Early Deep Soul Divas 1954 -1962

Early Deep Soul Divas gives us an excellent insight into the emerging Black female sound of church-based Soul music that stayed with us for the rest of the 1960s decade.

Much of this fine singing and soulful dynamism still needs to be unearthed and re-evaluated. This collection is just the first exciting dig into the hearts and minds of the female Black music culture at its most profound during the late 1950s-early 1960s.

Features great early soul tracks by: Mitty Collier, Betty Everett, Barbara Lynn, Ann Cole, Carla Thomas, Mavis Staples & The Staple Singers, Ruth Brown, Etta James, Betty Lavette and more!

During the period when President Kennedy created the Peace Corps and gave advisories on building fallout shelters, the music of the Black church communities evolved into the domestic realm of popular music. Because church choirs and soloists were predominantly made up of female church folk, it is no wonder that the early push into commercial Soul music fulfillment was dominated by women. Male Soul music performers were outnumbered three to one. This dynamic was the leading edge behind the Soul movement and why divas like Aretha Franklin, Judy Clay, Etta James and the like lead the glorious charge.