New Orleans Soul

Typically featuring piano and saxophone accompaniments, this genre gained prominence in the postwar era within the Crescent City.

This genre is characterized by its pop foundation, evident in its structural elements, and its incorporation of rock rhythms influenced by the popular "second line" beats typical in the city.

[1] The initial songs in this soul style emerged from the talents of songwriter and producer Allen Toussaint in 1960.

Subsequently, this musical style gained significant traction among other local and regional artists.

Around 1965, just five years into the emergence of New Orleans Soul, Toussaint, a pivotal figure in this genre, produced a slower variation that played a crucial role in the birth of Funk.

Pianos played a significant role in Soul Music.
Photo of a saxophone, a primary instrument in Soul Music.
Photo of Mahalia Jackson performing at a concert in 1961.