UNSUNG HEROES OF SOUL

A New Orleans native, Jean Knight had only one major hit--but it was big stuff!

Bob Kuban & The In-Men were a blue-eyed soul act best known for 1966’s “The Cheater,” and for the 1983 murder of their lead singer.

Nicknamed the "Queen of the Blues," Denise LaSalle was a modern-day Bessie Smith who wrote funny songs full of sassy attitude.

Latimore recorded his biggest hits at the height of Disco Fever, but bucked the trend and made Southern Soul music into the '80s and beyond.

Bettye LaVette wallowed in obscurity for forty years until her career finally took off in the 2000s.

Otis Leavill was a vocalist, producer and label executive who worked with many of the biggest names in Chicago Soul--including Curtis Mayfield, Jerry Butler, Major Lance, Tyrone Davis, Gene Chandler, and the Chi-Lites.

Laura Lee's attitude-laden recordings for Chess and Hot Wax made her soul music’s first unabashed feminist.

Barbara Lewis is a purveyor of “smooth soul” who wrote several of her own hits.

Shorty Long was a Motown artist who originated "Devil With the Blue Dress" and died before his 30th birthday.

Barbara Lynn is a songwriter and left-handed guitarist who often straddles the line between blues and Southern soul.

The Mad Lads were one of only a few successful vocal groups to record at Stax.

A trio from Harlem, the Main Ingredient is best known for 1972's "Everybody Plays the Fool."