (Part 1)\u201d \u2013 demonstrating that the best R&B groups were never wholly reliant on one talent. \u2014 J.L.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n16. Rufus<\/h2>\n\n\n\tLike many of its contemporaries, Chicago-bred Rufus comprised a stellar lineup of musicians who commanded an arsenal of funk, R&B, jazz and other genres for a unique fusion of spirited grooves. Unlike everyone else, though, Rufus came armed with a musical nuclear weapon in lead singer Chaka Khan, whose earth-shattering power, elastic range and distinct raspy tone \u2013 all packed in a 5\u20194\u201d frame \u2013 earned her a rightful place among the all-time great vocalists. Together, the outfit produced stone-cold \u201870s and \u201880s classics such as \u201cTell Me Something Good,\u201d \u201cSweet Thing\u201d and \u201cAin\u2019t Nobody.\u201d Despite only a decade of releases, their deep bench of strong albums rivals larger bodies of work from others. Khan\u2019s fiery vocals would go on to propel an estimable solo career that includes the empowering \u201cI\u2019m Every Woman\u201d and R&B\/hip-hop jewel \u201cI Feel for You.\u201d \u2014 T.A.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n15. Sade<\/h2>\n\n\n\tComprised of Sade Adu, Stuart Matthewman, Paul Denman and Andrew Hale, Sade has steadily forged its own singular lane through an ingenious and chill mix of R&B, soul and jazz spiced with bossa nova, Afro-Cuban and other world rhythms. Since arriving in the mid-\u201880s, the English band has built a catalog of R&B chart top 10s that includes No. 1 \u201cParadise,\u201d \u201cSmooth Operator\u201d and \u201cNo Ordinary Love\u201d plus fan faves like \u201cIs It a Crime\u201d and \u201cBy Your Side.\u201d The Grammy-winning band is part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame\u2019s Class of 2025. Sade is proof that quiet elegance, sophisticated songwriting and emotional depth never go out of style. \u2014 C.C.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n14. Maze featuring Frankie Beverly<\/h2>\n\n\n\tMaze got its first big break opening for Marvin Gaye in the early \u201870s. Signing initially with Capitol, Maze began polishing its sterling reputation for feel-good, grown folks\u2019 music and spirited, church revival-vibed live shows. With love and life as its chief themes, Maze \u2014 guided by Frankie Beverly\u2019s warm, sensuous baritone \u2014 churned out nine gold albums between 1977-1993 featuring R&B top 10 hits and cultural touchstones such as No. 1s \u201cBack in Stride\u201d and \u201cCan\u2019t Get Over You\u201d plus \u201cJoy and Pain\u201d and \u201cHappy Feelin\u2019s.\u201d Maze\u2019s endearing, multigenerational appeal received an added boost when Beyonc\u00e9 covered the band\u2019s 1981 hit \u201cBefore I Let Go\u201d in 2019. Beverly, who died in 2024, was posthumously presented with the Recording Academy\u2019s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. \u2014 R.H.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n13. Ohio Players<\/h2>\n\n\n\tFew groups embodied the spirited freedom of funk better than the Ohio Players. Through innovative mashups with R&B\/soul, jazz, rock and disco, the self-contained Dayton, Ohio band delivered a crop of energetic R&B and Hot 100 jams throughout the \u201870s. Among them: \u201cFire,\u201d \u201cLove Rollercoaster\u201d and \u201cSkin Tight.\u201d Another hit, \u201cFunky Worm,\u201d further showcased the band\u2019s experimental side via its use of the talk box. Beyond percolating brass arrangements and booty-shaking bass and drum rhythms, another hallmark of the OP sound was frontman Leroy \u201cSugarfoot\u201d Bonner\u2019s magnetic vocals in addition to the band\u2019s provocative album covers. The Ohio Players\u2019 pioneering influence was felt in samples used by De La Soul, Jay-Z, D\u2019Angelo and more. \u2014 R.H.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n12. The O\u2019Jays<\/h2>\n\n\n\tThe O\u2019Jays first came together as the Triumphs in the late \u201850s. Marginal success followed the Ohio group, then a meeting with producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff backstage at the Apollo Theater reversed that tide. Now a trio, members Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and William Powell became the poster group for the Philly Soul sound. Under Gamble and Huff\u2019s tutelage, the O\u2019Jays broke through in the early \u201870s with two Hot 100 hits: the betrayal song \u201cBack Stabbers\u201d and the unifying anthem \u201cLove Train.\u201d With flawless harmonies in tow \u2014 anchored by Levert\u2019s versatile alto-tenor and Williams\u2019 expressive baritone\/bass \u2014 the O\u2019Jays have kept its fan love train chugging along via additional classics such as \u201cFor the Love of Money,\u201d \u201cI Love Music\u201d and \u201cUse Ta Be My Girl.\u201d \u2014 M.S.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n11. TLC<\/h2>\n\n
