I don't want to arouse anyone's ire by kicking off a non-clothing topic on 'Talk Ivy', but I was fascinated by some clips of black artistes in the US telling how surprised they were at their offerings being picked up by UK soul fans - like, I suppose, Ian Levine and Russ Winstanley - but also the grass roots dance-maniacs.  I'm guessing some form of jazz came first, around the time of World War One, maybe intensifying with Parker, Gillespie et al.  Blues?  Memphis?  Chicago?  What of Motown/Stax/Atlantic/Okeh etc.?  The first black music I was ever aware of was 'My Boy Lollipop', then, later, The Four Tops.  Nothing radical.  Later still it was Desmond Dekker.  This was the late 60s, you understand.  Next came Prince Buster, Barry White, Stevie Wonder and the poppier side of ska.  Then - via the Rolling Stones - Robert Johnson, Robert Wilkins and Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley...  I could go on. 
What's the story?  Jazz...  blues...  R&B...  mainstream soul...  Northern...  jazz-funk...  you name it... 
Does Ivy style not go with black music like Bonnie with Clyde?