I have seen the Future of R&B - and it's from the Past

This may be old news, but I just discovered a singer named Raphael Saadiq while channel surfing and catching a show in which he was featured, (I think it was something called Artist's Den). Incredible show - the man is a walking encyclopedia of Soul from around 1964 - 1975. He comes across with a heavy glasses David Ruffin look and some moves that are a combination between Sam Cooke and the Temps, (and can sound like them too). If I were to pick his major influence, I'd say Marvin Gaye dominates. But in the half hour I viewed, it was like a class in American R&B - this guy has absorbed everything. I heard it all - Eddie Kendricks, Curtis Mayfield, Al Green, the Brothers Johnson, the O'Jays, the Stylistics, the Staples, Stevie Wonder - just in 30 minutes, and I know he's probably offering tidbits from more obscure artists that I never caught up with. Linda thought I was crazy - I just kept laughing at each song, racking up all of the influences in my brain. The guy is incredible, his band is tight, and the backup singers are fantastic. Highly recommended!

http://www.raphaelsaadiq.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5g73nsIDfk

http://www.theartistsden.com/episodes/saadiq.shtml