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You may have heard of “Yacht Rock,” but have you heard of “Yacht Soul?”

While the term “Yacht Rock” was added in the early 2000s due to being popularized in a series of comedic videos, the genre has always been known as “West Coast sound, Soft Rock ,or adult-oriented rock. But due to the booming popularity of the sub-genre, conversations around R&B music that saw an increase in popularity around the same time.

Yacht soul is a sophisticated fusion of smooth yacht rock instrumentation and the emotive power of R&B and jazz. Created and perfected by legendary black artists in the late 1970s and early 1980s, this subgenre brings a rich and soulful essence to the laid-back vibe of yacht rock. While Yacht Rock artists Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross and Toto owned the airwaves, Black artists like George Benson, Al Jarreau and The Whispers blended genres and added some soul to the sub-genre.

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The MAX documentary “Music Box: Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary.” produced by Bill Simmons digs into the music of McDonald, Steely Dan, Christopher Cross and others who gained popularity in the late 70’s to mid-80s, they do touch on artists like Benson, Brenda Russell and other Black artists who saw success. McDonald saw success on Black Radio with his first single “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)” and one of the key members of “Blue-Eyed Soul” with artists like Bobby Caldwell and Hall & Oates.

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Here’s a list of quintessential black yacht soul tracks that define this timeless sound of Yacht Soul.