The Memphis soul reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Memphis soul

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Memphis soul is stylish, uptown soul that seldom makes any concessions to pop. It's sweet as well, but not as light as sweet soul. It's stylish and funky, but not gritty; classy yet soulful. Soul-blues trumpeter Willie Mitchell is responsible for bringing it about as a result after it was in the works in the '60s. The quintessential Memphis soul artist is Al Green and the quintessential record label was Hi. As Mitchell worked closely with Green at the record company, he perfected the sound in the '70s. Memphis soul was no longer popular by the early or mid-'90s.