\n\tSigned to Atlantic, the quartet \u2014 formed as the backing group for lead singer Clyde McPhatter \u2014 scored its first R&B Songs chart-topper in 1953 with \u201cMoney Honey.\u201d A string of additional top 10 hits ensued, as did a rotating round of sonorous-voiced lead singers, including Bill Pinkney, Ben E. King and Rudy Lewis. Throughout the course of these various group iterations, the result was the same: heavenly harmonizing that still resonates today thanks to a crop of R&B\/pop hits from the late \u201850s through the mid-\u201860s, like \u201cThere Goes My Baby,\u201d \u201cSave the Last Dance for Me,\u201d \u201cUp on the Roof, \u201cOn Broadway\u201d and \u201cUnder the Boardwalk.\u201d \u2014\u00a0GAIL MITCHELL<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tOne of the most storied backing bands in R&B history during their time at Stax Records, the Bar-Kays supported no less a soul icon than Otis Redding during his 1967 peak, while also scoring a crossover smash of their own with the riotous (mostly) instrumental \u201cSoul Finger.\u201d The tragic plane crash that claimed Redding\u2019s life in late \u201967 also took four members of the Bar-Kays. But the group improbably recovered with a new lineup to continue as vital contributors to the soul scene of the late \u201960s and early \u201970s \u2014 notching another signature hit with 1971\u2019s oft-sampled \u201cSon of Shaft\u201d and backing the legendary Isaac Hayes on one of the greatest R&B albums of all time, 1969\u2019s Hot Buttered Soul<\/em>. \u2014 ANDREW UNTERBERGER<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tAfter nearly outshining Marvin Gaye on a few of his early classics as backup singers, Martha & The Vandellas took center stage in the mid-\u201960s as Motown\u2019s most versatile, gritty girl group. Martha Reeves\u2019 range (and the irrepressible exuberance of Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard) meant the group could start a pounding party on \u201cDancing in the Street,\u201d serve introspective harmonizing on \u201cIn My Lonely Room,\u201d sell lovelorn sweet sighs on \u201cJimmy Mack\u201d and belt out the ultimate encapsulation of love\u2019s pulsating chaos with \u201c(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave.\u201d \u2014\u00a0JOE LYNCH<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tThe Dramatics understood that great music must be heard, felt and seen deep in the soul. The Detroit group distinguished itself through impeccable harmonies, coordinated choreography and emotionally rich storytelling. Their catalog includes classics such as \u201cWhatcha See Is Whatcha Get,\u201d \u201cIn the Rain\u201d and \u201cMe and Mrs. Jones.\u201d Their signature ballad, \u201cIn the Rain,\u201d topped Billboard<\/em>\u2019s then-named Hot Soul Singles chart and remains a defining soul recording of the \u201870s. While Motown dominated much of Detroit\u2019s musical narrative, The Dramatics showcased the city\u2019s theatrical side. The group\u2019s blend of showmanship and vocal precision influenced generations of R&B performers, while later collaborations with Snoop Dogg and extensive hip-hop sampling underscore their enduring legacy. \u2014\u00a0RAQUELLE HARRIS<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\t\u201cSomebody bring me a mirror so I can look at myself!\u201d The Time started as an outlet for Prince to write, produce and release music outside of his solo career, but soon morphed into a vehicle for flashy frontman Morris Day and his performative preening. If Prince was distant, Day was audaciously demonstrative. His fun, appealing personality fueled the wild synth-funk of the 1982 classic\u00a0What Time Is It?<\/em>\u00a0and sublimely ridiculous jams like \u201cThe Bird\u201d and \u201cJungle Love.\u201d For Morris, more was more, and onstage, the Minneapolis band\u2019s indisputable chops routinely proved they were far more than just Prince proteg\u00e9s. Among its members: future songwriting\/production stars Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. \u2014\u00a0J.L.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tBeginning as a funk-oriented ensemble before evolving into one of the defining R&B vocal groups of the 1980s, the New York-based act built a catalog that resonated with both R&B and pop audiences. Hits such as \u201cSecret Lovers,\u201d \u201cCircles,\u201d \u201cTouch a Four Leaf Clover\u201d and \u201cAlways\u201d showcased the group\u2019s versatility, with \u201cAlways\u201d reaching No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts. Despite lineup changes and shifting musical trends, Atlantic Starr earned nine top 10 R&B hits. Their polished harmonies, romantic ballads and crossover appeal helped define the Quiet Storm era. Later sampled by Usher, Mary J. Blige and others, Atlantic Starr also helped influence the next generation of R&B\/hip-hop. \u2014\u00a0R.H.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tSigned to Motown\u2019s Gordy label in the early \u201880s, the sibling group led by El and Bunny DeBarge instantly stood out for the brothers\u2019 velvety harmonies and lush, melodic songwriting. DeBarge\u2019s blend of pop and soul yielded a run of indelible R&B hits, including \u201cI Like It,\u201d \u201cAll This Love,\u201d and \u201cRhythm of the Night.