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21 legendary R&B singers

Classic singers

(MICHAEL LATZ/DDP/AFP via Getty Images)
(MICHAEL LATZ/DDP/AFP via Getty Images)

The R&B genre has produced some of the greatest singers of all time. Diana Ross, Sam Cooke, and Solomon Burke are just starters.

Smokey Robinson

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Stevie Wonder

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Aretha Franklin

(Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
(Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

Prince

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Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Al Green

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Curtis Mayfield

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(Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)

Solomon Burke

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(FADEL/AFP via Getty Images)

Luther Vandross

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(DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images)

Diana Ross

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Mary J. Blige

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Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY NETWORK

Barry White

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Mitchell Levy/Globe Photos/ZUMA Wire via USA TODAY NETWORK

Beyonce

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MPS-USA TODAY Sports

Sam Cooke

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Globe Photos/ZUMA Wire via USA TODAY NETWORK

Ray Charles

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Dale Ernsberger-USA TODAY NETWORK

Tina Turner

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Callie Shell/The Tennessean via USA TODAY NETWORK

Donna Summer

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Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY NETWORK

Whitney Houston

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Fryderyk Gabowicz/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images

Mariah Carey

(Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)
(Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

James Brown

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(AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Michael Schennum) ** MAGS OUT, NO SALES **

Teddy Pendergrass

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Chaka Khan

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Story originally appeared on List Wire