Soul music open in acknowledging the influence of Pilgrim Travelers vocalist Jesse Whitaker on his singing style. Little Richard, who inspired Otis Redding, and James Brown both were equally influential. Brown was nicknamed the "Godfather of Soul Music", and Richard proclaimed himself as the "King of Rockin' and Rollin', Rhythm and Blues Soulin'", because his music embodied elements of all three, and since he inspired artists in all three genres. Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson also are often acknowledged as soul forefathers. Cooke became popular as the lead singer of the gospel group The Soul Stirrers, before controversially moving into secular music.
Godfather of Harlem Godfather of Harlem Godfather of Harlem is an upcoming American crime drama television series that is set to premiere in 2019 on Epix. The series will be written by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein and star Forest Whitaker, all of whom will act as executive producers alongside Nina Yang Bongiovi, James Acheson, and Markuann Smith. Brancato is also expected to act as showrunner. "Godfather of Harlem" tells the "true story of infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson, who in the early 1960s returned from ten years in prison to find the neighborhood he once ruled in shambles. With the streets controlled