\u201d Even as the lineup shifted, the group\u2019s signature sound remained: a seamless mix of falsetto leads and tight vocal interplay, earning DeBarge a lasting place among R&B\u2019s elite. The group disbanded in 1989, while as a solo act, El scored the top five R&B\/pop single \u201cWho\u2019s Johnny,\u201d among other R&B hits. \u2014\u00a0G.M.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tEmerging from Long Beach, Calif. in the late \u201860s, the intrepid War fused R&B, funk and Latin rhythms into a distinctive, genre-bending sound. The multicultural collective made its mark with crossover hits like \u201cSpill the Wine\u201d (with the Animals\u2019 Eric Burdon), \u201cThe World Is a Ghetto,\u201d \u201cThe Cisco Kid,\u201c \u201cWhy Can\u2019t We Be Friends?\u201d and \u201cLow Rider.\u201d Powered by hypnotic grooves and socially conscious lyrics, War\u2019s ever-evolving lineup delivered both infectious party jams and pointed commentary, with an innovation and crossover appeal that cemented the band\u2019s status as fearless pioneers. \u2014\u00a0G.M.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tFormed in 1964, Los Angeles\u2019 own legends The Whispers built a reputation for silky-smooth harmonies and enduring ballads that defined radio\u2019s Quiet Storm era. Anchored by the identical Scott twins, Walter and Wallace (aka \u201cScotty\u201d), the group \u2014 whose lineup included Marcus Hutson, Nicholas Caldwell and Leaveil Degree (succeeding original member Gordy Harmon) \u2014 found chart-topping success on Dick Griffey\u2019s S.O.L.A.R.\u00a0\u00a0label with the classics \u201cAnd the Beat Goes On\u201d and \u201cRock Steady,\u201d plus top 10 fan faves through the \u201880s into the \u201890s such as \u201cLady,\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s a Love Thing\u201d and \u201cKeep on Lovin\u2019 Me.\u201d Never straying from a signature sumptuous blend of romance and groove, The Whispers remain a lasting touchstone for R&B lovers. \u2014\u00a0G.M.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tThe Stylistics defined Philadelphia soul. Led by frontman Russell Thompkins Jr.\u2019s signature falsetto and songwriting\/production duo Thom Bell and Linda Creed, the group raised a generation of yearners on lush romantic R&B ballads. Their dominant run in the \u201870s was capped off by 12 straight top 10 hits on the R&B chart: \u201cYou Make Me Feel Brand New,\u201d \u201cYou Are Everything\u201d and \u201cBreak Up to Make Up\u201d to name a few, as The Stylistics became a key cog in the machine powering Quiet Storm radio, while also providing an early example for groups like fellow Philly natives Boyz II Men to build on.\u00a0\u2013\u00a0MICHAEL SAPONARA<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tIllinois\u2019 The Dells would arguably merit placement on this list just for the swooning \u201cOh, What a Nite,\u201d a signature doo-wop smash that proved enduring enough to become a hit twice 13 years apart, reaching the top five on the R&B charts on its 1956 release and making the Hot 100\u2019s top 10 upon its 1969 rerecording as \u201cOh, What a Night.\u201d But the group\u2019s peerless harmonies also graced several classics throughout the decade in between, including invaluable supporting work on Barbara Lewis\u2019 all-time last-call love song \u201cHello Stranger,\u201d and lead duty on their own inimitable loyalty plea \u201cStay in My Corner,\u201d another top 10 Hot 100 hit in 1968. \u2014\u00a0A.U.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tA pioneering R&B group known for its pure harmonies and socially conscious lyrics, The Impressions hit the scene in the late \u201850s. Led by the legendary Curtis \u201cSuperfly\u201d Mayfield \u2014 with a changing membership that included additional future solo stars Jerry Butler and Leroy Hutson \u2014 The Impressions\u2019 sound blended gospel, soul and doo-wop while laying the foundation for Chicago soul. Rolling out top 10s into the \u201870s like \u201cPeople Get Ready,\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s All Right\u201d and \u201cWe\u2019re a Winner\u201d (No. 1) plus \u201cFool for You\u201d and \u201c(Baby) Turn on to Me,\u201d The Impressions provided timeless \u2014 and still powerful songs \u2014 about civil rights, hope and love. \u2014G.M.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tThe S.O.S. Band could make the rare claim of being both one of the last great disco bands and one of the first great \u201980s R&B bands. \u201cTake Your Time (Do It Right)\u201d proved the leisure-suit era\u2019s demise to be premature by becoming a top five Hot 100 hit and enduring genre classic in 1980. However, the group proved to have far more to offer with the patient, emotionally complex and sonically adventurous grooves of electro-soul smashes like \u201cJust Be Good to Me,\u201d \u201cTell Me If You Still Care\u201d and \u201cThe Finest.