The early 1970s saw the evolution of soul into the harder more 'streetwise' sounds of Funk. Soul continued to be extremely popular with artists like Smokey Robinson but bands like The Temptations and The Jackson Five changed the sound of their music influenced by Funk artists like James Brown and bands like Sly & the Family Stone.

James Brown was to become know as 'The Godfather of Soul' but it was his groundbreaking Funky music that would lead to him becoming one of the most successful African American performers of all time. Sly & the Family Stone and George Clinton with his band Parliament pushed this new kind of music into new areas and influenced countless artists that were to follow.

Much of American society in the late 1960s and early 70s was dominated by the war in Vietnam and this was reflected by artists such as Marvin Gaye who sang popular songs against the war. Elsewhere, African American Artists continued to develop the sounds of soul and funk into new areas with many artists gaining mainstream popularity.

Towards the end of the decade black musicians were pushing the boundaries of music with the latest electronic technologies which was to lead to the hugely popular phenomenon of Disco which would itself lead to an explosion of new and innovative styles of music to burst onto the scene in the 1980s.