We've all heard of Motown, the tiny record company stationed in Detroit that became a conglomerate. Artists like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and even Michael Jackson emerged from the variety of groups and individual singers that filled the company's roster.

At the same time, soul groups from Philly and around the country sky-rocketed the genre to a more smoother sound as the times changed. Our parents, essentially, grew up on this music when rock was becoming too much for them and that electronic pop was starting to take over the 1980s.

For me, soul music will always be my first musical influence. "My Girl", the classic song by The Temptations, influenced me so much that I did a lip-sync of it at my elementary school in second grade. As I grew older, I realized how powerful and legendary of a group The Temptations were all this time. Singing "You're My Everything" and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" with my dad in the car as he drove me home from school in middle school are memories still fresh in my mind. It is as though I was born to just revel in soul music.

Dating back to Sam Cooke's initial evolution of soul music, doo-wop groups emerged as Smokey Robinson became a household name and one of Motown's early stars. I've managed to gather an incredible list of soul songs that influenced me to keep believing in soul music.

*Note: this list is partially biased and includes an entire collection of Temptations songs since they are the first and only group that influenced me.*

1. "My Girl" (The Temptations)

Considered the biggest hit of their careers, The Temps' chart-topper has spawned an era of songs that have tried to capture the same kind of magic. David Ruffin leads the song as he charmed his girl and the rest of the world as the Temptations backed him up with harmony. The song also came on a CD my dad used to have that then turned into me listening to it on an old CD player in my room as I copied their dance moves and idiosyncrasies. To me, this song is the pinnacle and epitome of all soul songs in the 1960s.

2. "So Very Hard To Go" (Tower of Power)

A jazz-soul fusion group, their song here has powerful vocals and a great presentation of horns that make this song one of my favorites in the early 1970s soul.

3. "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got)" (The Four Tops)

Another timeless group of Motown, their song here provides some great lyrics to how one man's woman means more than meets the eye.

4. "All I Need" (The Temptations)

5. "It's A Shame" (The Spinners)

6. "Cowboys to Girls" (The Intruders)

7. "Don't Look Back" (The Temptations)

The fact that the only thing that gets me in this song is a powerful violin section solo. Perfection.

8. "Since I Lost My Baby" (The Temptations)

(Youtube: The Temptations- Topic)

9. "Reasons" (Earth, Wind & Fire)

10. "I'll Be Around" (The Spinners)

11. "I Want A Love I Can See" (The Temptations)

Essentially, The Temptations' early records had some incredible vocals from a young Paul Williams. It is appreciative to know that a song like this was the roots of one of the most legendary groups in Motown history.

12. "There's No Me Without You" (The Manhattans)

13. "I Wish It Would Rain" (The Temptations)

(YouTube: Abdul Jalil)

14. "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" (The Four Tops)

A second Four Tops song that is also iconic is the initial hit that brought them to the dance (figuratively). I remember sitting on my family's boat listening to this as Levi Stubbs pleaded to his lover to stay as the water splashed up like inspirational notes of a song.

15. "You Are Everything" (The Stylistics)

16. "Have You Seen Her" (The Chi-Lites)

(YouTube: chino689)

17. "The Way You Do The Things You Do" (The Temptations)

18. "Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)" (The O'Jays)

19. "I Could Never Ever Love Another (After Loving You)" (The Temptations)

20. "Cloud Nine" (The Temptations)

After David Ruffin exited from the group, new lead Dennis Edwards brought with him a new sound, as well. Providing the changing 1970s with 'psychedelic soul', The Temptations' ode to an elusive substance (although the writers have denied the rumors of the song being a tribute to drugs).

21. "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" (The Temptations)

(YouTube: Tj Limbu)

22. "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (The Temptations)

23. "The Tracks Of My Tears" (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles)

24. "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" (The Temptations)

25. "For Once In My Life" (The Temptations)

Long before Stevie Wonder recorded this hit, The Temptations' Paul Williams managed to make his mark in music history by legitimately pouring all of his heart and soul into this powerful, jazz-like hit. Tragically dying a few years after this live performance, Williams performed to the highest regard with a song that continues to inspire me as an artist...and I hope it inspires you, too.

(YouTube: JNeo The Don)