\u201d The writers\/producers on that trio of classics, by the way? Just a couple of dudes named Jam and Lewis, who helped define the rest of the century of R&B through their work with Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men and countless other hitmakers. \u2014 A.U.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tNo soul group could compare with the ratio of bounce-to-the-ounce that the Troutman family band Zapp offered in the early \u201980s. Led by the signature futurism of frontman Roger\u2019s Vocodored vocals, Zapp helped push R&B out of the disco era and into a postmodern \u201980s era where soul could be just as influenced by the electronic grooves and robotized vocals of Kraftwerk as by conventional touchstones like Sam, Smokey and Marvin. Which isn\u2019t to say that the group lacked humanity: Despite its techno-chic title, \u201cComputer Love\u201d connected through man\u2019s most basic impulses, becoming one of the most enduring get-down slow jams of the late century. \u2014\u00a0A.U.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tOne of the \u201870s quintessential R&B groups, Harold Melvin & the Blue\u00a0Notes\u00a0were\u00a0instrumental in cultivating\u00a0the Philadelphia\u00a0Soul\u00a0sound\u00a0with assistance from legendary production duo Gamble\u00a0&\u00a0Huff.\u00a0The group also held another key asset:\u00a0a drummer\/lead singer by the name of\u00a0Teddy Pendergrass. The group\u2019s first R&B\/Hot 100 smash \u201cIf You Don\u2019t Know Me\u00a0by Now\u201d (No. 1 and No. 3, respectively) and subsequent hits, like \u201cThe Love I Lost\u201d and \u201cWake Up Everybody\u201d launched Pendergrass and his rich baritone into orbit as a solo star. While the Blue Notes\u2019 string of hits waned after Pendergrass\u2019 1976 exit, the group\u2019s songs have been sampled by Jay-Z, Big Boi and the Wu-Tang Clan.\u00a0\u2014 ANGEL DIAZ<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tTwo of the soul-funk group\u2019s greatest hits, \u201cWord Up!\u201d and \u201cCandy,\u201d are perennial classics: R&B chart No. 1s that you still hear on the radio and in clubs while going viral via next-gen TikTok posts. Fronted by Larry Blackmon \u2014 famous in his own right with his attention-grabbing red codpiece and trendsetting hi-top fade (aka \u201cthe Cameo cut\u201d), Cameo notched 15 top 10 R&B hits including their third No. 1 with \u201cShe\u2019s Strange\u201d plus \u201cSingle Life\u201d and \u201cBack and Forth.\u201d True fixtures of Black popular culture, Cameo\u2019s music has been sampled by some of the greatest artists of all time including Tupac Shakur, Beyonc\u00e9, Aaliyah, Jacquees, Wu-Tang Clan and Snoop Dogg. \u2014 CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tGuided by songwriter, producer and vocalist Eugene Record \u2014 who later launched a solo career \u2014 the Chicago group crafted classics with their impeccable harmonies on songs such as \u201cOh Girl,\u201d \u201cHave You Seen Her\u201d and \u201cHomely Girl.\u201d Their signature hit \u201cOh Girl\u201d topped both the Hot 100 and R&B charts in 1972, while \u201cHave You Seen Her\u201d became one of soul music\u2019s defining breakup anthems. Beyond romance, socially conscious songs like \u201c(For God\u2019s Sake) Give More Power to the People\u201d broadened their impact. The group\u2019s influence was introduced to new generations in 2003 when Beyonc\u00e9 sampled the horn riff and vocal loop from the Record-penned 1970 R&B hit \u201cAre You My Woman? (Tell Me So)\u201d for her Hot 100 chart-topper \u201cCrazy in Love.\u201d \u2014 R.H.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tWhen defining Philadelphia Soul, you must cite the Delfonics.\u00a0The group broke through in 1968 with the top five R&B\/pop crossover\u00a0\u201cLa-La (Means I Love You).\u201d In addition to 1970\u2019s \u201cDidn\u2019t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)\u201d (No. 3 R&B\/No. 10 Hot 100), The Delfonics built a solid reputation for exquisitely capturing the ups and downs of romantic relationships through a string of indelible tracks like \u201cBreak Your Promise, \u201cYou Got Yours and I\u2019ll Get Mine\u201d and \u201cTrying to Make a Fool of Me.\u201d Primarily penned by William \u201cPoogie\u201d Hart,\u201d the group\u2019s founding member and lead vocalist and 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Thom Bell, those classics\u2019 enduring legacy is tied to the group\u2019s sweet harmonies. Trivia note: director Quentin Tarantino used both \u201cLa-La\u201d and \u201cDidn\u2019t I\u201d in his 1997 film Jackie Brown<\/em>. \u2014 A.D.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tRooted in Detroit, The Spinners initially signed with Motown\u2019s V.I.P. label, where the group scored a top five hit with the Stevie Wonder co-written \u201cIt\u2019s a Shame.