Soul Man

"Soul Man" is a classic 1967 soul and R&B song performed by Sam & Dave. Written and composed by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, the song became a defining hit for the soul genre, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the R&B charts. Released in September 1967 as part of the album Soul Men, it remains one of the most iconic tracks of its era.

The song was deeply inspired by the African-American Civil Rights Movement and the social turmoil of the 1960s. Hayes found the concept for "Soul Man" while watching news coverage of the 12th Street Riot in Detroit, Michigan. In the aftermath of the riots, black-owned and operated businesses marked their buildings with the word "soul" to protect them from destruction. Hayes likened this act to the biblical story of Passover, using the term "soul" as a symbol of pride, resilience, and identity. The resulting song is a celebration of overcoming adversity, with its lyrics and title reflecting a message of empowerment and black pride.

Sam & Dave's powerful, gospel-infused delivery captured the ethos of the Civil Rights Movement, while the song's instrumentation featured the legendary Steve Cropper of Booker T. & the M.G.'s. Cropper's guitar work is notably referenced in the exclamation "Play it, Steve," heard in the song. Two versions of the track were recorded, differing in their opening dynamics and vocal enthusiasm, with the more subdued version becoming the widely recognized standard.

"Soul Man" became the most successful single for Stax Records at the time of its release, earning Sam & Dave a Grammy Award in 1968 for Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance, Vocal or Instrumental. Over the years, its legacy has only grown:

- Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
- Selected by the Library of Congress in 2019 for preservation in the National Recording Registry as "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant."