Here are some seriously-strong female Soul singers. Not the breathy, insipid, ooo'ing, and coo'ing that passes for what the suits in corporate America call Soul.
No, these women are all contenders to pick up the scepter The Queen Of Soul left behind. So I've put together an hour-long theme of "Hope, Hurt, Hate" to showcase their talents - songs of the progression from the still wistful beginning of a breakup to the angry end of a romantic relationship - historically a gold mine for singers who know how to belt out a ballad.
Aretha, you are missed already. But you live on in each of these young women we both know you influenced and inspired.
