This award goes only to solo artists who are deceased (at the time of this poll’s nomination) and who recorded consistently in the soul music field during their career.

Full List of Inductees

PHYLLIS HYMAN * LUTHER VANDROSS * MARVIN GAYE * CURTIS MAYFIELD * DONNY HATHAWAY * MINNIE RIPERTON * RAY CHARLES * TEDDY PENDERGRASS * TEENA MARIE * WHITNEY HOUSTON * ETTA JAMES * DONNA SUMMER * SAM COOKE * MICHAEL JACKSON * BOBBY WOMACK * NINA SIMONE * ISAAC HAYES * JACKIE WILSON * NATALIE COLE * EDDIE KENDRICKS * MAURICE WHITE * LOU RAWLS * GEORGE DUKE * KASHIF * MARY WELLS * RICK JAMES * TAMMI TERRELL * JOHNNIE TAYLOR * WILSON PICKETT * BILLY PRESTON * AL JARREAU * BEN E.KING * VESTA (WILLIAMS) * JAMES INGRAM * SYREETA * SOLOMON BURKE * DAVID RUFFIN * PRINCE * BILL WITHERS * NANCY WILSON * BARRY WHITE * GROVER WASHINGTON JR. * JAMES BROWN * B.B. KING * PERCY SLEDGE * BILLY PAUL * GERALD LEVERT * MARY WILSON * SYLVESTER * FLORENCE BALLARD * TYRONE DAVIS * BOBBY “BLUE” BLAND * BILLY STEWART