\u201d But after signing with Atlantic, the group became synonymous with sophisticated stylings of Philadelphia soul through its celebrated partnership with producer Thom Bell. That fortuitous pairing racked up more than a dozen top 10 R&B classics (including six No. 1s) such as \u201cI\u2019ll Be Around,\u201d \u201cCould It Be I\u2019m Falling in Love,\u201d \u201cThe Rubberband Man\u201d and \u201cOne of a Kind (Love Affair). Led by the charismatic and colorful Philippe Wynne during their commercial peak, The Spinners perfectly projected the balance between heavenly harmonies, relatable storytelling and elegant choreography.\u00a0\u2014R.H.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tThe Gap Band \u2014 sibling trio Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson \u2014 opted for a \u201870s funk sound before homing in on P-Funk with 1979\u2019s \u201cI Don\u2019t Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops!),\u201d reaching No. 4 on the R&B charts.\u00a0More success followed in the\u00a0early\u00a0\u201880s with\u00a0\u201cEarly in the Morning,\u201d \u201cYou Dropped a Bomb on Me\u201d and \u201cOutstanding,\u201d plus a No. 1 R&B with 1989\u2019s \u201cAll of My Love.\u201d Irrespective of Charlie\u2019s estimable solo success, the group boasts a vast legacy. Via sampling and covers, their catalog has been reimagined by\u00a0countless artists, including\u00a0Tina Turner, Ashanti, Tyler, the Creator and\u00a0George Michael. Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars\u2019 2014 smash\u00a0\u201cUptown Funk!\u201d also features an interpolation of the band\u2019s aforementioned \u201cOops!\u201d\u2014 KYLE DENIS<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tA fusion of two student bands at Tuskegee Institute, the Commodores helped Motown transition from its \u201860s pop-minded heyday to the \u201870s funk-focused R&B scene. \u201cBrick House\u201d \u2013 you\u2019re already singing it, right? \u2013\u00a0 and \u201cToo Hot Ta Trot\u201d endure with their nasty riffs and invitations to the nearest dance floor. But the band also scored huge success with their heartfelt ballads, particularly the Lionel Richie contributions \u201cEasy,\u201d \u201cStill\u201d and \u201cThree Times a Lady\u201d \u2013 the latter two both No. 1 Hot 100 hits. Given his entire r\u00e9sum\u00e9, Richie is often tagged as the sole face of the group\u2019s legacy. However, later hit \u201cNightshift,\u201d the Commodores\u2019 Grammy-winning No. 3 hit following his departure \u2013 proves the band was never a one-man show. \u2014 TREVOR ANDERSON<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tTerry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron and Maxine Jones were brought together as En Vogue in the late \u201880s. Embodying the spirit of \u201850s and \u201860s girl groups, En Vogue wasn\u2019t built around one powerhouse voice but four vocal virtuosos. Exploding onto the scene via the 1990 R&B\/Hot 100 hit (No. 1\/No. 3) \u201cHold On,\u201d the ladies rang up five more R&B chart-toppers and five top 10 Hot 100 crossovers like \u201cMy Lovin\u2019 (You\u2019re Never Gonna Get It)\u201d and \u201cGiving Him Something He Can Feel.\u201d Not to mention gutsier cuts like the heavy metal-nodding \u201cFree Your Mind\u201d and the sultry \u201cDon\u2019t Let Go (Love).\u201d Now a trio sans Robinson, En Vogue joined TLC and Salt-N-Pepa (remember \u201cWhatta Man,\u201d En Vogue\u2019s empowering collab with the rap trio?) for the fittingly titled It\u2019s Iconic tour during the summer of 2026. \u2014 K.D.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tThe R&B\/funk trio \u2014 brothers D\u2019Wayne Wiggins and Raphael Saadiq with cousin Timothy Christian Riley \u2014 blended live instrumentation, rich harmonies and timeless lyrics to craft a catalog that produced a host of top 10 R&B hits in the \u201880s and \u201890s including five No. 1s. Among the latter: debut single \u201cLittle Walter,\u201d \u201cFeels Good,\u201d \u201cIt Never Rains (In Southern California)\u201d and \u201cWhatever You Want.\u201d In addition to \u201cFeels Good,\u201d the self-contained band garnered top 10 mainstream popularity with \u201cIf I Had No Loot\u201d and \u201cAnniversary.\u201d Via their inventive concoction of classic soul, funk and contemporary R&B, the group laid the foundation for the neo-soul movement. Saadiq has since become a Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated songwriter-producer. \u2014 R.H.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tNext to\u00a0Boyz\u00a0II Men\u2019s polished,\u00a0clean-cut\u00a0image, Jodeci personified the edgier, bad boy side of \u201890s R&B. Garbed in black leather accessorized by baseball caps and sunglasses, DeVant\u00e9 Swing,\u00a0Mr. Dalvin,\u00a0K-Ci and\u00a0JoJo traversed beyond the borders of traditional R&B to forge the game-changing hip-hop soul sound. Their raw yet emotional and vulnerable approach to addressing desire, romance and heartbreak sparked three consecutive R&B No. 1s: \u201cForever My Lady,\u201d \u201cStay\u201d and \u201cCome & Talk to Me.\u201d Down the road would come two additional chart-toppers with \u201cLately\u201d (their sole Hot 100 top five) and \u201cCry for You\u201d plus the lustful \u201cFreek\u2019n\u00a0You\u201d not to mention K-Ci & JoJo\u2019s own duo success. \u2014 A.D.