Al Green

Hailing from a background steeped in Gospel, Al Green came onto the scene in the early 1970s. A consistent hitmaker and the embodiment of all that is both holy and secular, Green's career marked a popular return to grassroots soul music. The simple arrangements put the musical focus squarely on Green's silky cries, sensuous moans and breathtaking falsetto. In the late '70s a series of events led Green to reevaluate his career and his faith, and he decided to leave the world of secular music. He turned to preaching and became an ordained pastor. With a few exceptions, Green's music has since become hymn-related and formulaic. But hits like "Let's Stay Together" and a reworked "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" helped define pure soul music.