Soul II Soul

Avowing a positive and multicultural philosophy with their “funky dred” logo and the catch phrase “A happy face, a thumpin’ bass, for a lovin’ race,” Soul II Soul started spreading the similar ideals of London sound system culture across the globe at the end of the 1980s. At a time when the highly mechanized sound of new jack swing was dominating contemporary R&B, the group — led by producer, songwriter, and occasional vocalist Jazzie B — found a way to synthesize breakbeat-driven hip-hop and house music with the elegant dancefloor R&B of disco-era groups such as Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra, MFSB, and Chic.

The two biggest hits off Soul II Soul’s debut Club Classics Vol. One (1989), “Keep On Movin'” and “Back to Life (However Do You Want Me),” both powered by the silken voice of Caron Wheeler, turned the group into chart-topping stars at home and abroad. The latter also made them Grammy winners. Soul II Soul’s output since then is highlighted by a second number one U.K. album, Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade (1990) and the number three hit Volume III: Just Right (1992), plus 11 additional U.K. Top 40 singles, each one featuring a different lead voice.