A gripping narrative that captures the tumult and liberating energy of a nation in transition Sweet Soul Music is an intimate portrait of the legendary performers--Sam Cooke Ray Charles James Brown Solomon Burke Aretha Franklin Otis Redding and Al Green among them--who merged gospel and rhythm and blues to create Southern soul music. Through rare interviews and with unique insight Peter Guralnick tells the definitive story of the songs that inspired a generation and forever changed the sound of American music.