The Soul Man cover art

The Soul Man

Life of Songwriter David Porter

Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

$8.99/mo after trial ends. Cancel anytime
Try for $0.00
More purchase options

The Soul Man

By: David Porter, Redwriter
Narrated by: David Porter
Try for $0.00

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $27.79

Buy Now for $27.79

Summary

David Porter, a pivotal figure in soul music, was the first staff writer at Stax Records, where he co-wrote iconic hits like "Soul Man," "Hold On I'm Comin'," "I Thank You," "When Something is Wrong with my Baby," and "Wrap it Up," many alongside Isaac Hayes.

His songs, which have appeared on national charts over 200 times and amassed lifetime unit sales exceeding 450 million, are enshrined in the Grammy Hall of Fame and have influenced soul, R&B, and hip-hop, with over 450 samples in tracks like Mariah Carey's "Dreamlover," Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It," Wu-Tang Clan's "C.R.E.A.M.," and The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Who Shot Ya."

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 with Hayes, Porter was featured in HBO's 2023 Stax Records special and founded The Consortium MMT, cementing his legacy as a genre-defining songwriter.

©2026 David Porter (P)2026 David Porter
Entertainment & Celebrities
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.