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tKool & the Gang reigned as gods of R&B, soul and funk in the \u201870s and \u201880s. Posting 12 Hot 100 top 10s, the group reached the R&B and Hot 100 summits in 1980 with \u201cCelebration.\u201d Its string of nine R&B chart-toppers also includes \u201cHollywood Swinging,\u201d \u201cLadies Night\u201d and \u201cJoanna.\u201d The New Jersey band is one of the most sampled acts as well by way of rap icons from Nas and 2Pac to Eric B. & Rakim and Snoop Dogg. \u201cMeasuring Kool & the Gang\u2019s influence is like asking what the influence of the Beatles was over pop music,\u201d producer Mark Ronson told\u00a0Rolling Stone<\/em>. Thirty years after becoming eligible, Kool & the Gang won its Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2024.\u00a0\u2014 M.S.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tLed by Roebuck \u201cPops\u201d Staples and powered by Mavis Staples\u2019 unparalleled vocals, the family gospel group became popular musical catalysts for change during the civil rights era. Their Stax Records run in the early \u201870s includes the hits \u201cRespect Yourself,\u201d \u201cI\u2019ll Take You There\u201d (No. 1 R&B and Hot 100) and \u201cIf You\u2019re Ready (Come Go with Me)\u201d \u2014 still timely some 50 years later. The group charted another R&B\/pop No. 1 in 1975 with the Curtis Mayfield-penned \u201cLet\u2019s Do It Again,\u201d since sampled by Xscape, Ice Cube and John Legend. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. Mavis extended the group\u2019s legacy through a Grammy-winning solo career, collaborating with artists from Prince to Wilco\u2019s Jeff Tweedy. \u2014 R.H.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tBetween Nile Rodgers\u2019 crisp, funky guitar lines and Bernard Edwards\u2019 loin-rumbling bass, Chic defined the sound of dancefloor ecstasy and bedroom release in the late \u201870s. The lush, mesmerizing \u201cI Want Your Love\u201d proved you could seduce without losing the groove. \u201cGood Times\u201d boasted an all-timer bass line (pivotal to the evolution of hip-hop), while \u201cLe Freak\u201d demonstrated the group\u2019s ability to turn anger (over being denied entry into Studio 54) into a party-starting net positive. Unfairly lumped into the \u201cdisco\u201d bin and declared pass\u00e9 after a string of club-dominating hits, Chic had the last laugh \u2013 the next decade of R&B balladry and dance-pop followed their prescient vision. \u2014 J.L.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tSiblings Bonnie, June, Anita and Ruth refused to be pigeonholed. Beyond R&B\/soul, the group (as a trio and quartet) experimented with country, rock, dance, pop and funk. After notching an R&B No. 1 with 1975\u2019s \u201cHow Long (Betcha\u2019 Got a Chick on the Side),\u201d the sisters turned the Bruce Springsteen-penned \u201cFire\u201d into Hot 100 top five pop-rock gold. In the \u201880s, the Pointer Sisters became MTV darlings behind \u201cNeutron Dance,\u201d featured in Eddie Murphy\u2019s\u00a0Beverly Hills Cop,<\/em>\u00a0while \u201cJump (For My Love)\u201d dominated aerobics classes and R&B\/pop radio airwaves. Their music also contained messages advocating for female empowerment and social justice: Barack Obama used the group\u2019s 1973 R&B chart debut \u201cYes We Can Can\u201d during his 2008 presidential campaign. Overall, The Pointer Sisters earned seven Hot 100 top 10 hits, three Grammys and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. \u2014 M.S.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tThe electrifying chemistry of tenor Sam Moore and baritone\/tenor Dave Prater set the bar for dynamic duos. Through \u201860s classics like \u201cSoul Man,\u201d \u201cHold On, I\u2019m Comin\u2019\u201d and \u201cI Thank You,\u201d the pair became standard-bearers of Stax Records\u2019 gritty, gospel-honed Southern soul. Sam & Dave\u2019s kinetic live performances earned the duo\u2019s nickname \u201cDouble Dynamite.\u201d Their Grammy-winning signature anthem \u201cSoul Man\u201d (written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter) stoked an R&B\/blues resurgence in the \u201880s when The Blues Brothers covered the immortal track. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Sam & Dave have been cited as influences by a who\u2019s who in music from Al Green and Bruce Springsteen to Billy Joel and Michael Jackson. \u2014 R.H.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tInstrumental to the evolution of\u00a0modern\u00a0R&B,\u00a0pop\u00a0and hip-hop, the chart-topping trio of\u00a0Teddy Riley, Aaron Hall and Damion Hall\u00a0landed at storied Uptown Records in 1988, spawning a litany of\u00a0percussive hits like \u201cGroove Me, \u201cTeddy\u2019s Jam,\u201d \u201cMy Fantasy\u201d and the Heavy D-assisted \u201cDo Me Right.\u201d Inspired by the \u201870s R&B groups that defined their childhoods, Guy turned that ebullient\u00a0funk foundation into the era-defining sound new jack swing.