These songs specifically made Black radio back in the day. I even remember when Elton John was on Soul Train. Anyway:
70's: Hall and Oates: Sara Smile as well as other hits from the 70s and 80s like: I Can't Go For That (you can pretty much snap up their whole catalog and choose stuff) David Bowie: Fame Elton John: Philadelphia Freedom (it's what he sang on Soul Train)
Those songs definitely had traction.
Eric Clapton is usually categorized in the blue-eyed soul dept. although probably more on the blues side as is Bonnie Raitt.
There's also plenty of disco artists like Dan Hartman (Instant Replay), France Jolie (Come to Me) and Alicia Bridges (I Love the Night Life) who fall into the blue-eyed soul category as well.
From the 80's- on the order of "damn, we didn't know that was a white boy": Rick Astley: Never Gonna Give You Up
Also from the 80s: Simply Red: Holding Back the Years Boz Scaggs: Lowdown Teena Marie: Lovergirl, Fire and Desire (and pretty much her whole damn catalog) Michael McDonald: On My Own (w/Patti LaBelle); you have to dig through a lot of his stuff but that song, along with "Keep Forgetting We're Not in Love Anymore" got a lot of play. George Michael: I Knew You Were Waiting for Me (w/Aretha Franklin)
Early 90s: Lisa Stansfield: specifically her first album "Affection" Taylor Dayne: Tell it To My Heart, I'll Always Love You George Michael (solo): Faith (the album)
One thing you can do is roll over to Billboard and look at the album charts for certain years. Look under the R&B charts. Urban didn't start appearing as a category until much later.
Let me know what you think and I can rack my brain some more.
Ask and ye shall receive
70's:
Hall and Oates: Sara Smile as well as other hits from the 70s and 80s like: I Can't Go For That (you can pretty much snap up their whole catalog and choose stuff)
David Bowie: Fame
Elton John: Philadelphia Freedom (it's what he sang on Soul Train)
Those songs definitely had traction.
Eric Clapton is usually categorized in the blue-eyed soul dept. although probably more on the blues side as is Bonnie Raitt.
There's also plenty of disco artists like Dan Hartman (Instant Replay), France Jolie (Come to Me) and Alicia Bridges (I Love the Night Life) who fall into the blue-eyed soul category as well.
From the 80's- on the order of "damn, we didn't know that was a white boy":
Rick Astley: Never Gonna Give You Up
Also from the 80s:
Simply Red: Holding Back the Years
Boz Scaggs: Lowdown
Teena Marie: Lovergirl, Fire and Desire (and pretty much her whole damn catalog)
Michael McDonald: On My Own (w/Patti LaBelle); you have to dig through a lot of his stuff but that song, along with "Keep Forgetting We're Not in Love Anymore" got a lot of play.
George Michael: I Knew You Were Waiting for Me (w/Aretha Franklin)
Early 90s:
Lisa Stansfield: specifically her first album "Affection"
Taylor Dayne: Tell it To My Heart, I'll Always Love You
George Michael (solo): Faith (the album)
One thing you can do is roll over to Billboard and look at the album charts for certain years. Look under the R&B charts. Urban didn't start appearing as a category until much later.
Let me know what you think and I can rack my brain some more.