Motown, plus "Philly" (Stylistics, Delfonics, Dells, etc), and the enormous amount of great black music from earlier, such as Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, also the great doo wop groups. It's laughable to even attempt to compare today's absolute trash to all the great music from days gone by, in just about any genre.
I like all of that music too, as well as the other music that you mentioned. I do like some recent music, if Diana Krall counts. :)
Beautifully stated friend.