\u00a0From the trio\u2019s appearance in Mario Van Peebles\u2019\u00a0New Jack City<\/em>\u00a0to Riley\u2019s solo production work for superstars like Michael Jackson\u00a0(plus contributions to\u00a0BLACKstreet), Guy\u2019s sprawling legacy spans decades: 1989\u2019s \u201cI Like\u201d \u2014 the group\u2019s first Hot 100 entry \u2014 scored a TikTok-led revival\u00a033 years later.\u00a0\u2014 K.D.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tSimply put, Sisters with Voices \u2014\u00a0Cheryl \u201cCoko\u201d Gamble, Tamara \u201cTaj\u201d\u00a0George\u00a0and Leanne \u201cLelee\u201d Lyons \u2014 have never\u00a0played about\u00a0their crisp three-part harmony.\u00a0Originally a gospel quartet, SWV signed to RCA as an R&B trio in 1991. By the following year,\u00a0their aptly titled\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0About Time<\/em>\u00a0debut hit No. 8 on the Billboard 200, spawning\u00a0three consecutive Hot 100 top 10s including the No. 1 \u201cWeak.\u201d\u00a0Their sophomore set housed the Hot 100 top five \u201cYou\u2019re the One,\u201d followed by the beloved \u201cAll Night Long\u201d from the classic\u00a0Waiting to Exhale<\/em>\u00a0soundtrack. Their \u201cRain\u201d-anchored third album solidified SWV as one of the most commercially successful R&B girl groups of its era thanks to Coko\u2019s distinctive runs, Tag\u2019s buttery mezzo-soprano and\u00a0Lelee\u2019s\u00a0rich lows. From sanctified covers of \u201cRain\u201d and \u201cWeak\u201d by Ye\u2019s Sunday Service Choir to K-pop group EXO sampling \u201cYou\u2019re the One\u201d and TikTok launching a\u00a0pandemic-era\u00a0\u201c#SWVRainChallenge,\u201d SWV\u00a0remains\u00a0R&B royalty.\u00a0\u2014 K.D.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tGladys Knight, aka the Empress of Soul, remains one of R&B\u2019s defining vocalists. Her candor, grit and conviction remain unrivaled. And her pairing with the velvety-voiced Pips \u2014 brother Merald \u201cBubba\u201d Knight and cousins William Guest and Edward Patten \u2014 was a match made in music heaven. Joining Motown in 1967, the future Rock & Roll Hall of Famers notched the first in a string of popular top 10 hits with \u201cI Heard It Through the Grapevine.\u201d Segueing to Buddah Records in the \u201870s, Gladys Knight & the Pips kicked off a second run of top 10s, including their first and only Hot 100 No. 1 with their signature gem \u201cMidnight Train to Georgia,\u201d which the Library of Congress added to its National Recording Registry in 2026. \u00a0\u2014 M.S.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tOne of Motown\u2019s signature hitmaking outfits of the \u201960s, the Four Tops made their name on perfect pop crossover jams like \u201cI Can\u2019t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)\u201d and \u201cBaby I Need Your Loving,\u201d with similarly immaculately choreographed and styled performances. But they also were able to evolve with the times \u2014 getting tenser and more urgent with the rest of the world in the decade\u2019s second half via tightly wound soul bursts like \u201cBernadette\u201d and the all-timer \u201cReach Out I\u2019ll Be There,\u201d and even embracing both the lushness and the muscle of \u201970s soul on a respectively pillowy and hard-edged pair of 1973 hits: \u201cAin\u2019t No Woman (Like the One I Got)\u201d and \u201cAre You Man Enough.\u201d \u2014\u00a0A.U.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tIt\u2019s not an exaggeration to say that Motown changed how white Americans saw (and accepted) Black Americans in the \u201860s. And aside from founder Berry Gordy, no man shaped Motown\u2019s sound more than Smokey Robinson. As The Miracles\u2019 lead singer and primary songwriter, Robinson blazed a trail for R&B that was smooth yet springy (\u201cI Second That Emotion\u201d) and sweet but street smart (\u201cShop Around\u201d). Songs like \u201cTracks of My Tears\u201d found quiet strength in sadness while \u201cYou Really Got a Hold on Me\u201d pulled off the high-wire act of making raging hormones sound romantic, something everyone from Bobby Brown to Drake would build careers on. When Robinson departed for a solo career, Billy Griffin took the group back to the top of the Hot 100 with the funky, spirited \u201cLove Machine (Part 1)\u201d \u2013 demonstrating that the best R&B groups were never wholly reliant on one talent. \u2014 J.L.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tLike many of its contemporaries, Chicago-bred Rufus comprised a stellar lineup of musicians who commanded an arsenal of funk, R&B, jazz and other genres for a unique fusion of spirited grooves. Unlike everyone else, though, Rufus came armed with a musical nuclear weapon in lead singer Chaka Khan, whose earth-shattering power, elastic range and distinct raspy tone \u2013 all packed in a 5\u20194\u201d frame \u2013 earned her a rightful place among the all-time great vocalists. Together, the outfit produced stone-cold \u201870s and \u201880s classics such as \u201cTell Me Something Good,\u201d \u201cSweet Thing\u201d and \u201cAin\u2019t Nobody.