For those of us who didn't know, the 1960s saw the rise of two distinct "flavors" of rhythm & blues. There was the Motown Sound, a smooth, cross-over-friendly sound exemplified by Motown Records groups like the Supremes, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and the Four Tops. Then there was the Muscle Shoals sound, a rough, gritty style of music showcased by Stax recording artists like Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and Otis Redding. Wilson was one of the great "soul shouters," and our loss is Heaven's gain.
Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding were two of my favorites. I liked Motown, too, but after a while, it got too 'smooth'.