Many of the greatest male superstars of R&B music launched their careers with Motown: Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie, and Ronald Isley. We also include early pioneers of R&B: Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, and James Brown. Several of these artists starred in the 1970s: Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway, Bobby Womack, Bill Withers, Barry White, Al Green, and George Benson. All these extraordinary performers paved the way for current stars, including Prince, Usher, R. Kelly, Chris Brown, Maxwell, and Babyface.