\u201d Despite only a decade of releases, their deep bench of strong albums rivals larger bodies of work from others. Khan\u2019s fiery vocals would go on to propel an estimable solo career that includes the empowering \u201cI\u2019m Every Woman\u201d and R&B\/hip-hop jewel \u201cI Feel for You.\u201d \u2014 T.A.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tComprised of Sade Adu, Stuart Matthewman, Paul Denman and Andrew Hale, Sade has steadily forged its own singular lane through an ingenious and chill mix of R&B, soul and jazz spiced with bossa nova, Afro-Cuban and other world rhythms. Since arriving in the mid-\u201880s, the English band has built a catalog of R&B chart top 10s that includes No. 1 \u201cParadise,\u201d \u201cSmooth Operator\u201d and \u201cNo Ordinary Love\u201d plus fan faves like \u201cIs It a Crime\u201d and \u201cBy Your Side.\u201d The Grammy-winning band is part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame\u2019s Class of 2025. Sade is proof that quiet elegance, sophisticated songwriting and emotional depth never go out of style. \u2014 C.C.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tMaze got its first big break opening for Marvin Gaye in the early \u201870s. Signing initially with Capitol, Maze began polishing its sterling reputation for feel-good, grown folks\u2019 music and spirited, church revival-vibed live shows. With love and life as its chief themes, Maze \u2014 guided by Frankie Beverly\u2019s warm, sensuous baritone \u2014 churned out nine gold albums between 1977-1993 featuring R&B top 10 hits and cultural touchstones such as No. 1s \u201cBack in Stride\u201d and \u201cCan\u2019t Get Over You\u201d plus \u201cJoy and Pain\u201d and \u201cHappy Feelin\u2019s.\u201d Maze\u2019s endearing, multigenerational appeal received an added boost when Beyonc\u00e9 covered the band\u2019s 1981 hit \u201cBefore I Let Go\u201d in 2019. Beverly, who died in 2024, was posthumously presented with the Recording Academy\u2019s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. \u2014 R.H.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tFew groups embodied the spirited freedom of funk better than the Ohio Players. Through innovative mashups with R&B\/soul, jazz, rock and disco, the self-contained Dayton, Ohio band delivered a crop of energetic R&B and Hot 100 jams throughout the \u201870s. Among them: \u201cFire,\u201d \u201cLove Rollercoaster\u201d and \u201cSkin Tight.\u201d Another hit, \u201cFunky Worm,\u201d further showcased the band\u2019s experimental side via its use of the talk box. Beyond percolating brass arrangements and booty-shaking bass and drum rhythms, another hallmark of the OP sound was frontman Leroy \u201cSugarfoot\u201d Bonner\u2019s magnetic vocals in addition to the band\u2019s provocative album covers. The Ohio Players\u2019 pioneering influence was felt in samples used by De La Soul, Jay-Z, D\u2019Angelo and more. \u2014 R.H.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n \n\tThe O\u2019Jays first came together as the Triumphs in the late \u201850s. Marginal success followed the Ohio group, then a meeting with producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff backstage at the Apollo Theater reversed that tide. Now a trio, members Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and William Powell became the poster group for the Philly Soul sound. Under Gamble and Huff\u2019s tutelage, the O\u2019Jays broke through in the early \u201870s with two Hot 100 hits: the betrayal song \u201cBack Stabbers\u201d and the unifying anthem \u201cLove Train.\u201d With flawless harmonies in tow \u2014 anchored by Levert\u2019s versatile alto-tenor and Williams\u2019 expressive baritone\/bass \u2014 the O\u2019Jays have kept its fan love train chugging along via additional classics such as \u201cFor the Love of Money,\u201d \u201cI Love Music\u201d and \u201cUse Ta Be My Girl.\u201d \u2014 M.S.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n49. Bar-Kays<\/h2>\n
48. Martha & The Vandellas<\/h2>\n
47. The Dramatics<\/h2>\n
46. The Time<\/h2>\n
45. Atlantic Starr<\/h2>\n
44. DeBarge<\/h2>\n
43. War<\/h2>\n
42. The Whispers<\/h2>\n
41. The Stylistics<\/h2>\n
40. The Dells<\/h2>\n
39. The Impressions<\/h2>\n
38. The S.O.S. Band<\/h2>\n
37. Zapp<\/h2>\n
36. Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes<\/h2>\n
35. Cameo<\/h2>\n
34. The Chi-Lites<\/h2>\n
33. The Delfonics<\/h2>\n
32. The Spinners<\/h2>\n
31. The Gap Band<\/h2>\n
30. Commodores<\/h2>\n
29. En Vogue<\/h2>\n
28. Tony! Toni! Ton\u00e9!<\/h2>\n
27. Jodeci<\/h2>\n
26. Kool & the Gang<\/h2>\n
25. The Staple Singers<\/h2>\n
24. Chic<\/h2>\n
23. The Pointer Sisters<\/h2>\n
22. Sam & Dave<\/h2>\n
21. Guy<\/h2>\n
20. SWV<\/h2>\n
19. Gladys Knight & the Pips<\/h2>\n
18. Four Tops<\/h2>\n
17. The Miracles<\/h2>\n
16. Rufus<\/h2>\n
15. Sade<\/h2>\n
14. Maze featuring Frankie Beverly<\/h2>\n
13. Ohio Players<\/h2>\n
12. The O\u2019Jays<\/h2>\n
11. TLC<\/h2>\n